Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-08-01
For Tie Litchfeld Enquirer.

"REMINISCENCES OF BANTAM.-No. III.
The Country School.-The old school-house stood
in the same spot il now occupies. Il was, in my
boysh days, dingy, Unlocking building divided into
two apartments, having doors, one in the eastern
and the other in the Western part. Here the chill.
dren Of the district both male and female, were wont
to convene in Winter, to commence their education.
This was the nursery where the young idea was first
taught how to shoot" Our first master was a tall,
mild-looking man. and wore goggles. He was armed
with the usual awful weapons Of authority, the birch
rod and ferule He Is strict in his discipline; and
never suffered day to pass wi,hou. religious devo-
ton at the opening and close Of the school hours
The advancement Of the young sprouts under his t-
telage was surprisingly rapid for he would take
class Of Abccedarians, and lead them from ob in
Webster to the reading Of the Bible with facility in
one winter His modes Of correcting for triing faults,
was to tie the thumbs together, make the young cul-
prit hold up his leg in the middle Of the roo till he
WINS tired enough to fall; compel him to wear leather
specacles, and to sit the Ounce block" For great
offences, he applied the rod and the ferule without
mercy. We were rather a rude set ut this time, and
our chief diversions between the dreaded hours Of con-
finement were -baling, "rufEandtumble pitch.
ing each other into the snow and rubbing acep The
boy that had his face well secured, was looked upon
with rdcule; and his disgrace as great in the est.
nation Of his school-fellcws as the cashiering of
military officer. On Saturday forenoons we were in.
strucsedin the eatechisms They whose parents were
Of the Episcopal faith, were Obliged to commit to
memory the Litany and the Church Catcchism. while
such OF Presbyterian parensage were instruct
ed in the New-England Primer. The only books us
ed in these days were, Webster's Spelling Book, the
Bible, Dabolfs Arithmetic and Munay's English
Reader. OF Grammar, Rhetoric, Geography, As.
tronomy and General History, we were ne ignorant as
so many goats But in the Eudimens Of our first in
struction. there was no seetananism and no par.
tality. 4t-s 70. IN .. a,
How strong is the force Of early education !, can
never be wholly eradicated from the mind; but in af
ter years becomes part of ts being, and is inwoyen
in all its pursuits. and forms the strongest features of
the character. In the business Of the world II may
be weakened and i.s impression grow dim, bu, i, win
return again at intervals. in oil its viydness and re-
atty.
Near the close ofthe winter term, the master grave
ly announced that visitors werc expected Then CANA
the anxiety OF preparation; the earnest struggle for
pre-eminence the day Of clean bibs and tuckers and
Sunday dresses. and thoroughly washed faces and
hands, and shoes well creased or black.baed. The
ministers were TO be present to catechze and Lecture
MS and the chief men Of the village were ia wnes.
the progress we had made in learning. Everv ,vr;.
tingbook was searched. from asraiee m.rha and ~.
hooks 70 quailtracks," and from the alDhabet ~
round hand and running hand. Prizes were Ia he |
gwen out. ana every one was to be rewarded accord
shen. It ever the youngster stEove 70 do hs utmos
~ nis eye, the cieIgymen were invested with awfl