Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-02-03
The Student and Apprentice.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

tending by the question To elicit some reply
that would exhibit the boys ignorance.
James Wallace, boy of fourteen, turned
his bright intelligent eyes upon the son OF hi'
master, and after regarding him for moment
he replied
Il don't know, IIarman. How far is IL
There was something 50 honest aud earnest
in the tone Of the boy, that much as liannaI
had felt AT first disposed 10 sport with hls lgno'
rance, he could not refrain from giving hun a
true answer. Still his contempt for the lgno-
rant apprentice was not to be concealed and he
replied
( 'Nne,y-fyc millions Of miles, you ignora-
mus
! James did not retort, but repeating over in
his mind the distance named, fixed II indellbly
upon his memory.
On the same evening after he had finished
his first DAYS work, he obtained small text
book on astronomy, which belonged to Har-
man Lee, and went up into his garret with a
candle, and there alone, attempted to dive into
the mysteries of that subm; science. As
he read, the cancstncss of his attention fixed
nearly every fact upon his mind. SO intent
was he that he perceived not the passage OF
time, and was only called back 10 a concious-
ness of where he was by the sudden sinking OF
the wick Of his candle, into the melted tallow
that had filled the cup of his candle-stlck. In
another moment he was in total darkness
The cry Of the watchmen told him that the
hours had flown until it was past twelve o.
clock.
| Slowly undressing himsclfn his dark cham
Der, his mind recurring with strong interest
To what he had been reading, he laid upon his
hard bed and gave full play to his thoughts
Hour after hour passed away, but he could
not sleep, so absorbed was he IN receiving the
new and wonderful things he had read. At
last wearcd nature gave way, and he fell of
into slumber filled with planets, moons, com
cts and fixed stars. On the next morning the
apprentice boy resumed his place at the work
bench with a new feeling, and with this feeling
was mingled one of regret, that he could not
90 to school as did his masters son.
| But can study at night, while he is as
| leep,' lie said to himself.
Just then lIarman Lee came into the shop,
and approaching James, said, for the purpos'
of teasing him:
How bic round is the earth, Jiml'
a Twenty-Five thousand miles, was th'
prompt answer.
Ilarman looked surprised for a moment
and then responded with a snecr-lor he wa:
not kind hearted boy, but on the contrary,
very selfish, and disposed to injurc rather than
do good 10 others
90, dear! How wonderful wise YOU are -
and no doubt YOU can tell how many moons
Jupiter has Come let's heart
Jupiter has four moons, James answered,
with something of fcxulta,ion in his tone.
And no doubt you can tell how many rings
it hast
Jupiter has no rings. Saturn has rings,
and Jupiter has belts, James replied in de-
csive tone.
| For M ment or two, ITarman was silent
with 81 rprise, and modification to think that
his fathers apprentice, whom he deemed 50
far below him. should be poss s,cd of knowl-
edge eqt al to his, on the points IN reference 10
which he had chosen to question him and
that he should be able TO convict him of an
error into which he had purposely fallen.
i should like to know how long it is since
YOU became so wonderful wise . llarman at
length sad with snser.
/ Not very long, James replied calmly.-
have been reading one of your books IN AS
tronomy.
We'll. YOU re not going to have my books.
mister, can tell you Any how, | should
like to know what business you had 10 touch
one of them Let me catch you at it again
and see if don't cuff YOU soundly You'd
better great deal be mindng your work
But didn't neglect my work, llannan.-
] read at night, after | was done my work.
And didn't hurt your book
/ don't care if you didn't hurt ii. You are
not going TO have my books, can tell you.-
80 do YOU Just let them alone
Poor James heart sank in his bosom, at this
unexpected object thrown IN his way. lie
had no money of his own To buy, and knew Oi
no one from whom he could borrow the book
that had at once become necessary 10 his hap
pncss.
Do, Haunan,' said he implornp,r, lend
me the book. will take good care of it.
NO ! won't And don / you dare 10 touch
it, was the angry reply.
\ James Wallace knew well enough tho SCI
fish disposition of his masters sou, older than
him two or three years. to be- convinced that
there was now but little hope of his having the
use of his books cxccp, by stealth And from
that his open and honest spirit rcvoItcd. Al
day nc thought earnestly over the means where
hv he should be able To obtain book on As
,ronomv, To- qucnch the ardent thirst whicl
had been created IN his mind And night cam'
without any satisfactory answer being obtaincC
lie was learning the trade of a blind maker
Having been already an apprentice for tw'
wears, and being industrious and intelligent h
had acquired a readiness with tools and mucI
skill in some parts of the trade. While SIT
ting alone, after he had finished his work 70
the day, his mind searching about for som
mean by which he could get books, 1t Occurrc
to him that hc might, by working IN the eve
ming earn some money, and with II buy sue
as he wanted. But IN what manner to tur
his work into money, he knew not II hnhll
occurred To him, in passing a house near tn
shop, he frequently observed pair oi wlndo'
blinds with faded colors.
Perhaps said he to himself, II woul
do it cheap they would let me paint aud pu
new hangings To their blinds.
The thought was scarcely SuggeStrd, "h'.
he was on his feet moving towards INC s're,'
: In frw minutes he stood Knocking AZ u
door of the house. which WAS soon opened.
'Wcll. my little man, what do you wan,
was The kind salutatlon OF the lndi'iduai WIZ
answered the knock.
, lanes now felt confused, and stan mere
/, Tho hsncings on your bhnl' arc goo'
deal faded.