New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-11-10
German John.


at a grocery kept by a friend of mine. One day |
went in and he had little ragged, dirty, roughlook-
ing German boy helping him about the grocery. He
had come along the day before, wanting work, and
my friend took him in partly because the little fellow
looked so orlorn and needy. He was as unpromisng
looking boy Germany often turns out. His
clothes only ragged buds, his hair long his face
stupid, save keen eyes that looked out from under
orer-hanging eyebrows. He was rather clumsy made,
though of good FORM and small of his age. He was
some twelve or fourteen years old. When went in
my friend made some apology for having such an
uncouth specimen of humanity about his store but
said he hoped to make something out of him when he
learned our language. The next time went found
him pouring over an English spellingboOk. For
number Of times when l called l found him at his
spcllingbook. I at length asked him what he was
doing with that book. 81 Learning the English Ian
guage," was the quick reply in broken English:
. Do you think you can learn it," con yes said
he in half German accent, while his face frightened
up the earth does when the morning sun first
shines upon it. | saw at once that there was some
thing beneath that rough exterior. My friend told
me that he found him very good German scholar,
and that he was very anxious to learn the English,
and he was helping him to do So
John studied on with the perseverance of hero,
and good and useful boy i'll the grocery. Every
odd moment he was at his book asking his
ployer some question. John and got on good terms,
and every time went in he had some question to ask
about his lesson ] saw that the uncouth boy had
bright mind and very congenal heart and was not
a bit afraid of work. BY and by my friend gave up
his grocery, and John had to seek employment else
where | did not see nor hear from him for a number
of weeks. One day at the ring of my bell went to
the door and there stood little German john some
what improved in dress, with broad grin all overhis
face. He had come to see if | would hear his lesson
and teach him to write English he would be made up
| told him to come as often he could get lesson
and or some of my family would hear it, Well, he
said he could not leave his work till after eight o'clock
in the evening, and if should hear his lesson after
that time he should be very happy John went away
rho bo1C bn,
came with lesson; and almost every evening except
Sunday for many months John was on hand with his
lesson and writing book. Every little while could
see some improvement in his dress. Near the close Of
the year he came in one night with entire new suit
on 1t was and stiff, and pretty large, but wltlla
a nice suit OF clothes. But poor John, how stiff he
looked. He was like little man in buckram He
never had been dressed up before He didn't know
where to put his hands or feet, how to hold his
head, or what to say, or how Or where to look
But we seemed not to notice the change Of custom,
and after he got to saying his lesson he began to act
Il little like himself again. He made fine progress,
and before the year out ehe could read English
very well, could write good composition and Il re-
ally fair hand After awhile it was ntlnated to me
that lie intended to go to some Commercial College !;
that he had already got sixty dollars laid up besides
having helped his mother considerably, and by the
commencement Of the next fall term he should have
enoughto carry him through. In the meanwhile, he
pcrsevcred, seldom ever missing lesson till the time
for him to enter the college. During the whole time
hearing his lesson. took what | thought rcasoEl-
bic compensation, under the circumstances, but not IL
third of what lie wanted to give MT found him a.
generous and hOnestas he WAS pcrsevcrng. lie lett
us to enter college and saw him no more till he got
through when | accidentally met him on the street.
He overwhelmed me with kind greetings, inquired
individually for my family told me ne had got through
college had improved in his penlnanslip very m'lcA
and lie had got situation Secretary OF an llSl-
rance Company at a salary Of four hundred dollars
year. 4 happier looking boy is seldom met Ills
face seemed made over new. In few months met
him again he was getting along finely, improving
in his business habits and feeling very happy.
At length met him again: he was delighted 10
see me- had the air OF man OF business. quill was
over his ear he was genteelly dressed ana call?e
his dress like gentleman lie talked Tue fihsilsh
almost rs freely as though it had been his mother
tongue Bat the best Of it all was, as he thought
that in few days he was to be made treasurer Vi
the Company, and his salary was to be greatly III
creased. He had got to give ten thousand dollars
bonds for the faithful performance OF his duty ant
50 capable and honest had he shown himself that
men OF wealth were willing to be his security H.
had the air Of Il Of business his face t'"1'I
with intelligence and benignty Though scarcely u
years old. he was occupying responsible station
which he had reached by his own eXertions. How
changed from the little raw John in the grocery ahG
all done in about four years and half. He had NJ
friends save 4 poor mother, 10 home, no playEi'tes
no clothes, no trade, no employmelt was IN &
strange land where a strange language was spoken
But he had heart, head and hand that was ready
to work. He has always seemed to lie artcas ant
innocent as child clcarsghted, stronGnlndet A1l'
practically wise as a man | never SAW HIN do, o.
heard him say b0yish thing. He now lnonet
little man, the maker Of his own fortune
HASTINGS OF prScH.-Sorim Statistics.-ThirteeI
married gentlemen, who, within the last week ui So
have been convicted Of having smoked in their OWL
,linug-roOnls have been SevelaIly lined new bonnet
and in default have been committed to the hard ibo
of taking out their wives toG an afternoon shop
: ping.
There are living in Cheltcnham boarlnE-honS
three maiden ladies', who known to have reside
there for nearly 80 years yet whose united ages Il
privately confessed in recent conversation, amount Il
/ only 3d.
No fewer than three cases have occurred Of y0un!
ladies who have been to races having paid their bel
Ont of hundred bonnets that were solc! list wce
at Brighton it has been HsCertahed that more thtA y
were supplied to ladies who had gone III just 10 to0S
, Il bit OF ribbon. :.
: In q lodging house at Ramsgate, lately, bali
quarter Of lamb, pretty nearly t#o,third& OF twel
pound ham, two packages OF chocolate, Il pot {" Dhi
+ dee narmlAladc, the remains OF large pigeon p
which had had one slice cut ont Of it, case OF ht
nlas, II Jumps of sugar, halt canister OF totet
and almost the whole OF a bottle OF frelth brandy
were discovered (by the andady) TO have been COZ
l. suncd by the cat.
$ out Of | 900 English cabmcn it has been dscovefc
that no less than three have been induced to take til
pledge.
q pREACHlSti PoI1TICS-t1ur New York corgesl'ont
chi in noticing the general determination among III
clergy OF particular denominations III that Guy,
o preach sermons of political character on santa
r next included those of the Presbyterian denomination
5 If our correspondent referred to the ccrTynt oi III
t. Old School Errsbytcrius. he was doubtless III eFfH
C No denomination Of Christians have so SerUp''t'"t
avoided blending partisan politics with their Ichglo'
@ teachings That Church, under the government
II such distinguished men as Drs. Alexander, HlIh!
Y Potts, McFlroy Krcs, Phillips, etc raues us it%l!
n mate ohjc't-thc promotion Of the canse OF 1hft
manipulating politics to the rlcrIca! baWier9 Who
V temper and mind qualify them for the stump M"
II than tor the pulpit philadelphia Ledger, ''i9t III
II
e On a recent trial for murder il Watson cnin'
{Me) a boy who was nstigttet by his father 10 III
% the gun which caused the death II tile victim WlH Il
L. Quilted. and the father and an adult acconl!i'' rn
ID vrtei of murder in the second degree, and .e'e!i
to ten years imri,unnent i'll the prntcltMfy' Il
l. rationale OF this yclAi,t is, that these parties 3A
lc mature years, induced tr boy to commit the '''f
Il. hut that greater punishment than that "i mar"
T. in the second degree could not 60 against le1''
.
1t is an exchange which makes this wicked nv
ut tircostumr. We copy it--aS Lacy S'"'l' W
~ married" un'lcrpr1tcst. :" We observed NN,'' IT,
y a LITTLE thin Old man. with a Mt@-LHE III NJ I&'t
VI picking mp large number vi small pir'H< 4" VIVA
y lone which lay in the street. The drp"9' was
Ill such singular nutrc tljat we presumed /" ash Il
=, quaint booking g;thrrrr how he supposed I"F can
III there. Don't know he replied in a S,lur'hA5'& F','
ii female WflS Nl'lN