The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-11-20
Miscellaneous.
LOCKE AMSDEN,
or,
THE SCHOOLMASTER.
EXTRACTS-CONTINUED


cyon said Bunker, "but ] will tell you
,,,ot the reason is; for thought that out
.mroro You know that, in the freezing
Months, much ofthe warmth we get is given
NJ ort by the carth from which, at intervals, if
uot constantly, TO some extent, ascend the
"A warm yapors 10 mingle with and moderate
4 Lc cold atmosphere above. Now these as
n ,epdng streams oiwarm air would be al
NJ mast wholly INSTRUCTED by the compactnoss
NJ cfa trodden path, and they would naturally
* fyiIo at some distance belowit, and pass up
Il through the loose earth on each side, leaving
"a Ie ground along the line of the path, to n
n -pat depth beneath it, n cold, dead mass,
n Trough which the frost would continue to
nr,rnte, unchecked by the internal heat,
Mnth, in its unobsructcd ascent on each side
N uuld be continually checking or overcoming
n he frost in its action on the earth around.
N That, sir, is the true philosophy Of the case,
,ou may depend upon il. But now let ne
4 TX YOU question--and it shall be the last
one-a question which, perhaps, you may
link trifling one, but which for all that
shl of meaning. What is the truest sign
M which you can Judge ofthe coming wealth
The quantity of dew that has fallen the
night before, or that is then falling, if it be e.
yening and prognostic is required for the
next day." replied the other. "At least
have never noticed any other criterion"
"That is an old rule, and good one,
grant you," remarked Bunker; Shut not so
curious and untailing us another which |,
some time ago, began to observe"
"Whnt may that be, sir?"
"Why, this when you wish to know what
the weather is going to be, just go out, and
select the smallest cloud you can see, keep
your eye upon it, and lift decreases and dis
appears, il shows n state of the air which
viii be sure to be followed by fair weather;
but lift increases, you may rs well take your
great coat with you, if you are going from
home, for falling weather will not be far Off"
"Ibat is, indeed, curious and Interesting
fct in meteoroogy," responded Locke, Sand
lean readily see the reason why the mdica-
ion should generally, at least, bold good"
"Why, it is receivable into electric phc-
nomenon, | suspect" answered the former
Whenever the air is becoming charged with
electricity, you will see every cloud attract
ing all less ones towards it, till it gathers into
a shower. And on the contrary, when this
fluid is passing off, or dffusing itself, even a
large cloud will be seen breaking to pieces
and dissolving."
Right, sir!" cried Bunker; "you arc
thinker, and no mistake. And let me tell
yon, there's more depending on that same e.
ectricity than your book philosophers dream
Of. am pretty well satisfied, that not only
cur dry seasons and our wet ones, our cold
seasons and our warm ones, are caused by
some variation in the state ofthe electric flu
ID, but that our epidemical diseases, and
thousand other things that we cannot account
for are TO be attributed to the same cause.
Bnt we will now drop the discussion ofthese
matters; for | am abundantly satisfied, that
sou have not only knowledge enough, but
that YOU can think for yourself And now,
s'r, all wish TO know further about you is,
whether you can teach others to think, which
IS HaIf the battle with d teacher But as
have had an eye on this point, while attend
ing to the others, probably one experiment,
Which will put upon you to make on one
oftho boys here, will be all | shall want"
proceed, sir" said the otter.
SAY, sir" reioined Bunker, turning to the
open fire place, in which the burning wood
was sending up n column of smoke; "there
you see that smoke rising don't you? Well,
you and know the reason why smoke goes
upward, but my Youngest boy don't | rather
think Now take your oWn way, and see if
you can make him clearly understand ~
Locke, after a moments reflection AMI Il
glance round the room for something to serve
for apparatus, took from shelf, where he
had espied number of the articles, the
smallest of a set of cast iron cart boxes, as is
usually termed the round, hollow tubes, in
which the aXletree ola carriage turns. Then
selecting tin cup, that would just take in
'ho box and turning into the cup as much
water as he judged, with the box, would fill
it, he presented them separately to the boy,
and said,
There, my lad, tell me which of these is
the heaViest?'
"Why, the cart box, to be sure" replied the
boy taking the cup half filed with water in
one hand, and the hollow iron in the other.
linen you think this iron is heavier than
as much water as would fill the place of it,
do you?" resumed Locke.
"Why, yes, as heavy again, and more too
i know it's" promptly said the boy.
"Well, Sir, noW mark what do" proceed
ed the former, dropping into the cup the iron
box thu ough the hollow of which the water
instantly rose to the brim of the vessel.
There, you saw that water rise to the top
Of the cup, did you?"
eyes, did"
very WELL what caused it to do sop
why, know well enough, if | could
mink; why it is because the iron is the heav-
lest, and as it comes all round the water Sc
II cant get away sideways, it is forced up
nat is right; and now want you to tell
ney" ''s w '''0
inn MEhy lguess," replied the hoy, scratch
s.n ms head,"l guess guess don't know
son. Diu you ever get up in chair to look on
s HUlme high shelf SO that your head was
U.ougnt near the ceiling of heated room, in
"nn.Gr! and if so, did you notice any differ
noou . netween the air up there and The all
near the floor below"
Yes, remember-I have. and foun,' the
Il up there as warm as mustard. md a, hon
10 90! down, and bent my head near the fit or
tUn P.ck up something, found it as cold as
=, lhat is ever the cnse; but / wish un,, Ia