Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-05
THE BROKEN CRUTCH.

THE BROKEN CRUTCH. !.
One hot day in the month OF June, pool
sunburnt sailor, with but one leg, was going
along the road, when his cru,ch broke in
halves and he was forced tc crawl on his
hands and knees to the side OF the road, and
sit down to wait ill some coach or cart came
by, whose driver he could ask to take him up
The first that passed that way was stage
coach but the man who drove it was q sur.
ly fellow, and he would not help the sailor
as he thought he should not be paid for it.
Soon after this the tired sailor fell usleep up.
on the ground, and though thick shower Of
rain came on, yet still he slept; for sailors,
when on board their ships, have to bear all
sorts Of weather when the wind blows, the
waves Of the sea often dash over the deck oil
the vessel, and wet the poor men to the skin,
while they are pulling at the ropes and SHIFT
ing the sails.
When the lame sailor awoke, he found a
boys coat and waiscoat laid on his head and
shoulders 10 keep him from being wet and
the boy sat by, in his shirt, trying to mend
the broken crutch, with two pieces Of wood
and some strong iwine-"My good lad"
said the sailor, "why did you pull off your
own clothes to keep the from being wet ~
90" said he, IL do not mind the rain, but
thought the large drops Of rain that fell upon
your face would awake you,and you must be
sadly tired TO sleep so sound on The ground.
Seel have almost mended your crutch, |
found broken, and if you can lean on me,
and cross yonder field to my uncle's farm
house, am sure he will get you a new
crutch. Pray do try 10 go there. | wish
| was tall enough to carry you on my back"
The sailor looked at him with tears in his
eyes, and said, when went TO sea, FIVE
years ago | left a boy behind me, il | should
now find him such good fellow as you seem
to be, | shall be happy as the day is long,
though have lost my leg, and must go on
Ycrutches all the days Of my life"
"What was your sons name2" the boy u.s.
ked.
TON White" said the sailor, land my
name is John White"
When the boy heard these names, he jun
neck, and said, "My dear father, am Tom
White, your own iule boy"
How great was the sailors Joy, thus to
meet his own child. and find him so kind to
those who wanted help
Tom had been taken care Of by his uncle,
while his father was at sea, and the sun
burnt, lame sailor found happy home in the
farmhouse of his brother and though he
had now a new crutch he keplthe old one as
long as be lived, and showed it to all the
strangers who came to the farm as proof Of
the kind heart Of his dear son Tom.
Runaway Appreciates. 1t is very rare
indeed, to find lad who has been appren.
tlced 10 learn trade. but who breaks his
obligation, and absconds from his master.
becoming useful member Of soriety--whi!e,
on the contrary those who have been faith
ful apprentices, most generally become hon.
orable and independent men. Above all
things, youth should cherish truth, which is
the parent of sound principles. When truth
is violated, by youth or age, it is vain 10 look
for honesty in the individual The agree
ment an apprentice makes is both morally
and legally binding Nothing should in
duce him to break his part OF the agreement,
and the laws are sufficiently strong to afford
him just protection. If a youth will cancel
this, the first contract, which he makes ms a
member OF society-how is ii to be expected
that he will ever keep one2 Much Of the
misery Of this world-the idleness-the dis
sipation--the vagrancy of young men, may
be traced to this one cause. They lose their
own selfesteem-their natural pride-and
too often become reprobaies. The following
statement, from the Philadelphia North
American, confirms our views:
+" The last report Of the Warden Of the
Eastern Penitentiary states that of the one
hundred and sevenly-eight prisoners receiv.
ed during the last year. twenty-eight only
had been bound to trade, and served till ri
years Of age, thirty-four had been bound and
left their masters, and one hundred AMI six
teen had never been apprentced ~
This extract clearly proves that those who
serve out their time faithfully are not so LA
Bile to crime as runaways-and establishes
beyond all doubt. the necessity of bringing
up youth to some useful trade. Had these
ll6 criminals been appreciated, ii may be
presumed very few olihem would have been
inmates off Penitenliary.-Sacanaah Geor-
gian.
From the Boston Courier.