Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-07-27

here is fifty dollars for the books;
it's a foolish affair, and | wouldn't
like to have il get abroad; but"
added he, laughing, all hold YOU
to the promise OF paying principal
and interest at the end of six
years. / can't lose much by the
investment
His friend took the money with
great pleasure, and he saw that a
new light was about to dawn upon
farmer Burrit's household.
The books were purchased. Be-
sides some good religious books,
including several biographies, he
had selected choice volume or
two on agriculture and gardening,
several on general and natural
history, aiew good books Of trav-
els, and various other books, some
to entertain, and othersto awaken
thought. In due time they were
properly disposited in n little case,
and the kind friend, already famil-
lar with the children, now carefully
showed them how books were to
be used, enticed them to read, and
even made them promise to spend
some Of their leisure time in find
ing out what the books contained.
After some difficulty he got things
into u right train; both boys and
girls began to be interested.
We pass over two years. The
seed hadbeen sown, was there any
prospect for u harvestY No one
can pass Mr.. Burrit's farm without
perceiving some improvement
The external aspect Of the old
homestead has more cheerful aud
comfortable appearance. In
stead ofthc struggling and insight
ly objects which used TO be seen
around the house, everything had
a tidy look. The grass is grow
ing, the Towering shrubberry
creeps up tho walls and adorns
the pathway, the vegetable gar
den is in better taste, the orna-
mental accompanies the useful,
and gives evidence that the youn-
ger portion Of the family have
been studying the books on gar
dening. A glance inside shows a
better-regulated family, and ODE
dent aud well-dressed children
Farmer Burrit acknowledges
that Thomas, his oldest boy, has
got something cut Of his books
which saved labour, and improved
crops.
Other years pass, and tho i'm
provemcnt is still more visible.
Mr.. Burrit, rather ashamed Of his
deficiencies, hasbecn reading, and,
marvellous to tell, has spent M
additional fifty dollars in books
His conversation has become
more intelligent. He knows
something besides iarming,and his
whole manner has undergone n
favourable change. The relig-
ious books have accomplished
their mission. Religion dwellls in
that household, and has its altar
there. There can be no complaint
that books have rendered the
children idle; for they have been
a new stimulus to industry. Tho
farm prospers more than ever, and
the farmer has abandoned his
prejudices against the various i'm
provements in agricultural imple-
ments, and has obtained a good in
sight into the advantages Of agri-
cultural chemistry. Mrs. Burrit
has become proud of her boys and
girls; and we'll she may be, for
there are none like them in the
neighborhood-so sensible, so re-
fined in manners, so attentive to
their duties, so anxious to excel,
We should mention that the
kind friend who had been the cause
Of this improvement, had so far re-
cruited his health, that he had re.
turned to his city business; but he
never lost sight Of the Burrits.-
! Some twelve or fifteen years al.
ter the time when our little nara.
tive begun, he spent a week with
his old friends. Changed, most
agreeably changed. James, the
third son, was obtaining a good
practice as the best physician in
the neighborhood; Thomas, the
eldest, was the farmer, and looked
up to as an oracle in all agricult'
ural matters, and had exerted 9
happy influence in raising the chal
acter ofall the farmers around
him; and Robert the second sor
what was he? 1t is the Sabbath
, many vehicles are on the roaC
that leads to the stone church
; the house becomes crowded. Ii
the front pew sits the anxious fam
ily-it is the Burrits; the cause is
soon apparent--Robert is t.
, preach for the first time in the
old church. and in the nresence n