The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-11-23
TIE sLIGHTED SCHOLAR.


relate are much too freqnnt in our country,
and they. are such, too,as should be guard
ed against by all those who have an in
terest in education. The incident was
broughtto mind by hearinga complaint
made by the parent of poor boy. who
had been grossly neglected by the teacher
Iofa village school, neglected simply be-
cause he was poor and comparatively friend
less! .2elra.e -ssl--,.aa z5cdN
Many years ago / attended school in the
/ Among the scholars was a boy named
George Henry. His father was poor
drinking man, and the unfortunate boy had
to suffer in consequence. George came to
school habited in ragged garments-but
they were the best he had; be was rough
and uncouth in his manners; for he had
been brought up in that manner; he was
ignorant, for he had never bad an opportu
nifty for education.
Season after season poor George Henry
Occupied the same seat in the school room
-itwas back, corner seat, away from
the other scholars--and there he thumbed
his tattered primer. The ragged condition
of his garb gave homely cast to bis whole
appearance, and what of intelligence there
might have been in his countenance was
beclouded by the outer covering Of the
boy. He seldom played with the other
children, for they seemed to shun him; but
when he did for a while join them in their
sports, he was so rough, he was soon showed
out of the way. i5
The teacher passed the poor boy coldly
in the street, while other boys in better
garbs were kindly noticed. Inthe school,
young Henry was coldly treated. The
teacher neglected him, and then called him
an "idle blockhead," because be did not
learn, The boy received no incentive to
study, and consequently be was most of
the time idle, and idleness begat DISPOSE
ton to while away the time in mischief Z
For this he was always whipped, and the
more idle he became. He knew that he
was neglected by the teacher, and simply
because he was poor and ragged, and with
sort of sulen indifference. sharpened at
times by feelings of bitterness, he plodded
on his dark, thankless way.
Thus matters went on for several years.
Most of the scholars who were of George
Henry's age, had passed on 10 the higher
branches ofstudy, while he, poor fellow,
still spelled out words Of one and two syl-
lables, and still KEPT his distant seat in the
corner. His father had sunk iowerin the
| pit ofinebriation, and the unfortunate boy
was more wresched than ever.
The look of clownish Indifference which
had marked his countenance was now Civ
ing way to shade Of unhappy thought and
fseliugs, and it was'evident that the great
turning point ofhis lifewas now at hand.
He stood now upon the step in life from
which the fate ofafter years must take its,
cast. %5ss,Eal na'
AT this time man by the name Of Kel-
| ley took charge of the school. He was an
old teacher, a careful observer of human
nature, and really good man. Long years
of guardianship over wild youths had Civ
en- him a, bluff, authoritative. way, and in
his discipline he was strict and unwaver-
ing. ,..<r. a Sa. NV,
The first day he passed in the teachers
desk of our school was mostly devoted to
watching the movements Of the scholars.
And studying the dispositions with which
he had to deal Upon George Henry his
eye rested with keen, searching glance.
He evidently made but little of him the
first day, but on the second day he did
more t4
1t was during the afternoon ofthe second
day, that Mr.. Kelley observed young Hen
ry impaling flies on the point ola large pin.
He wentto the boys seat, and after reprl-
manding him for his idleness, he took up
the dirty tattered primer from his desk. =.
"Have you ever learned more than is in
this book?''' asked the teacher.
"No, sir" drawled George.
"How long have you attended school?"
IL don't know, sir it's ever since l can
remember"
"Thenyou must have been an idle, ,reck-
less boy" said the teacher with much se--
verify. "Do you realize how many years
you have lost? What sort of man do you
think of making in this way? One OF
these days you will be too old to 60 to
school, and then while your companions
are seeking some honorable employment,
you will be good for nothing. Have you
parents"
eyes, sir" answered the boy in hoarse,
subdued voice. sa- .rs,r,srs
@"And do they wish you to grow up to be
an ignorant, worthless man?" t,i'
The boy hung down his head and was
silent, but Mr.. Kelley saw two great tears
roll down his cheeks. In an instant the
teacher saw he had something besides an
/ idle stubborn mind to deal with in the rag
ged scholar before him. He laid his hand
on the boys head, and in a kind tone he
said: sos.
II wish you to stop after school is dis
missed. Donotbe afraid, for l wish to as
sist you if l cam resG
George looked wonderingly into the
masters face. for there was, something in
the tone of the voice which fell upon his
ear that sounded strangely to him; and he
thought too, as he looked around, that the
rest of the scholars regarded him with
Skinder countenances than usual. A. dim
:, thought broke in upon his mind that, from
some cause, he was going to be happier
than before. ,s,... -..e..., x ,.,r "a
I After the school was dismissed, George
Henry remained in his seat till the teacher
called him to the desk
4 "Now, 2 said Mr.. Kelley, II wish tc