Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-07-29

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become necessary to his happiness.
Do, Harman,' he said, appcalngly,
LEAD me the book. will take good care
of it,
No, ! won't. And don't you dare to
touch it y was the angry reply.
James Wallace knew well enough the
self h disposition of his masters son, older
than him two or three years, to be convinced
that there was now but little hope of his
having the use of his books, cxccpt by
stealth. And from tina, his natural open and
honest principles revolted. All day he
thought earnestly over the means whereby
he should be able TO obtain a book on as
tronomy, to qucnch the ardcntth that had
been created in his mind. And night came
without any satisfactory answer being OBJ
tanned to his earnest enquiries of his own
| Thoughts.
lie was learning the trade of blind ma
kcr. Having been already an apprentice
for two years, and being Industrious and in
telligent, he had acquired readiness with
tools and much skill in some parts of his
tradc.-While sitting alone, after he lad
finished his work for the day ,his mind search
ing about Tor some means whereby he could
get books, it occurred to him that he might
ny working IN the evening, earn some mon
cy, and with it buy such books as he wanted.
But in what manner to turn his work into
money, he knew not. 1t finally occurred to
MN, that, IN passing house near the shop,
he frequently observed pair of win
dow blinds with faded hangings and soil
ed colors.
Pcrhaps, he said to himself, IF | would
do II cheap they would let me paint, and put
new hangings to their blinds
The thought was scarcely suggested, when
ne was on his feet moving towards the street
In few minutes he stood knocking "A,
the door of the house, which was soon
opened.
'Well, my little man what do you want :?
was the kind snluta,ion of the individual
who answered the call.
James now felt confused, and stammcr.
cd out,
THE hangings of your blinds arc gooe
deal faded
hats very true remark my It'll,
man, was the reply, made in an encourage
ing tone.
And they wan, painting badly
Also very trme,' said the nan with a
good-natnred smile, for he felt amused viii
the'hoy's earnest manner and novelty o
speech.
Wouldn't you like to have them rain.
, ted, and new hangings put to them pursuct
James.
i don't know. 1t would certainly i'm.
prove them very much.'
a 'II,,. I. 1 :.
new. And If you will lr, me do them,
vii fix them all up nice for you cleap.'
viii you indeed? But what is you,
name and whrr" do you i,rH
My name is James v alace, and live
with Mr.. Lee The blind makrr.'
ID" you indeed! Wen, how much vii
you charge for painting them, and putting OF
new langi'gs 7
Il will do 1t for two dollars sir. TIE
hang ings AID ;sss:.!s W i'll cost me thee quar-.
tiers of dollar, and the paint AID yarnisl
aquarter more. And IT will take me two O,
three evenings, besides getting up very ear.
~ IN the morning to work for Mr. Lee, SC
that can paint and varnish them whe o,e
sun hines
but will Mr.. Lee let you do this! ?
Il don't know sir. But will ask him.
Every well my little man. II Mr.. Lee
does not object, am willing
James ran back 10 the house. and fnrnd
Mr.. Lee standing in the door. Much to his
delight, his request WAS granted. Four DAYS
from that time he possessed a book Of his
own, and had half dollar with which TIC
buy some other volume, when he should have
] tl,rpnuIlI a bn .,f, II,
Every night found him pollng over this
book, and SO soon as il was .ipn enough in
the morning to see, he was up, and reading
Oi COURSE, there was much ~ it that he
could not understand, and many terms that
dchrd all his efforts aud comparisons ofrhc
context, to understand. To help him in this
difficulty, he purchased with his remaining
half Il dollar, at a secondhand book-slall, a
dict lonary. BY the AID of this he acquired
the information he sought much more rapid
". But the more be read the broader the
uncXplored expanse of knowledge appeared
TO opsn before him. lie did not, however
give way 10 feelings Of Encouragement, but
steadily devoted every evening, and an houl
every morning, TO study; while all through
the day his mind was bordering over the
lnlngS ne ldu Ttdu. as ms hands were dllli-
gently employed in the labor assigned him
1t occurred, Just at this time, that mum.
Der of benevolent individuals established, il
the town where James lived, one of those
excellent institutions, AN Apprentices Ii.
hrary. To this he al once applied, and OBJ
tanned the books he needed Instead, how.
ever, of resorling to the library for mere
books OF amusement, he borrowed o "
those from which he could obtain the ridi.
mrnls Of learning, such as text books tc
science.
He early felt the necessity, from having
had book on astronomy, with strong de-
sire TO master its contents, for mathematical
knowledge, and in the efforts in acquire Thu,
he first commenced studying-fnr he had n,
preceptor TO guide him--a work on eeome-
try. In working out problems, he used a
pair Of shop compasses, with pointed quill
upon one ofthe proncs.-And thus, all alone
in his garnet, frequently until midnight
none dreaming Of his devotion to the acquire
menl of knowledge-did the apprinlice bo,
lao tho foundation of E,,nrn