Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-25
EVENING STAR.
NOT ASHAMED OF R1p1cuLE.


older than myself, and to the latter looked
up as a sort Of leader in matters Of opinion q
as well as Of sport. He was not at heart ma
licious, but he had foolish ambition of beins
thought witty and sarcastic, and he made
himself feared by besetting habit of turning
things into ridicule, so that he seemed con
tinually on the lookout for matter of derision
Hartley was new scholar, and little WA
known Of him among the boys. One morning
as we were on our way to school he was seer
driving cow along the road toward a neigh
boring field. group of boys, among whom
was Jemson, met him as he was passing. The
opportunity was not to be lost by Jemson.
Holloa" he exclaimed, what's the price
of milk? l say, Jonathan, what do you fod-
der on? What will you take for all the gold
on her horns? Boys, if you want to see the
latest Paris style, look at those boots ~
Hartley, waving his hand at us with plea
SAINT smile, and driving the COW to the 6eld,
took down the bars of rail fence, saw her
| safely in the enclosure, and then, putting up
the bars, came and entered school with the
rest of US. After school in the afternoon he
let out the COW, and drove her of none of us
knew where. And every day, for two or three
weeks, he went through the same task
The boys of B Academy were nearly all
the sons of wealthy parents, and some Of them,
among whom was Jemson, were ounces enough
| to look down with sort of disdain upon a
scholar who had to drive a COW. The sneers
AMI jeers of Jemson were accordingly often
renewed He once, on the plea that he did
not like the odor of the baru, refused to sit
next to Hartley. Occasionally he would IL
| quire after the cows health, pronouncinc the
word "ke-ow" after the manner Of some Of
the country people.
With admirable good nature did Hartley
bear all these silly attempts to wound and an
noy him. do not remember that he was even
once betrayed into a look or word of lgry
retaliation. az suppose, Hartley" said J am
son one day, "your daddy means to make a
nilkman of you"
"Why not?" asked Hartley.
90, nothing; only don't leave much water
in the cans after you rinse them-that's aI,'
The boys laughed, and Hartley, not in the
least mortified, replied, 20 Never fear; if ever
should rise to be n mikman. I'll give good
measure and good milk
The day after this conversation there was
public exhibition, at which a number Of aides
and gentlemen from neighbor;ng cities were
present. Prizes were AWARDED By the princi
pal of our academy, and both Hartley and
Jemson received a cretiitable number; for i'm
respect to scholarship, these two were about
equal. After the ceremony of distribution, the
principal remarked that there was one plize,
consisting of gold medal, which was rsrely
awarded, not so much on account of its great
cost, as because the instances were rare which
rendered its bestowal proper. The last boy
who received one was young Manner who,
three years ago. rescued the blind girl from
drowning.
The principal then said that, with the per-
mission of the company, he would relate short
story. Mot long since, some scholars were
flying kite in the street, just as poor boy on
horseback rode by on his way to the mill The
horse took fright and threw the boy, injuring
him So hoHty hath ha - b,,,,
fined some weeks to his bed. Of the scholars
who had unintentionally caused the disaster,
none followed TO learn the fate of the wounded
boy. There was one scholar, however, who
had witnessed the accident from the distance,
who not only went to make inquiries, but staid
10 render services.
This scholar soon learned that the wounded
boy was the grandson of poor widow, whose
sole means Of support consisted in selling the
milk of fine cow of which she was the owner
Alas. what could she now do! She was old
and lame, and her grandson, on whom she de
pended to drive the COW to pasture, was now
on his back helpless. Mover mind, good
woman" said the scholar, ~ L can drive the
COW - With blessings and thanks the old wo-
man accepted the offer.
But his kindness did not stop here. Money
was wanted to get articles from the apothe-
cary. 81 have money that my mother sent
me to buy pair Of boots with, but can do
without them for awhile.' "Oh, no." said
the old woman; 81 can't consent to that but
here is pair of cowhide boots that bought
for Henry, who can't wear them Ii you
would only buy these, giving US what they
cost, we would get along nicely" The scho-
lar bought the boots, clumsy as they were,
and has worn them up to this time
Well, when it was discovered by other BOYS
Of the academy that Our scholar was in tie
habit of driving a COW, he was aSsaiiel every
day with laughter and ridicule His cowhidc
boots in particular were matter of mirth But
he kept on cheerfully and bravely, day after
day, never stunning observation, and driving
the widows COW, and wearing his thick boots
contented in the thought that he was doing
right; caring not for all the sneers and jeers
that could be uttered. He never undertook
to explain why he drove a COW; for he was
not inclined to make yagnt of his charitable
motives, and furthermore, in his heart he had
no sympathy with the false pride that could
look with ridicule on any useful employment.
1t was by mere accident that his course of
kindness and selfdenial was yesterday dis
covered by his teacher.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen. appeal
to you, was there not true heroism in this bows
conduct! Nay, Master Hartley, do not stink
out of sight behind the blaek-bo board, You are
not afraid of ridicule, you must not be afraid
OF praise. Come forth, come forth, Master Ed
ward James Hartley, and let US see your hon
est FACET
As Hartley, with bushing cheeks, made his
appearance, with a round Of applause, in
which the whole company joined, spoke the
general appreciation Of lis conduct The La
dies stood upon benches and waved their
hsndkerchiefs. The old men wiped the gath
ering moisture from the coraers of their eNes,
and clspped their hands. Those clumsy boots
ON Hartley's feet seemed a proaaer ornament
than crown would have been on his head.
The medal was bestowed on him amid general
acclamation.
Let me tell good thing of Jensen, before
conclude. He was heartily ashamed of his
ill -natured railery, and, after he was dismiss
cd, he went, with tears of manly self rebuke
in his eye, and rendered hiS hand 10 Hartley
making handsome apology for his past iii:
manners
"Ihink no more of it, cid fellow said
Hartley, with delightful iaIity; 4" let US 20
ard have rambie in The woods before we break
up for vacation. The boys, one and all. fol-
lowed Jemson's example and then we set
forth, with huz1as into the woods. What
happy day 1t was ,-Ch WttaeSs. -a ..--