The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-10-14
MISCELL N Z 20 U s.
From GIeason's Pictorial.
THE SLIGHTED SCHOLAR.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Cases like the one am about to relate are
much too frequent in our country land they are
such, too, as should be guarded against by all
who have an interest in education. The in.
cident was brought to mind by hearing com.
plant made by the parent of a poor boy, who
had been grossly neglected by the teacher OF
the village school neglected simply because
he was poor and comparatively friendless!
Many years hgo, when was but a small
boy, attended school in the town Of M.
Among the scholars there was boy namst,
George Henry. His father was poor, drink
ing man, and the unfortunate boy had to suf-
fer in consequence. George came to school
habited in ragged garments-but they were
the best he had; he was rough and uncouth
in his manners for he had been brought up
In that manner; he was very ignorant, for
he had never had opportunity for education
Season after season, poor George Henry
occupied the same seat in the school-room,-
it was back corner seat, away from the O.
ther scholars,--and there he thumbed his
catered primer. The ragged condition OF
his garb gave homely cast to his whole ap.
pearance, and what Of intelligence there
might have been in his countenance was be-
clouded BY the "outer covering" of the boy
He seldom played with The other children, o
they seemed to shun him; but when he did
for while, join with them in their sports, h,
was SO rough that he was soon showed off ou
of the way.
The teachers passed the poor boy coldl,
by in the street, while other boys, in bette
garbs, were kindly noticed. In the s 'hool
young Henry was equally coldly treated. Th
teacher neglected him, and then called hin
an "idle blockhead" because he did not learn
The boy received no incentive to study, an
consequently he was most OF the time idle
and idleness begat disposition to Will
away the time in mischief. For this he wa
whipped, and the more he was whipped tn
more idle and careless he became. He kne,
that he was neglected by the teacher smpl
because he was poor and ragged, and with
sort of sullen Indifference, sharpened at time
by feelings of bitterness, he plodded on i
his dark, thsnkless way.
Thus matters went on for several years
Most of the scholars who were of Georg
Henry's age had passed on to the highe
branches of study, while he, poor fellow, sti
spelled out short words OF one and tw
syllables, and still kept his distant seat il
the corner. His father had sunk lower il
the pit of inebriation, aud the unfortunat
boy was more wretched than ever. The loo
of clownish Indifference which had marke
his countenance, was giving away to shad
of unhapp thought and feeling, and it wa
evident that the great turn point of his lif
was at hand. He stood now upon the ste
in life from which the fate of after year
must take it's cast. i.'
At this time man by the name of Kell
took charge Of the school. He was an ol
teacher, a careful observer Of human natur,
and really good man. Long years of guar
diauship over wild youths had given him
bluff, authoritive way, and in his disciplin
he was strict and unwsverin.. The fret Do
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