Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-11-05
Sketches for the Young.

i ~--S@S--oo AVA tuO LSAGfSs
~There is noble little fellow said sen.Ie-
man man TO his companion, as they passed leisurety
uETn the principal street of a pleasant country
and being close observers of Anmsn st-s -;
mlthdi much Interested in whatever pertains n
ci!e LalniHg OF the young, Mr. Brown end bis
Hiehd HareWeLi slackened their pace 10 n,tics ,bs
appearance Of the little band of s,ndsr.s - -.
issued from the house which stood uuc.n the ouoo-
site side of the street, laughing and cha,t;,,
MY, and pursued their way 20 their different homes
| or fingered afew moments TO converse about th,ir
| studies or recreation.
! Near a bend in the wall. and beneath the shad-
ow of graceful elm, stood group of the larger
! lads. conyersing earnestly and in low tones. An
the two wogentlemen arrived Just opposite the house.
| youth somewhat larger than the others, with
BOOKS and slate under his arm, stepped out of the
door and wus moving briskly away, when one of
the greup under the tree called out to him. HCome.
nal, meet US under the old Hickory tonight will
| you!" '''
hal turned round and pleasantly answered. 81
@ MINK you must excuse me, my mother would be
@ iele aone' ana besides, there are several, sums
nave oeen unable to solve to-day, and which I
Wish TO conquer tonight, if possible"
ne old story. mother wont let me-" Nhiasd
one OF the boys, with soied hands, tangled hair.
and malicious look. ''- N@'''
"Tied to a mothers apron strinp.n sneersd
another, with bold defiant air, hat Sc, ;annt;I-
upon one side of hi head, and something Ike \
tobacco guild in the corner of his mouth.
This was followed by loud laughter, in which
most OF the boys joined, but some of them, an
Pareatly ashamed Of the rudeness of their com
Panions, withdrew from them, and moved slowly
away.
is hard to bear the ridicule of ones associ-
ates, even when one IS conscious of being in the
right; and Hal Edwards keenly felt this, as with
burning cheek and flashing eye, be paused to re-
ply. The little group almost covered beneath
that look, for fall minute bent upon them, and
then came the firm and decided answer: @You
may rldlcue and sBeer at me as much aa you
please, but | shall always consult nv mothers
wishes, and follow her advice These were the
words so bravely spoken, which called forth so
warm a commentator from the lips of MF.
Brown
The Old Hickory stood BY the wayside, some
distance out of the village; il was a noble tree.
under which one might well love to Enger on a
pleasant summer evening. Upon one OF its stall
wart branches was suspended a swing and Hal
Edwards andhis companions had spent there many
pleasant hour. Halls frank and ioyous dspo-
sition, and the eagerness with which he Joined in
all their games and innocent aI1usemsnts, render
ed him very pleasant companion; and the boys
were quite grieved when he came no longer TO
their usual place of resort, and much vexed, when
they found themselves unable to prevail upon him
to change his course of conduct
But he left them not without good reason
Within short time the swing had come to be
the resort of several coarse, ill-mannered boys,
who despised the restraints Of home, and made
sport Of serious things, and Mrs. Edwards, know
ing how easily and almost imperceptibly we grow
to be like those witp whom we associate desired
Hal no longer to resort to place where he would
be exposed TO much evil influence. Hal saw
the reasonableness of his mothers request, and,
though it required some self-denal to give up his
pleasant evening rambles, he hesitated not Iao-
ment to do so. And he had his reward, in a con-
sciOusnPss of rectitude, and his mothers approy-
ing smile while at the same time he was forming
habits which weuld win for him in future life the
appreciation of the truly great and good.
Ere twilight had deepened into darkness, on the
evening Of which write, Hal had conquered
his arithmetical problems, and sat in thought
ful mood looking out at the window, when Mr..
Brown and his friend, who were familiar visitors
of Mrs. Edwadrs, entered. Hal welcomed them
warmly, for he highly enjoyed their society. Mr..
Hartwell had spent some time in travelling over
voriOus parts of Europe, and Hal loved nothing
better than to listen to his amusing anecdotes ofhs
adventures, and his description Of the habits and
customs of the people in the places which he vis-
tied
The two gentlemen did not allude to the cir
cumstances which occurred at the school house in
the presence of Hal, hut found opportunity to speak
of it to Mrs. Edwards, whose heart was filb with
a deeper Joy at this new manifestation of moral
courage by her SON.
The evening passed quickly and pleasantly
away, and when Hal laid his mead upon his pillow
that night, who can tell how much better and
happier he was for having followed his mothers
advice.
He is indeed noble fellow, who has the cour-
age to do right in the face Of opposition and ridi-
cule.-[N E. Farmer.