The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-11-28

/ IOut hO'Si W oNSdt. dkdIu
Ill try to be like Washington and
Franklin, Sir, and not like swearing gen.
tlemen-do Mr.. Huger, don't tell Papa"
IL esteem your dear father too highly
my little Penitent, to give him pain-I
will not tel him. l am glad to mark
your contrition- and fiial affection for your
father. You ought to cherish his pre-
cepts aad love him very much for few
sons are blessed with such father. But
my dear g, you have kind father in
Heaven who also forbids you to say bad
words and who heard the bad word you
uttered. To HIN you are Indebted for
your life, for the good father HE has given
you, and al! The comforts you enjoy
Ask HIN to forgive you for saying that
bad word. Be as careful not to offend
HIN as you are not to offend your father
on earth, and beseech HIM to enable you
t"be like Washgton and Franklin tn their
adherence Of profane and vulgar worqs.r
And little G. was true to his VOW and
never forgot the words of his kind monitor
whom he esteemed next to his father
The pupil Vf his fathers family tutor, and
associstmg with amiable little boys the
sons Of athiabfe parents, it seemed an easy
task for him to adhere to his pledge until
he was twelve years old. A. that period
of his boyhood, his father >upposing that
his literary attainments would be advaced
and his genius excited to greater efforts,
in a high school, confileI him to the care
o. learned and worthy gentleman, the
Principal Of popular Academy, many
miles from his residence cd Waccamaw.-
There new scenes Of trials and tempta-
lions put his moral courage to the test
Among a hundred scoolmates from eight
to twenty years Of age, he found many
scoffers and few to appreciate his moral
sensibilitw With few exceptions, all
were addicted to the habit of profane
swearing. But he was firm and decided
in his moral purpose. Neither the finger
Of scorn nor the taunts of his schoolmates
could induce him to forget his VOW, or to
appera to his preceptor for the protection
Of his moral principles. AS The eagle
stript Of his plumagc and placed among
the chanticlcers Of the yard TO roost,
neither crows nor struts like his featherd
associates. but spreading his plumeless
pinions to the winds Of fate, gazes on the
rock aud the cloud. so did that bird of a
fathers fond hopes gaze on Washington
and Franklin III the midst of his profane
companions. '-s ~ " .' "E"' 8
? And he triumpbed. His moral courage
secured him the esteem of his preceptor
and his fellow students at lenth percevng
that he was no nisanthrope-thata all the
social, generous impulses of youth, were
cherished IN heart as brave as Casar's
hailed him rs a favorite A year after
his admission'in school q proposition was
made. to establish Court contra Melt.
diction" for the trial and punishment, by
fine, Of every student who uttered a pro
fame orsulga- word. It was unanimously
approved. A code of laws was written,
meeting the penalty according to the
magnitude Of the crimeA-tle transgressor
to be tried by jury with the benefit Of
colinsel and the fines collected to be cast
into the lap Of a poor widow in the neigh.
borhood who had tNo little sons at school,
the benefearies Of the worthy principal.
4 A sheriff, clerk and lawyers were elected
and the honor ofpresiding was conferred
on ths little boy who vowed to be like
Washington and franklin, in their abhor.
renee Of profsne words. In vain he pro-
tested against their choice, and eutreated
that office should be conferred npon one
more advanced in years; the vote was
upanimous in his fovor and gown was
placed ppou him 10 conformity with The
custorsof the age. A weekly cotttt was hel
:. and at the first term crowded docket Of
bad words disposed Of accutding to law
and evidence. But aAer the third, term,
their was not a case Oh docket, and the
!, Court became . Debating Society for The
discussion Of subjects Interesting 70 youil.-
fol ,ainds, SIN holding jurisdiction over
all trahsgfssors.
Little boys and young gen,lemep, this
II =. a.... . l.
is no tale Of fiction. Every word Is true.
Little @. is nov an old man. Time has
wbitenea his locks and the sands of his
J tifs-glass have nearly rnn out; but bis sov,
the eifcamsssDces connected with Il, The
,sords, jsatsrss, and wasbiagtouiaa Jgar.
OF the soBsxNAs who caused him % make
} Is arc ss ffesh IN his msnsory as Che jpci.
! depis of yesterday. on doe,. his mind