Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-03-21
sHoEmAKrR or ponrsmourH.

This admirable narrative (Which we believe
10 strictly true in all its parts) we earnestly
commend to the attention Of our readers. II is
transferred from Chambers Edinbur,- Journal
into that excellent Miscellany, Littell Living
Age. What different world we Shout have,
il there were but one John Pound in ever, vii.
lage hamlet, and few in every city ward. How
the poor cripple shames the learned and the
wealthy The man with the poor fraction Of
a talent does more for fellow creatures than he
who is endowed with ten talents! What
lesson isgiven 10 rich and poor, by poor and yet
rich John Pound.-Are there none to 90 and do
likewise! We beg every reader, at least to
read this story.
One day, in passing along the streets Of Lon.
don was arrested by a crowd at a prnt.shop
window. 1t is perhaps not altogether 'respecta.
ble' to be seen forming one Of such asscmblages;
but every man has his failings, and one Of mine
is, to take peep at any very nce.looking prints
which the sellers Of these articles considerably
put in their windows for the public amusement
On the present occasion, in taking survey Of
the printsellers wares, wos much interested
in observing print which differed considerably
from anything else in the window. Hanging
between an opera dancer and general--both
pets of the pubic-wus the representation Of an
old cobbler sitting professionally in his booth,
with shoe in one hand and knife in the other,
while with spectacles turned up over his brow
and head averted, he was apparently addressing
ragged urchin who stood beside him with
book. In the background was miscellaneous
collection Of books lasts, old shoes, and bird ca.
ges, interspersed with the heads and faces of
crowd OF children-the whole forming an unique
combination of a school and cobblery. Beneath
was the inscription, John Pound and his school,
| was, as have said, interested, and resolved
to know something, il possible of John Pound
and his seminary. On making inquiries accord.
'ngly, discovered through the agency Of lit.
tie pamphlet, who John Pound was, and what
kind ofa school he conducted.
John Pound was born Of parents in humble
rank Of life, in Portsmouth, in the year 1906
In early life, while working with q shpwright
in the dockyard, he had the misfortune to have
one OF his thighs broken, and so put out Of joint
as to render him cripple for life. Compelled,
from this calamity, to choose a new means of
subsistence, he betook himself to the shoema.
| king craft. The instruction he received in this
profession, however did rot enable him to make
shoes, and in that branch of the art he was diff
dent in trying his hand Contenting himself
with the more humble department of mending,
he became the tenant of weather. boarded te.
nement in St Mary street in his native town.
John was good natured fellow, and his mind
was always running on some scheme Of bene.
Violence; and, like all other benevolent self.
helpful people, he got enough to do. While
| still young man, he was favored with the
charge ofone of the numerous children Of his
brother and, 10 enhance the value of the gitt,
the child was feeble little boy. with his feet
overlapping each other, and turned inwards.
The poor child was an object of much affection
with John, as thoroughly to divide his attention
with variety Of tame birds which he kept in
stall. Ingenious as well as nd.hearted he
did not rest till he had made an apparatus of old
shoes and leather, which untwsted the child s
feet, and set him fairly on his legs. The next
thing was to teach his nephew how to read, and
this he undertook also rs labor o: love. Aaer
time, he thought the boy would learn much
better if he had comoanion-.in which, no
doubt, he was right for solitary education is not
a good lhing--and he invited poor neighbor to
send him his children to be taught. This inv.
ton was followed by others. John acquired
passion for graiuitous teaching. which nothing
but the limits Of his booth could restrsin. His
humble workshop to follow the language of his
memoir, was about six feet wide, and abou,
eighteen feet in length; in the midst Of which
he would sit on bis stool, with his last or lap,
stone Oh his knee, and other implements by his
side. going on with his work. and attending a,
the same time to the pursuits of the whole as.
semblage; some OF whom were reading by his
side, writing from his d;ctaton. or showing up
their sums; others seated around on forms or
boxes on the floor, or on the steps Of a small
staircase in the rear. Although the master
knew where to look for each, and to obtain
due command over all, yet 50 small was the
room. and SO deficient in the usual accommoda.
tions Of school, that the scene appeared, to the
observer from without TO be q mere crowd of
chi!dren's heads and faces. Owing 70 the limi.
ted extent OF his room, he sften found it neces-
sary to make . selection. from among several
subjects or candidates. tor his grstuitous teach