Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-12-13
uscELLANEOUs READING.
From the y. y. Tribune.
.-~sAemts in the Life Of a school
master.

TER: A TALE. BY the Author of.Nay Mar
tn,' The Green Mountain Boys, &c Bos-
ton: b. b. Mussey 81 Co, % Cornli- New
York: Sold by w. II. Graham, Tribune Bull.
dipps. (Duodecirno, PIP. 23l.
We opened this volume in the cypacta-
,;on of drawing from It's contents both
amusement and instruction, and We have
not been disappointed. save in finding il
even better than our anticipations. The
author is DANIEL b. TmoMrsoN, Esq, a
LAWYER Of Montpelier, VI. highly esteem
ed for his professional attachments and no
ted for his warm attachment - Literature
and the cause Of Popular Education. Ills
first introduction to the public as a writer
was through a much admired Prize Tale,
entitled MAY Martin, or the Money Dig
gers published in the Ercning Ga=cfte
newspaper in Boston, some fifteen or SIX
tcen years ago, and afterwards copied into
Various journals in every part ofthc Union.
A piece Of fiction better calculated to IN
spire noble thought or awaken the soul TO
noble deeds we have rarely seen, and of
ten have we regretted that it was not given
10 the public in form more permanent
than a newspaper. At a subsequent period
Mr. Thompson published a volume entitled
1.-THE Green Mountain Boys" which was
recciyed with considerable favor. This
was Historical Novel, founded on Incl
dents connected with the early settlement
of Vermont, the difficulties between that
State and New York SC This work. both
in design and execution. was crcditab!e to
the abilities Of the author. and an honor TO
the literature Of his native State, and II It
had borne the imprint Of some popular
house, it could not have failed to win for
E.r n ~, 10,
We have said that Mr.. Thompson is a
warm friend Of Popular Education and
the evidence Of that friendship. though not
exhibited now for the first time IS in the
volume whose TILE we have given above
The author tells us. with characteristic
modcstv, in the dedication prcfiXcd 10
the work that Il was written less with the
hope of gaining literary fame than Ottawa
kcninG an interest and imparting useful
hints on the important. and. with AL our
boasts the still sadly neglected su beet of
Common Schools Most trcatiscS on EGu-
cation. in spite of the intrinsic Importance
and value Of their inculcations, are too d.
,ac,ic. not to say dull, 10 gain the attention
al the masses: but here j. Il work IN which
the errors and the truths pertaining 10 tins
subject are wildly illustrated by Tale Of
absorbing interest, which. once begun, the
reader will be sure To follow to the end
And the story, interesting rs it IS III Itself
will not divert attention from the great Sub
Jet. ever paramount IN the authors mind.
The hero Of the Tale is a Schoolmas-
ter, whose severe but successful struggles
10 obtain an education under difficulties
by no means uncommon among the poor.
and whose subsequent devotion t. fhc
cause Of Common schools, as we'll as the
results Of that de yotion, are admirably de-
pictcd. The scene OF tho story IS the
Northern portion of the Union. and the
pictures of Teachers Examinations,
School Meetings.. &c. as we'll as of the
Schools themselves, VIII be acknowledged
true 10 the life, though pertaining moro
strictly Ia the past than the present %eilnr-
alton. We will not sketch the plot Of the
story. choosing rather to fill UP tn" little
space we can at present spare with cN-
tracts which We are confident viii commend
The work To general favor.
Locke AMsprN. having spent year at
an Academy, and by that and Other means
become thoroughly qualified as a Teacher.
determined totry his hand at school-kcep-
lug. Having heard Ola District known rs
the horn of the Noon, and situated in
mountain town Il dozen miles from his
home: where the people. from some can~"
or other. had dismissed d teacher during
the first week of his engagement, and
where the Committee were in search of
another to supply his place. our hero deter
mined To apply for the situation. On his
way TO the ncighborhood. he overlook il
man on foot, of whom he made some IN
qulricS relative to the situation Of the
School:
why" replied the man. .'as live out
there in the tip of the Horn. which is OF,
Of course. AT the outer edge of the dis
trict. know but little about the school at
fairs, but one thing is certain, they have
shipped the master. and want to get anUtll-
cr. | suppose
''For what cause was the master dis
missed! For lack of qualifications"
''Ics. lack of qualifications for our dis
trict. The fellow. however. had learning
enough, as all agreed but no Spunk: and
the young Runkcrs. and some others ofthc
big BOYS; mi>tru~ting this. and being lit
lie rilcd at some things he had said To them
took it into their heads 10 train him little.
which they did, when he instead sc show (
in. any grit on the occasion. rot frightened
and cleared out"
"Whv. sir. did his scholars offer him
personal violence,'
20 no--not violence. They took him
up quite carefully bound him on 10 a plank.
rs understood. and carried him on their
shoulders. in sort of procession. three
times around the Schoolhousc. and then
unloosing him. told him to 90 al his bust
hers again.
And was all this suffered to take place
without any interference from Your Com
mitteel"
''Ies. our Committee man would not in
tertere in such case. \ master must
fight his own way in our district
''Who is Your Conmittecl''
Captain Bill Bunker is now They
had amecting after the iracaS. and chose
4 new one
rs he a man who is capable Of aScer-
tanning Tor himself the qualifications of a
teacher!'