Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-28
AN APPEAL IN BEHALF OF PUBLIC ED
no. Ff,s..

Inc following should be read by every parent in
the state. 1t is most graphic portrayal of the
condition of the uneducated
Dld You ever see that ragged little strappler ?"
YES, God help him." said my companion "God
help nm With such easy adiuration do we leove
thousands and tens of thousands of human souls 70
want ana ignorance, doom them while vet walking
the pain OF guiltlessness to nurture devils-their
own unguded passions We make them outcasts.
wretches and then punish them in their wicked.
hess, our own selishness-our own neglect We
cry, "God help the boy" and hang the man.
Yet n moment. The child is still before u.s.
Gan we not see around it contendinp for 1.-THE
principles of good and evil? A contest between
inc angels and the fiends Come hithor statesmen
you VINO live within party circle: you who night
~ hight some miserable fght continually strive in
some selfish struggle for power and place. consd-
erlng men only ms tools, the merest instruments of
your aggandIzement, come berc in the flthv street
ana Io0k upon Gods image in its boyhood Con-
slider tins little man. Are not creatures such MS
lpese the MODEST grandest things of earth? Have
tucy not solemn natures-are they not subtv touch
ed Tor the highest purposes of human life? Come
uiey not into this world to grace and dignity it p
q mere IS no spot, no coarser stuff in the pauper
ngsh before you that indicates a lower nature
mere IS no telon mark upon it-no natural forrna-
tlon indicating the thief in its tiny fngers-no III
eV,taole basphemy written upon its lips. 1t lies
uelore you 1alr, unsulied thing, fresh from the
hand OF God. VIII you, without an effort let the
grand hend stamp his fiery brand upon it? Shall
IT. IN It's innocence, be made trading thing by mis-
cry and wee? a creature driven from street to
street, q piece OF living merchandise for mingled
Deggary and crime? Say what with its awaken
ing SOUL shall it learn? what lessons whereby to
Puss through llle making an item in the social sum
why, cunning will be It's wisdom. hypocrisy its
truth THEFT It's natural law of self-preservation-
10 TINS enid, so nurtured, so taught, your whole
coue oil morals, nay your brief right and wrong
are writ III stranger figures than Egyptian hero
glyphlcs, and-tllne passes-and you scourpe the
creature never taught, for the henous pult of
knowing naught but i'll! The good has been
sealed book TO him and the Ounce is punished with
the jan Doubtless there are great statesmen wiz
yards IN bullion and bank paper thinkers profound
III COTTON, and every turn and variation of the mar
Aels abroad and at home. But there are statesmen
yet 10 come statesmen of nobler aims-of more
heroic action; teachers of the people indicators
ol the universal dignity Of man; apostles of the
great social truth that knowledge, which is the spr
!tuai light OF God Ike his material light was made
To bless aud comfort all men. And when these
Wsh arise-and 1t is worse then weak il is sinful
70 despair OF them-the youngllng poor will not he
b'und upon the very threshold Of human life and
made per force, by want and ignorance lfes shame
anu curse Ihere Is nota babe lying in the public
street on It's mothers lap-the unconscious mendi-
cant 10 rlpen INTO the crimina-that is not a re-
proach TO the State; scandal and cryinr shame
upon men who study all politics save the politics
Oh uhe human heart -Litera,y Messenger.