Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-11-14
AsTORY FOR BOYS.

ssVVhere There's a viii There's a Way-''
Henry Burgett was not quite twelve years
of are when his father died: and fast as his
tears fell when he knew that his kind papa
would be with him no more he wept if
possible, more violent when, his mother told
him they must leave the pretty cottage, the
only home they had ever known, and that
hereafter he was toGye with farmer Howard.
aWe are poor, Henry" she said, "veryI
poor, and Young as you arc, my boy, you
must now earn your own support. But keep
up stout heart, you can do it. Fie on
those tears!" and she turned hastily thathe
might not preceive the grief that was pierc-
ing her soul.
Farmer Howard was a hard master, and
a sorry time had poor Harry during the long
summer days that succeeded this interview
with his mother. 1t was work, with no re-
taxation, from the earliest dawn until the
twilight had quite faded. Often did his
courage fail, and dependency and insolence
urgo him to stop, but stern necessity was
on him, he must do or starve: and hence
he kept at it, wearily enough to be sure, un-
til the last apple was in the cellar and the
last car of corn in the crib, and all things
secured against the winter, with the most
painStaken thoroughness. '
The winter, tardv as its approach appear
ed came at last, with its three months privi-
lego ofschool, and lis glorious long evenings,
that he mightspendas he chose, with nospec-
tres of huge heaps of corn to husk, or vast
fields of corn looming up in the distance.
r How we'll those hours for study were
improved, or how highly priz'd, the
bright light which tho blazing pin? splin=
ter she'd from thn attic window until long
past the hour of twelve, might tell. "a
pine splinter, because the mistress was a
careful soul, and saved the candle-ends to
| light Harry to bed) He advanced with
surprising rapidity in his studies, and what
wonder? Ardent, perscvering effort was
never unsuccessful. When the spring came,
he was quite master of the Latin grammer,
and was beginning to read in this language
with some degree of case. Tho summer,
with It's wearisome. round of duties, could
not dampen his desire for knowledge, Eve
ry spare moment was choerfully seized, and
seduously employed in his fayorit2 stuly.
The winter came again, and with gleeful
heart, Henry bounded away to the village
school. On the waya classmate overlook
him, one who had often joered him for bis
bashfulness, and plain honespun attire, and
who, with every advantage, mad uninterrppt-
edly pursued his-studies. t.ear 2
''Ha, ha, how are you, Hal!" said he;
"don't you wish you could read all that 2
triumphantly holding upa Latin Rqaler,
and spreading his palm completely over the
open page. Henry kept his own counsel,
and together they proceeded towards the
school-house. ..s.ss, ...;a l...s ,r
Soon after the opening of the morning ex-
ercises, the class in Latin was called to the
recitation bench.
Henry" said the master, 'I think you
will not be able togo on with the class you
were in last winter, you must fall back with
the beginners.
4 should like to enter the Virgil class, Sir
'Virgil classl Nonsense, boy, you could
not read one word just let me see now,
opening the book and placing it in bis hand
"How far shall | read |" l l"at a
"As far as you can" replied the master,
with sharp twinkle of his grey eyes, and
an involuntary sarcastic smile.
Henry commenced unhesitatingly to read,
and had turned the first, second and third
leaves before the master had sufficiently re-
covered from surprise to arrest him.
"Stop, sirl Where did you learn all this q
Henry told him where Taking him by
the arm, the master led him TO the centre Of
tho room, and placing his hand on his head,
said: taa lese5 t.i7
"Attention, boys; here is greater CON
querer than was Cesar or Napoleon. Give
him round; three times three, now" ls
Checrily, heartily, rang out thatapplause,
penetrating the farthcst rccesscs of that
time=worh building, making the windows
fairly shake again, What proud day was
that for Henry How his heart leaped and
almost bounded out of his bosonl--how the
boys shook hands and envied him-how the
girls NODDED and biinked their pretty eyes at
him; he has not yet forgotten and although
at the present time the laurels Of acountry's
regard are clustering thick about his brow,
be often said, he often says, "That was the
victory of my life. 1t was at the farmer
Howard's l learned to labor unfinchingy
for a given end Children this is no fan
ey sketch Such lad as / have described
really existed, and from his example may
we not learn toplant for ourselves elevated
standards, and never give over until We have
mastered every obstacle and reached ouraim
It is not always lessons to be learned, or
wood-piles to be demolished or rebuilt
There are bad hearts to govern, vicious in
clinations to restrain, selfish dispositions to
be overcome; many wrongs to be righted.-
There is room for a life long labor in our
hearts. Up then, my young friends, with
strong purpose of life. Shrink not at the
sight Of difficulty Remember that "where
there's a will there's a way" and that per-
severance is sure guarantee Of success
" Y. Independent q