The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-11-20

cas- that n lot of'em got into NJ the last mus
ter, fairly scare from The ground II fellow of
the Horn gang as big as Two ofhim; and then
stumped all the rest TO come on one ut time,
and there wasn't soul Of The whole Doodle
that dared go IT,. Concern 'em | could con-
trve way to manage EN-"
"And what would be the general features
Of your plan of operations, my learned BROTH
err" snid Locke, smiling good naturedly nj
tho thought ofthe other turning adviser III
matters ofschool keeping.
81 am learned enough to know what is the
best way of getting along with such pGck as
Think" replied Ben, slightly netIed; "nnd
that is more than you know, or can do, with
out help, fear. But if you wait TO know
my plan, will tell you In the first place,
would give out, in some way, that was most
furious quick tempered, and so unfortunate
bad and ructious, that from child, when u
ny one crossed and disputed me, would ny
all to pieces, and, without knowing what
did, lay hold oi'thc first thing could fud,and
knock him down. Now, don't you think
they would be rather careful what they did,
after they believed that"
81 shall go on and endeavor to do my duty
in proper and decided manner" said Locke,
in reply;'but to adopt your plan, though II
might have its effect for II while, would yet
he practising n deception to which could
never condcscend."
Chat is rght,my son" said Mrs. Amsden:
81 approve your determination 10 practise no
deception. | would not, whatever the result"
"Why, MOTHER" said Ben, ''to fight Old
Nick with Old NicHs play, il we must fight
him Mt all, thought was right, the world o.
YER"
"No, Benjamin" rcoincd the mother seri
ously, but kindly, "that is bad principle to
act upon. Deception never long prospers;
and, by its destructive effect on the morals
ofhim who begins to practise H. generally
ends in the ruin ofhim and all his plans"
Ben did not not attempt TO conrovert his
mothers general position, but still manifest
ed a disposition to adhere TO his opinion re-
spccting the right and eXpediency of adopt
ing the particular project he had advanced
and muttering, "Well, Locke must he help
ed for all that fell to musing and and devil
sing some means 10y which his plan might
he carried into effect without his brothers n
gency; but, not seeing fit 10 make known n
ny of his conclusions, his remarks were soon
forgottcn,& the whole subject being at length
dropped, the family retired for the night.
Locke, accompanied by Ben, set out for,
and reached the Horn OF the Moon. Having
stopped with Bunker the following CONVERSE
ton ensues
81 have felt considerable curiosity, since |
became acquainted with you the other day"
observed our hero, II point in the CONVERSE
ton when the remark might seem TO be APP
propriatcly introduced, "to know how it could
have happened, that so thinking n man as
yourself had never learned to reud:"
care you quite certain should have been
so much oft thinker as arn, if had receV-
cd IL book educalou:' said Bunker IN reply.
"Nour knowledge would have been more
extensive, in that case, doubtless, sir; aud If
you had been the worse thinker TOR II, the
fault would have been your own, l imaglue,'
replied the other.
Gan that may be-" remarked Bunker, mu-
sngly, Sand perhaps it is so-perhaps II is
with learning, as it with property, which we
never keep and improve 50 well when gwen
TO us, or get easily, rs when il is Obtained by
our own exertions-by hard knocks and long
digging. But whether this is so or not, one
thing to my mind is certain, and that is, that
more than one half of your great book-Inen
are, after all, but very shallow thinkers;
though the way they dress up a subject with
language, generally procures them the credit
of being otherwise; for II is curious enough 10
see what deal of real ignorance Il few long
words and learned terms are made to con-
ceal."
CAV" said Locke, "but does not your ar
gumeut run against the abuse oflearniug ,rath-
er than its use?"
"PossibIy," replied Bunker; "hut at any
rate, have often thought, that il had re-
ceived an education equal to some OF your
great scholars, should have found outrather
more than most of them appear to have
DONE"
"Your impressions" rejoined Locke, "are,
| suspect by no means uncommon. L for-
ktIt the / ST IL
:, t;,., more am convinced, that the unlearn-
Cd nre accustomed to expect much more
from the learned han they should do. Schol-
airs. however profound, eau never discover
what God has purposely hidden from the hui
man mind"
"There may be something in your re-
nnarks.n observed the other, and will think
over the subject again. But now to return
to your first question-What was the reason
had never learned to read was it!'
SIT was"
"Well, will tell you honestly; it was, first
total want ofopportunity, and then PRIDE, Ill
I had rot to he so old dog, that thought
would not attempt to learn any new tricks
"Those are rather unusual reasons, Tor tins
country, at least, are they not!
"They are the true one, in my case, never
theless NV father was a trapper, and pitch
ed his cabin at the very outskirts OF clVllZa
ton, on one of the great rivers IN Canada
where schools were wholly out OF the CUES
tion;-even books were so rare, that ! don
recolect of ever seeing but one during the
whole of my boyhood. That one was m,
mothers old worn and torn bible, whicn' a
last, a gray squirrel, that came in through til,
roof of our cabin, one day when we were al
out, knocked down from shelf into the flr'
as we concluded, because we saw HIM esca
ping with leafin his mouth, to he'll make
his nest. This, as said was the only booE