Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-12-02
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our teacher, Every eye was turned to'
wards her with most seFutinklna glance
--lof children ne we'll aH others always
form on opinion OF q pefson, particularly
Of their teacher, ~ first sight.
sIIow tall IL shei" exclaimed one,
"No. aint afraid Of her, nor dozen
like her," exclaimed the "blg boy" oflhe
school,
"Nm t.eIlher," cried the big boys liz
lle ally, could "llek her easy enough,
eouldn't You, Toni"
"fesi and will, too, II she goes 10
touch ne"
"IIushl" cried on the girls, "she will
hear you"
Ily this time she had nearly reached
the DOOR around which they clustered,
and every eye was fixed upon her face
with an eager YET bashlul gaze, uncertain
a. yet what verdict 10 pass on her,
Stood morning, children" she said In
the klndest voice In the werld, while her
face was lighted with the sweetest smile
imaginable, "ThIs Is a beautiful morn.
Ing 10 commence school, Is II notl"
~ know shall love her." whispered a
little petin my ear,
We all followed her into the school
room except Tom Jones and his ally
who watched until the rest were seated
and then came IN wIlha staggering, mol
~ gait. aud sort OF daredevil. saucy
look, a. much ~ 10 say, who cares Tor
youI
Miss Wescolt looked at them kindly,
but appeared not TO notice them farther.
Alter short prayer and reading chap
ter In the Bible, she passed around the
room and made some remarks In regard
10 themselves and their studies.
"And what l. your name" she asked,
laying her hand on Toms head, while he
sat with both hands In his pockets
swinging his body backwards ard for
wards.
"Tom Jones'" shouted he at the top
OF his voice.
Elbow old arc you, Thomas" she ask
ed.
"Just as old again as half" answered
Tom with saucy laugh.
"What do you study, ThomasT
"Nothing."
"What books have your!
"Ncne."
Without appearing TO be at all disturb
ed at his replies, Miss Wescott said; IL
am glad that | am 10 have one or two
large boys in my school; you can be OF
great assistance to me. Thomas if you
will stop few moments after school this
afternoon we will talk over little plan
have formed"
This was q mystery To all, and par
ticularly TO Tom, who could not COM
prehcnd how he could be made useful to
ANYBODY: for the first time in his life he
felt as il he was Of some Importance in
the world. He had always been called
the bad boy at school, and he took a sort
of pride in being feared by the children
and dreaded by the teacher.
Miss Wescott comprehcnded his whole
character and began to shape her plans
accordingly. She maintained. that boy
who at twelve years OF age made him-
self feared among his school-mates was
capable Of being made something Of
Heretofore all influences had conspired
to make him a bad and perhaps desper-
ate character; she was determined to
transform his character, by bringing op-
posite influences to work upon him, and
TO effect this she must first win his con-
fidence, which could not be done in bet
ter way than by letting him fe ell that she
placed confidence in him.
When school was out, more than half
Of the scholars fingered about the door,
wondering what Miss Wescott bad to say
20 Tom Jones. He had often been bid
to remain till after school, but II was TO
receive punishment or a lecture, and
nine times out often he would jump out
Of the room, but it was evidently for a
different purpose that he was to remain
now, and none wondered what ii could
be more than Tom Jones.
Don't you think Thomas that our
school room would be far more pleasant,
1--we had some evergreens to hang about
IL; something to make it more cheerful
inquired Miss Wescott.
"Yes'm, and know where ] can get
plenty ofthem."
"Well, Thomas, ifyou will have some
here by eight o'clock tomorrow morn
Ing, I will be here to help you put them
up, and we will give the children pleas
ant surprise. Here are some books
will give you, Thomas; you may put
them In your drawer, ne they are what
want you 10 study"
"But can't study geography and his
tory" exclaimed Tom confused, al new
or did.
"This Is the reason why you think you
cannot" replied Miss Wescott; III am
quite sure you can, and will love them
too"
"Nobody ever cared whether learned
or not before" said Thomas with some
emotion.
"Well, | care" said Miss Wescotl
with enrnestness' "you are capable oil
becoming n great and good man; you
are forming a character for life. and I;
depends upon yourself what you become
The poorest boy in the country has an
equal chance with the wcalthiest, aud hi,
circumstances are favorable for becom'
Ing eminent. for he learns to depend up
on himself. will assist you all can II
your studies, Thomas, aud know yot
will succeed. Remember that am YOU
friend, and come TO me in every difficult
ty."
Tom Jones had not been brought up
he had come up, because he had beer
born into the world and couldn't help il
but as for any mental or moral training
he was as guiltless OF il ms wild BRAN
bio OF a pruning knife. His father wal
n bad man and his mother totally in
efficient woman. At home he received
nothing but blows, and abroad nothin!
but abuse. Bad passions were therefore
all excited and fostered, aud his goo,
ones never called out. He always cx
pected his teachers would hate him, Sc
he whetted anew his combaiive power
10 oppose them, aud he had made "a
he mind TO turn the new ma'am out o
doors.
When therefore Miss Wescott declar
cd that she was glad to have him in he
school, he was amazed, and could no
understand why she should maniles
such an interest for him. and to Civ,
him set OF books, was perfectly in