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

to the yielding and tickle she taught a
strong self reliance She encouraged the
one rain drop to do all the good it could,
aud the rushing torrent she turned where it
would lertllze, rather than destroy and de-
vastatc.
There are in every school some dormant
energies, which, if reused, might shake the
world. There arc emotions and passions,
which, if let loose, wilt like the lightnngs
of heaven, scatter ruin and blight, but if
controlled, may, ike that element, become
the messengers of thoughts TO the world -
In that head that you call dull, may lie slum-
boring passions like some pcnt-up volcano );
open that closed crater, and sec if there do
not bech forth flames which your own hand
cannot stop. Pat hcImSman and pilot TO that
wnyward mind which floats at the mercy of
wind and wave in the wide sea of thought,
AID you will see it hearing lis course beau
tiuIly upon the waters, and anchoring at
last in Il quiet haven, laden with the riches
Of the earth. Call out the train bands of
thought that lie lurking under the benches
of the school room, arm and equip them for
action, and give yourself the word of COM
mand, and lead on, and see if there be not
vlgor enough to scale those lortresses of
knowledge which now rise like dark noun
tains before them. There is not Il school
room where there is not energy and vigor
and thought enough, il developed and d.
rccted, TO revolutionize the world. There
arc geniuses which burst forth like spring
from the mountain and there are also
streams as beautiful and pure, far, far down
IN the earth, which will flow on forever in
their darkened course, unless some excava-
ting hand digs away the hcapess piles of
earth above them, and then there gushcs up
an unialling well of pure and sparkling wa
tcrs. The sculptor may form from the block
OF marble before BIN, either angel or devil;
so the soul may be made either seraph's
home or demons haunt; and, do you not
know, parent, teacher, thai it is your hand
that fashions the abode, and bcckons thith-
or the vistant!
| have seen father mourn over his be-
sotted son, when his own hand pressed first
to his child's lips the hcIIsh draught that
sets his soul on fire. ] have seen a poor
lone mother weep as if her heart would
break, over her ruined idols. Yet that
mothers smile beamed first upon the coming
footsteps Of the destroyer. and her voice
warned not her child of danger. In that
day, when God shall bring everything into
judgment, will not the curses which rung so
icariully i'll the offenders ears in this world. |
roll back with crushing weight upon those
who fulfilled not their responsibilities TO
them while young Who knows that eve
ry murderer might not have been minister
OF mercy to wrett he'd thousands He was
not born Il murderer that sweet blue eye
had no licudish glare, as its baby face rest
ed dpon its mothers bosom--that little hand
bore 10 stain of blood as it cl0pped them
in childish glee. Mother, remember that
earnest eye which mirrors thine own glance |
so lovingly, will ever reflect the light thou !
givest it, A skillul farmer first prepares
the ground, and then plants such seed as is
adapted to the soil; and shall we be less |
careful to make fit dwelling place for the
- thoughts Of immortal mould" that spring |
up in the soul and shall we not care and .
know what seed is sown in those immortal
minds which are hereafter TO be Judged by
their fruits The sowo" in the parable
sowed good sced but Tint only which fell
upon good ground bore fruit; had the
thorns been rooted out, and the soil enrich
ed, would not the other fields have yielded
a harvest also! | have seen teacher make |
his entrance into Il school by reading list |
OF rules, of Two or three feet in length -
" You must do ths--you must do that"
without Il single remark upon the proprety
or improperly, the why and wherefore Of
the thing, but only "you mast do it,
You might as well eXpcc; to cure man +
of stealing by pelting him with Bibles
The truth certainly hits hard enough-and
so would stones-let 4 man feel the beauty
as well as the violence Of the law, and he
will be quite as apt to profit by it.
Julia WescOtt understood human nature.
She made it her study, as every teacher
ought to do. She rooted out error and
prejudice from the minds Of her pupils,
showed them the evil of sin and the beauty
of virtue, the advantages of education, and
the consequences of ignorance: taught
them their own capabilities, and adapted
her instructions TO their capacities and ne
cesslties. And thus she went on, year ai-
ter year, scattering good seed into good
ground, and she has reaped an abundant
harvest
From many happy home and high
place comes blessing upon her, and there
is no one who breataes her name with grea-
ter reverence, or remembers her with more
grateful affection, thIn Tom jones'" who
has iilled with eminent ability, one of the
highest judicial Offices in the Union, and
who freely acknowledges that he owes his
present character and position entirely to
her treatment and instructions.
Truly he that goeth forth weeping, bear
ing precious seed, shall come again rejoic-
ING, bringing his shelves with him.