Lewisburg chronicle, and the West Branch farmer. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1849-1849, 1849-09-19

We'll Thomas. if you will have som
here by eight o'clock Tomorrow morning
will be here to help you put them up, an
we will give the children pleasant, sur
L prise and here are some book, will CIV
YOU, Thomas you may put Them in you
drawer {; they are what ! want You Il
study"
&" But can't study geography and his
torv," exclaimed Tom, confused, never
did"
THAT is the reason why you think yo'
can not,' replied Miss Wes,cou. :" an
quite sure you can, and you will love then
know"
" Nobody ever cared whether learned
anything or not. before,' said Tom, with
some emotion.
Well, care" said Miss Westcott, with
earnestness, "you are capable OF becoming
great and good man you are now form
ing your character for lie, and ii depends
upon yourself. wha, you becpme. The
poorest boy in this country has an equal
chance with the wealihesi, and his cir
ing eminent, for he learns to depend upon
himself. will assist you all can in
your studies, Thomas, and ] know you
will succeed remember that am your
friend, and come to the in every difficulty"
Tom Jones had not been brot up, he
had come up, because he had been born
INTO the world aud couldn't hep it but as
tor any mental or moral training. he was
as guillless Of it as wild brambIe bush o.
pruning. knife. His father was an in-
temperate, bad man, and his mother was "A
totally inefficient woman. At home he
received nothing bu, blows. and abroad
nothing but abuse. HIS bad passions
were therefore all excited and fos,ereh,
and his good ones never called out. He
always expected that his teachers would
hate him; so he whet.ed anew his COM
battive powers to oppose them, and he had
made up his mind 10 turn the "new school
ma'am" out Of doors. When, therefore,
Mss Westcott declared that she was clad
to have him in her school, be was amazed
and that she should manifest an Interest
for him, and give him set Of new books,
was perfectly incomprehensib 10 him.
Miss Wesicolt understood his position and
character. and determined to modify them.
She fell that he was equally capable Of
good and bad actions, though the bad now
predominated. She knew that his active
mind must be busy 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 set Of ideas and
thoughts. lie must feel that he was do
ing good for others sake, and Iha, he was
not guided alone by his own way ward will,
and yet there must be no appearance Of re-
strant upon him he must choose to do
good.
Tom Jones went home that night with
new feeling in his breast for the first
time in his life he felt tina, he was capable
of rising above his present condition, aud
becoming something greater and better
than he then was. Ills mind became in
undated with new and strange emotions.
and like mighty river turned from its
course, his thoughts and energies from lha,
hour sought new direction.
The next morning he was up with the
dawn, and when Miss Westcot arrived at
he school-house she found Tom there
with his evergreens.
"Good morning, Thomas" she said,
kindly, ." and so you are here before me i
you must have risen early. aud you have
found some beautiful evergreens aud now
if you will help me hang them, we will
have the room well arranged by uine
o'clock"
g have brous ht hammer and some
nails" said Tom, .' thought We should
Geed some."
"Yes, so we will, am glad you tho'i
of ,hem,'' replied Miss Wes,cor.
That day every scholar looked amazed
to see Tom Jones actually studying his
book, and to hear him answer several
questions correctly, and they were still
more confounded when at recess Mss
Westcott said. Thomas, you will take
care of the little children. will you not. !
and see that they do not get hurt you
must be their protector One would have
as soon thought Of setting wolf to guard
a flock of lambs, as Ton Jones to take
care of the lillle children.
.'Well," exclaimed Sam Evans, 81
never saw such school ma'am before in