Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-01-17
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE,

4
Once in traveiing,l | observed an old
building, which appeared to be falling in
TO ruins. No smoke issued frcm its bro
ken chimney. No foot crossed its grass
grown threshhold. The easements wers
gone, and through their vacant places tho
winds whstled, and the rains fell.
| asked, "What is this building, which
is thus suffered 10 decay?" They answer
ed, "H Shooi-house. But part of its ma
terisls have been used TO build better one.
in more convenient spot for the village
children.'
So | paused there little time to mcdi-
tate. And said TO myself, what varie-
fy OF scenes may have passed within these
to;ering walls. Where are the teachers,
who, in years gone by, sat in the chair Of
state, and ruled, and gave instruction?
In yonder corner, perhaps, was low
bench for ihe little ones, coming their al
phabet. Those little ones have grown up,
grown gray, and died. The babes whom
they rocked i'll the cradle have shown the
same tenderness TO their own babes
Gone generation passeth away, and anoth-
er cometh."
Beneath these windows, where that trim
old sycamore looked in with all its show
Of green leaves, waving and gossiping in
the breeze of summer, imagine a row of
young girls with their sunny locks, knit
ting, sewing, or listening with serious fa-
ces while the mistress taught them what
it was necessary for them TO know when
they became omen.
The SHOWS Of winter seem 70 spread a.
round. The frozen pond in the rear of
the school-house is covered with boys
The clock strikes nine. They hasten to
their school. The narrow entry rings
with The jingle of their skates as they throw
them down. Gne or two, who love play
better thafi'study, approach with more lin
gering steps. e.
Methinks see their ruddy faces as
they take their seats. The master raises
a stern eye al their clamor or stined laugh
ter, and commands them TO write their
copies, and attend TO their sums. But the
treatise of arithmetic is thumbled, and the
grammar lessons curled into dogs ears by
those whose rowing thoughts are among
their winter sports.
There was the long sigh of Incidence,
and the tears of such as were punished
And there was impatence there, and am
bition, and the kindlings of intellect, and
the delights of knowledge. The master
endeavors to rule each for their good, as
the wise magistrate restrains the people
by laws.
| fancy I behold that teacher walking
homeward, weary and thoughtful, when
the day was done. He felt sadness for
those who did not improve, and over those
who did, lie rejoiced with peculiar love.
Perhaps he repeated mournfully the
words Of the prophet. II have labored
in vain, | have spent my strength for
naught." And avoice from Heaven am
swered in his heart, "Yet surely thy iudg-
ment is with the Lord, and thy work with
thy God -
Old school house! Couldst thou speak,
doubt not that thou wouldst fell me that
eminent men have been nurtured in thee
ingenious mechanics. on whom the COM
fort of the community depends; athletic
farmers, laying the forest low, and forcing
earth TO yield her increase; physicians,
who the sick sufferer blesses; eloquent
lawyers; wise statesmen; holy priests,
who interpret the word of the A mighty.
| wish that the school houses i'm our
country were more commodious and taste
ful in their construction; more spacious
and airy, surrounded with trees, or beau
tiful with shrubbery.
There was once benevolent man who
went TO the continent of New Holland
He found mu!titudes of children growing
up neglected and ignorant. He wished
much to have them taught; but there was
TO school house. So he collected them
under a spreading tree, whose branches
could shelter at least one hundred from
the heat of the sun. He hung cards, with
painted lessons, among the boughs, and
there he taught the poor colonists to read,
and to spell, and to sing. ...~..r
There are very beautiful birds in that
country. Many of them had nests in this
large tree. So there they were, flying
about and tending their young, while the
children were learning below: and the
chirruping of the new fedged birds, and
the warbllng of their parents, and the bu-
sy voices Of the children learning to be
good made sweet music in the heart Of
that benevolent man.
Did they not ascend, and mingle with
the praises Of angels around the throne?
Important Decision. understand