Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-27

but it was evidently for differently purpose
that he was to remain now, and no one won
dered more what it could be than Tom him.
self.
DON'T you think, Thomas that oul
school room would be great deal pleasant.
cr II we had some cvcrgrecns to hang around
/ it; something to make it look cheerful p
inquired Miss Wescott
Ycs'm, and ! know where can get
plenty of them"
Well, Thomas, if you will have some
here by eight o'clock tomorrow morning,
will be here to help you put them up, and
we will give the children pleasant sur
prise and here are some books | will rive
you, Thomas; you may put them in your
drawer; they are what want you to study"
" Bat can't study geography and hslo-
ry," exclaimed Tom confused, q" / never
did"
That is the reason why you think you
cannot" replied Miss Wcscott. 81 am
quite sure you can, and you will love them
| know"
Nobody ever cared whether | learned
any thing or not, before" said Tom. with
some emotion.
Well, | care" said Miss Wescott, with
elrnestncss; "you are capable of becom-
ing great and good man; you are now
forming your character for life, and it de-
ponds upon yourself what you become
The poorest boy in this country has an c.
quail chance with the wealthest, and his
circumstances are more favorable for be-
coming eminent, for he learns to depend
upon himself will assist you all can in
-; | I
succeed; remember that am vour friend.
and come to me i'll every difficulty"
Tom Jones had not bccn brought up, he
had come up, because he had been born
into the world and couldn't help it but as
Tor any mental or moral training, he was as
gulItless of 1t as II wild brambc bush of
pruning knife. His fIiher was an intcm
perate, bad man, and his mother was n TO-
tally inefficient woman. At home he re-
ceyed nothing but blows, and abroad nolh-
ing but abuse. His bad passions were
therefore all excited and lostered. and his
good ones never called out lie ALWAYS ex-
pected that his teachers would hate him
50 he whetted anew his combative powers
to oppose them, and he had made up his
mlnd to turn the " new school ma am" ont
OF doors. When, therefore, Miss Wescott
declared that she was glad to have him in
her school, he was amazed and that she
should manifest an interest for him. and
give him new set Of books, was perfectly
lncomprehensble to him. Miss Wcscott
understood his position aud character and
determined to modify them She felt that
he was equally capabeof good and bad ac-
tons, though the bad now prcdomIatcd.-
She knew that his active mind must be bu-
sy; one might as soon think Of claiming the
lightning as binding down by force that
Wild spirit to his books She would give
him employment, but such as would call out
new sci Of ideas and thoughts. lie must
feel that he was doing good to others and
for others sake, and that he was not guided
alone by his own Maynard WILL and vet
there must be no appearance Of restraint
upon him, he must choose to do good.
Tom Jones went home ihat night with
ncW feeling III his breast for the first time
III his HE he felt that lie was capable of RI
sing above his present condition and becom-
ing something greater and better than he
then was. Ills mind became inundated
with new and strange emotions, and like
mighty river turned from its course, his
thoughts and energies from that hour sought
u new direction.
The next morning lie was up with the
dawn, and when Miss Wescott arrived at
the school house she found Tom there with
his evergrcens.
Good morning, Thomas" she said,
kindly, =" and so you are here before me
you must have risen early, and you have
found some beautiful evergrcens; and now
If you will help me hang them, we will
have -the room well arranged by nine
o'clock"
81 have brought hammer and some
nails" said Tom, 81 thought we should
need some"
" Yes, so we shall, am glad you thought
of them" replied Mss Wescoit.
That day every scholar looked amazed to
sec Tom Jones actually studying his book,
and to hear him answer several questions
correctly, and they were still more confoun-
ded when at recess Miss Wescott said.-
Thomas, you will take care Of the little
children, will you not, aud see that they do
not get hurt you must be their protector"
One would as soon have thought of setting
wolf to guard flock Of lambs as Tom
Jones to take care Of the little children.
'N"j SAOidllHSu cdln Evans, - / new
er saw such a school ml'am before in all
the days of my life; did you Tom?"
No." replied Tom, " but wish had,
and would have been a different boy from
what ana now; but ] am going to study
now and learn something Miss Wcscott
says can; am determined to try"
II was astonishing to observe the effect
that Miss Wescotrs treatment OF Tom had
upon the scholars; they began to consider
linn OF some Importance, and TO feel sort
of respect for him, which they manifested
first by dropping the nickname Tom, and
substituting Tommy, which revealed GER
tainly u more kindly feeling towards him.
In less than week, Mss Wcscolt had
her school completely under her control
yet 1t was by love and respect that she gov
erned' and not by an iron rule; she moved
among her scholars very queen, and yet
she SO gained their confidence aud esteem
that 1t dId not seem to them submission TO
anoiher's will, but the promplngs of their
own desire to please. One glance of her
dark eye would have qneled an insurrec-
ton, and one smile made them happy Cor a
day.
Julia Wescott taught school with a real