Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-04-09

a faithful boy he had made nails ever since
he was able TO hold a hammer; and II was
for this that he desired the more to send him
TO school. 1t had troubled him much all
along that the boy was working so long and
so well at the anvil, without having any of
his wages 10 pay the schoolmaster for teach
ing him something that would make him rich
in his poverty when he came 10 be a man
and he had tried 10 make up this TO him In a
little way, by reading to him easy verses
from the testament. many uf which he had
learned BY heart. Besides this. he had bought
a little picture reading book. since was
with them last, and Josiah could master ma
ny easy words in it. for he had learned al
most all the letters. but he knew this was
a slow way Of getting on. although he feared
this was the best he could do for him. He
knew not how to manage to spare him for
the winter. lie had no other boy there was
a baby in the cradle only a fortnight old,
which made him five children under ten years
Of age, to be fed, warmed and clothed through
the winter mon,hs-and here he fell into a
calculation Of this kind-he could now earn
nine shillings, or about two dollars and TWEEN
| ty cents a week. His coal cost him three
shillings a week, and his house rent. two
leaving him but four shillings a week for a
family of seven persons to live upon. JOSH
abs clothes were well nigh gone they were
indeed ragged there was nothing left to
SOW patches to; and all he had in the world
was on him, except a smock frock, which he
put over them OH the sabbath.
These considerations gave a thoughtful
tone to the nailer's voice. as they came upon
his mind, and a thoughtful air came over the
family group when he had finished, and they
all lnnEnd gfrailv into tho Gr, ~, n,,.l - a,
say, " 1t cannot be DONE So ] began at
the bacon to soften down these Obstacles
there were nearly $50 pounds of it, besides
a spare rib hanging from another ioist-and
suggested how mach better off they were
than ten thousands of poor people in the
world. Gould they ever spare Josiah better
than during this winter? He would learn
faster now, than when he is older, and when
they could not spare him so well. Nor was
this ali if they could get on without him for
a few months, lie might not only learn TO read
without spelling, but he could teach his three
little sisters to read during the winter nights,
and the baby too, as soon as 1t could talk so
that sending him TO school now would be
like sending all his children 10 the same
school. Yes, it might be more than this
Let him go for a few months, and when he
came back TO the anvil, he might work all
day. and in the evening he might get togeth-
er all the mailer children that lived within a
mile, and teach them how 10 read and write.
There was the liule Wesleyan chapel within
a rod of their own door, lying useless except
on Sundays. 1t would be just the place for
an evening school, for fifty, or even a hun
dred little children whose parents were too
poor TO send TO the day-schonls of the town.
And wouldn't they like to look in and see
Josiah, with his primer in hand, teaching
their neighbors' children in this way with
his clean smock-frock on, setting copies in
the writing-books of the little nailers? Jo-
siah, who was standing between my knees.
looking sharply into the fire. with his picture
hook in his hand, turned suddenly around al
this idea, and fixed his eyes inquiringly up
on my own. The thought vibrated through
all the fine-stfung sympathies of parental az
lection. The mother leaned forward to part
away the black hair from the boys forehead.
and said to his father, softly, that she would
take his place at the anvil, if they should
want his wages while at school. This was
the crisis of my errand, and in my magma
ton, | tried to catch the eyes Of the children
in America, as ] went on to say that they
would not be willing to have Josiah 90 to
school in his old worn out clothes, 10 be
laughed at or Stunned by well-dressed
school-mates nor that he should stay at home
for want Of decent, comfortable clothes. |
knew what they would say if they were with
me and so | offered TO fit him out at the tai
lor's with a good comfortable suit, as a part
of the Christmas present from his young
friends on the other side of the ocean. The
little ones were too timid TO crow, but they
looked as though they would when / was
gone and the mailer and his wife almost cri-
ed for joy at what the children of a far off
land had done for their son. For myself, !
only regretted that | could not share at the
moment with those young friends, all the
pleasure ! felt in carrying out their wish and
deed of benefcence. hope it is not the last
time that shall be associated with them in
these little adventures of benevolence.
Perhaps ! have made too long a story Of
my second visit to the %nailer's cottage. |
will merely add that it was agreed that |
should proceed into town, a distance of near
ly three miles, and make arrangements for
the boys schooling, and be Joined there by
him and his father. So, bidding adieu to the
remainder OF the family, | continued nv walk
into the town of Broomsgrove, and soon
found a kind-hearted school-teacher, " no
agreed to take the lad and do his best to for.
ward his education. Having met several
gentlemen in the course of my inquiries, they
became interested in the case and went with
me to the inn, where the lad and his father
were waiting for me. Thence we all procee.
ded to a clothing shop, where the little mailer
was soon fitted with a warm and decent suit,
One OF the company, a Baptist minister, IA
whose congregation the schoolmasler belong.
ed, promised to call in and see the boy occa,
slonally, and 10 let me know how he Gets or.
On the Monday after Christmas, he made his
first entry into any school-room.'