Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-01-25
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE.
BY LYDIA II. sIGoURNEY.

Once in travelling, | Observed an old
building, which appeared 10 be falling
into ruins. No smoke issued from It's
broken chimney. ar No foot cross
ed its grass grown threshold. The
easements were gone, and through their
vacan, places the winds whistled, and
the rains fell. 3f ,a# '.f~n'.4 .taa#
"a asked, "What is this building, which
is thus suffered to decay!" They an
swered, "A Schoot House. But part
of its materials have been used to build
a better one, in a more convenient spot
for the village children" Sna
So | paused there little time to med :
itaie. And | said to myself, what va
riety of scenes may have passed within
these toiterng walls. Where are the
teachers, who, in years gone By, sat in
the chair of state, and ruled, and gave
instruction.! n alr Fl. .aEru .. ~. r s
In yonder corner, perhaps, was low
bench for the little ones, coming their
alphabet. Those little ones have grown
up, grown gray, and died The babes
whom they rocked in the cradle have
shown the same tenderness TO their own
babes. ''One generation passe,h away,
and another cometh."
Beneath these windows, where that
trim old sycamore looked in with all its
show OF green leaves, waving and gos-
siping III the breeze OF summer, | mag
inc row of young girls with their sun
ny locks, knitting, sewing, or listening
with serious faces while the mistress
taught them what it was necessary for
them 10 know when they became wo-
men.
The SHOWS of winter seem to spread
around. 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. One or two, who
love play better than study, approach
with more lingering steps. nG1n .4g g7#
Methinks see their. ruddy faces as
they take their seats. The master raises
a stern eye at their. clamor or slihed
laughter, and commands them to write
their copies, and attend to their sums
But the treatise of arithmetic is lhumhled
and the grammar, lessons curled into
dog s 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 impatience there, and am
bition, and the kindlngs of intellect. and
the delights of knowledge. The mas
ter endeavors to rule each for their good,
as the wise magistrate restrans the peo-
pie by laws. a
| fancy 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, he rejoiced with a pecu-
| liar love. .'- E-'i'% '1.#' @..' '"' 2
Perhaps he repeated mournlully the
words OF the prophet. ..Ihave labored
III vain, have spent my strength for
naughl.' And voice from Heaven an
swered in his heart, Yet surely is thy
Judgment with the Lord and Thy work
with Thy God!' '.-
Old school house! couldst thou speak,
doubt not that thou wouldst tell me thai
eminent men have been nurlured in thee
ingenious mechanics, on whom the COM
fort OF the community depends; athletic
farmers, laying the forest low, and fore.
ing earth TO yield her increase, physi.
clans, who the sick sufferer blesses; elo.
queDt lawyers; wise statesmen; holy
| priests, who interpret the word of the
Almighty. ,
| wish that the shool-houses in ouI
! country were more commodious and
tasteful in their construction; more spa.
cious and airy, surrounded with trees, OF
beautiful with shrubbery. ea.-
There was once benevolent man
who Wen to the continent of New Hol
land. He foond multiiudes of children
growing up neglected and ignorant. lie
wished much to have them taught; bu
there was no school.house. So he col
lec,ed them under a spreading tree
whose branches could shelter at leas
one hundred from the heat of the SUM-
AAC huiip SuiNSs hhu pdihtCu tNSSOhSs a
mong the boughs, and there he taugh
the poor colonisis to read, and 10 spell,
and to sng,fg llE TfIEIsIRa ,HifE,
p There are very beautiful birds in tha
country. Many of them had nests ii
this large tree. So there they were
flying about and lending their young
while the children were learning below:
and the chirruppipg OF the new ffedged
birds, and the warbling of their parents,
and the busy voices Of the children
learning to be good, made sweeI music
in the heart OF that benevolent man,
Did they not ascend, and mingle with
the praises of angels around the throne!
l59 The New York Sun says tha
DIR. Townsend has sold out the GOOD