Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-04-03

! INSPIRED that james was really about
turn over a new leaf. The self. reproac
was a draught Of unmingled bitterness:
Mr.. Bell felt that he had been greatly I
blame. He would have shrunk from tn
, thought Of allowing even a choice grape
vine in his garden. TO trai! IFS neslecic
branches on the ground. Yet his son, hi
= eldest son-lhe choice plant in the garde'
. of home-had been allowed TO grow a
be listed, with less real and judicious a,,en
ton from his father, than had been be
slowed on the peach tree or the vine.
i These thoughts crowded on :he mind O
Mr.. Bell, as he sat alone that evening il
his study, with his sons books open before
him. He leaned his head on the table
while tears, hot tears. such rs a paren
alone can weep, fell from his eyes. HI
remained long buried in thought. and lef
his study that night wiser man, better
father.
James, as we have before hin,ed, fount
i, no easy task 10 adhere TO his newly for
med resolutions. The difficulties which
he had so ingeniously evaded in days gone
by, now stood like mountains ia his path,
impeding his onward progress. He tried
to do his best. But even his most sirenu.
GUS efforts he found to be wholly unequal
10 enable him TO over,ake those who by pa.
Iient and faithful Industry had been for
weeks and months far in advance OF him.
painful sense Of failure and discourage
men. began to creep over James hear, ,and
he iel, almost inclined TO give up his appa.
ren,ly irui,less efforts.
81 can see plainly that Mr.Smi.h thinks
me mere bockhead, and AM almost in.
ciined to be Of his opinion"
Such was james discouraging exc!ama-
lion to his friend Frank Hartley. as they
walked home slowly together one Friday
afternoon. Frank was an intelligent boy;
he vas greatly attached TO James. who was
three or four years younger than himself,
and he had watched with great interest and
anxiety the change which his observing
eye had marked in his friend during the
last two weeks.
"You are no blockhead, James," was
Franks abrupt reply "nor does Mr.Smlth
think that you are."
"How can he help thinking SO when he
hears me make so many blunderss And
why do hesitate and blunder more fre.
quent'y than any other boy 10 The class,
except that great Ounce. Joe Sims ~
"lf you will not feel offended at me for
my plain speaking, can easily answer
,ha, question:" replied Frank.
s'Indeed, shall mol feel offended. but on
The country shall be very much obliged
10 you. have been lately thinking
seriously, and making some good resoIu-
tons
II felt sure that you had" interrupted
his companion, "and l am heartily glad of
it. have noticed great change in you
Of late, James. and i'll can help you IN any
way. why, shall be glad TO do 50. that's
eli. The other boys have been trying to do
their best for months past, and you have
only lately begun The same course. 10
Greek, most of them are familiar with the
deciensions and conjugalions. and have all
the rules of syniax at their finger ems"
"Ah, I wish tha. I had !" interrupted
James. with heavy sigh.
"Tha, is the very thing" rejoined his
friend, "those first difficulties lie 10 your
path. NominalIy you have passed them.
but. in fact, they are still before you. And
now you find them more formidable than
you would have found them when we first
began. 1t is the same in your Latin, and
the same think in your arithmetic and al.
zebra, IS it not1'
"Yes, s,lndeed!" replied James, "and now,
can you help me still farther! Having
shown me where the difficulties liz. can you
show me how to overcome ihem1"
g" think that perhaps can, James.
But my FIRST and best piece Of advice 10
you is. 20 yourself to Mr.. Smith. end talk
with him upon the subject. lie will advise
you kindly, and far more judiciously than
could do."
James shrank from the idea Of speaking
10 Mr.. Smith. He entertained towards
that gentleman those feelings Of dislike.
with which careless and idle scholars are
very apt 10 regard their instructors. The
persuasions of Frank, and the advice Of
his father, whom he freely consulted on
the subject. at length overcome his rePue-
nance and the following morning he
called on Mr.. Smith.
As soon as Jam es made known to him
The object Of his visit, Mr.. Smith welcomed
him mos, kindly and cordially. He had
been greatly puzzled by his pupils conduct