Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-08-18

was he IN reviewing the new and wonderful
things that he had rend. At last, wearied
nature gave way, and he fell into n slumber,
nLled with planets, moons, comets, and fix
ed stars On the next morning the appren-
tice boy resumed his place at the work
bench with a new feeling and with this fee
| ling was mingled one of regret that he could
not go to school as did his masters son.
"But / can study at night when he is
asleep" he said to himself
Just then Harman Lee came into the shop,
and approaching James, said, for the pur-
pose Of teasing him,
"How big round is the earth, Jim?"
"Twenty five thousand miles," was the
prompt answer
Hartman looked surprised for moment,
and then responded with sneer-for he
! was not kind-hearted boy, but on the
contrary, very selfish, and disposed to in
iure rather than to do good to others.
90 dear! How wonderful wise you are!
| And no doubt you can tell how many moons
Jupiter has! Come, let's hear -
"Jupiter has four moons," James answer
ed with something like exultation in his
| tones.
Sand no doubt you can tell how many
| rings it has? p
"Jupiter has no rings. Saturn has rings,
and Jupiter BELTS" James replied in deci-
| sive tone.
For moment or two Hartman was silent
| with surprise and modification. to think that
his fathers apprentice, whom he had esteem
ed so far below him, should be possessed of
| knowledge equal to his on points of reference
| to which he had chosen to question him and
| error into which he had purposely fallen.
81 should like to know how long it is since
you became so wonderful WISE" Hartman at
length said with sneer.
| "Not very long," James replied calmly.
81 have been reading one of your books on
| Astronomy"
"Well, you are not going to have my
books. mister, can tell you! anyhow. !
should like to know what business you had
to touch one of them. Let me catch you al
it again, and see if don't cuff you soundly
|-you'd better great deal be minding your
work"
"But 1 didn't neglect my work, Hartman.
read at night after had done my work.
And didn't hurt your book"
II don't care if you didn't hurt my book.
You are not going to have my books, can
tell you. So you Just let them alone"
Poor James heart sunk ic his bosom, at
this unexpected obstacle thrown so suddenly
in his way. He had no money of his own
to buy, and knew of no one from whom he
could borrow the book that had at once be-
come necessary to his happiness.
"Do, Hartman" he said appealingly, lend
me the book. l will take good care of it,"
"No, won't, and don't you dare to touch
it," was the angry reply.
James Wallace we'll knew the selfish dis.
position of his masters son, older than him.
self two or three years, TO be convinced, thai
there was now but little hopes Of his having
tho use OF ms books, except by stealth, ant
from this his open and honest principle re
VOTED. All day he thought earnestly ove
the means whereby he should be able to OBJ
tain q book on astronomy, to quench the ar
dent thirst that had been created in his mind
And night came without any satisfactory
answer having been obtained, to his earnest
inquiries of his own thought.
lie was learning the trade of blind ma.
ker. Having been an apprentice two years,
and being industrious and intelligent he had
| acquired q readiness with tools and much
skill in some parts of his trade. While sit.
ting alone, after he had finished his work for
the day, his mind searching about for some
means whereby he could get books, it occur
red to him that he might by working ia the
evening, earn some money, and with it buy
such as he wanted. But In what manner ia
turn his work into money, he knew not. l,
finally occurred to him that in passing a
house near the shop. he frequently observed
a pair of window blinds with faded hangings
and soiled colOrs.
| Perhaps" he said to himself eff 7 ..:ouiu
do it cheap, they would les "'o paint and put
new hangings to their blinds"
The thought was scarcely suggested, when
he was ON his feet, moving toward the street.
In few minutes he stood knocking at the
door of the house, which was soon opened.
"Well, my little man, what do you want 81
was the kind salutation of the individual who
answered the knock.
James now felt confused land stammered out
1.-THE hangings on your blinds are good
deal faded"
"That's very true remark my little man.
was the reply made in an encouraging tone.
"And they want painting badly"
| "Also very true" said the man with a
good humored smile, for he felt amused with
the boys earnest manner and novelty of
speech.
Wouldn't you like to have them painted,
and new hangings put to them 7" pursued
James.
II don't know. 1t would certainly inn
prove them very much"
20, yes sir. They would look just like
new.-and if you will let me do them, will
fix them all up nice for you cheap"
| evil you indeed But what is your name,
and where do you live"
| any name is james Wallace, and live
with Mr.. Lee, the blind maker.
| "Do you, indeedI Well, how much will
you charge for painting them, and putting
on new hangings! %
81 will do it for two dollars sir. The
hangings and tassels will cost me three quar-