Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-12-02

and becoming soueWhat kFetttt tiu ott-
ter than he was. IIs mind became IN.
undated with new and strange emotions,
aud like mighty river turned from
lie course. his thoughts aud energies
from that hour sought new direo.
ton,
The next morning he was up with
the dawn. and when Miss Wescott ar.
rived NJ the school house. she found
Tom Jones there with his evefgreens.
"Good morning. Thomas" she said
kindly ''se you are here before mel you
must have risen early and ! SEQ you have
found some beautiful evefgreens. Nov,
" you will help mo 10 hang them We will
have the room arranged before nine o..
clock"
II have brought q hammer and some
nails" said Ten, II thought We should
need them"
yes 80 We shall, | am glad ysu
thought Of It," replied Miss Weseott.
Tia, day every scholar looked amazed
10 see Tom Jones actually studying his
hook, and hear him answer several ques.
tons correctly, and they were still more
COMPOUNDED when NJ recess, Miss Yves.
colt said
"Thomss, you will take care OF those
little children, will you not, aud see that
they don't get hurt, you must belhelr
protector"
One would as soon have thought Of
setting a wolf 10 guard flock OF lambs,
as Tom Jones To take charge 1.-THE small
or children.
"Well," exclaimed Sam Evans. |
never saw such school ma'am In all the
days Of my life, did you, Tomr
NO." replied Tom, "but wish ! had
| would have been different boy from
what ! am now; but am going 10 study
and learn something. Miss Wescott
says, Gun, and | am now determined to
try"
was nstonished to see the effect that
Miss Wescott's treatment Of Tom had
upon the scholprs; they began TO con-
slider him Of some importance, and to feel
sort OF respect for him which they at
first manifested by dropping the nick
name Tom, and substituting Tommy,
which revealed certainly, a moro kindly
feeling towards him.
In less than week Miss Wescott had
the school completely under her control,
yet IL was by love and respect she gov
erncd, and not by an iron rule; she
moved among her scholars avery queen,
aud yet so gained their confidence and
esteem, that il did not seem TO them SUBJ
mission to another's will, but the promp-
tings OF their own desire 10 please.-
One glance OF her dark eye would have
quelled an instruction, aud made them
happy for day.
Julia Wescott always taught school
with realization OF The responsibilities
resting upon her, and she bent her ener-
gies To fulfil them. Carefully and ski IL
fully she unlocked the souls door and
gave searching look within in order TO
understand its capabilities,and she shaped
her course accordingly. The despond-
ing and enactive she encouraged; the
obstinate she subdued; to the yielding
and tickle she taught n strong self-reli-
ance. She encouraged the one single
rain-drop TO do all the good il could, and
the rushing torrent she turned where
il would fertilize rather than devast-
ate.
There are in every school some DOR
mant energies, which If aroused might
shake the world, which if let loose will
like the lightnings of the heavens scatter
ruin and blight, but If controlled, may
like that element, become the messen-
ger Of thought to the world. In that
head you call dull may be slumbering
passions like some bent volcano; open
that closed crater and see if there don't
belch forth flames which your hand can
not stop.
The sower in the parable sowed good
seed, but that only which fell upon good
ground bare good fruit; had the thorns
been rooted out and the soil enriched,
would not the other fields have yielded a
harvest alsol | have seen a teacher
make his entrance into q school room by
reading list Of rules two or three feet
in length; you must do this, you must not
do that, without single remark upon the
propriety, the why or the wherefore, of
the thing, but only, you must not do so.
You might as well expect to cure q
man of stealing by pelting him with peb-
bles. The truth certainly hits hard
enough--and so do stones; let a man
feel the beauty and virtue OF the law, and
and he will be quite as apt to profit by
il.
Julia Wescott understood human ma
ture; she made it study, as every teach
or ought TO do. She rooted out error and
prejudice from the midst OF her pupils
showed them the evil of sin and beauty
Of virtue, the advant age Of education and
the consequence Of ignorance; taught
them their own capabilities aud respon-
sibilities, and adapted her instructions Ia
capacities and necessities. And thus
she went on year after year, scattering
good seed on good ground, and she reap
ed an abundant harvest. From many q
happy home and high place came a bles.
sing upon her; and there Is no one who
breathes her name with more grateful
affection than Tom Jones, who has filled
with ability one OF the highest Offices IL
the Union, and freely acknowledges that
he owes his present character and po-
sition under Gods providence TO heI
treatment and instructions.
Truly, "he that goeth forth weeping
bearing precious seed, shall come again
rejoicing bringing his sheayes with
him"
81 Cnn't.v
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