Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-10
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Henry Burgett was not quite twelve
years of age 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 violently, when his
mother told him they must leave the pretty
cottage, the only home they had ever known,
and that hereafter he was to live with farm
er Howard.
ave are poor, Henry" she said, every
poor, and young as you are 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
that he might not perceive the grief that
was piercing her own soul.
Farmer Howard was a hard master, and
a sorry time had poor Harry during the long
! summer days that succeeded this interview
with bis mother. It was work, with no
relaxation, from the earliest dawn until the
twilight had quite faded Often did his
courage fall, and dispondeney and Incidence
urge him to stop, but a stern necessity,
was on him, he must do or starve; and
hence he kept at it, YEARLY enough to be
sure, until the last apple was in the cellar,
the last ear of corn in the crib, and all
things secured against the winter, with
the most pains taking thoroughness.
The winter, tardy as It's approach ap-
peared to Henry, came at last, with its
) three months privilege Of school, and its
glorious long evenings, that he might spend
as he chose, with no spectres of huge heaps
of corn to husk, or vast fields Of potatoes
to dig, looming up in the distance.
0 How well those hours for study we're
improved, or how highly priced, the bright
light which the blazing pine splinter shed
: from the attic window until long past the
/ hour Of twelve, might tell. CA pine splin-
v ter, because the mistres5 was careful soul
! and saved the candle-ends to light Harry
Il to bed.) He advanced with surprising
/ rapidity In his Studies, aEd what wonder
e.l Ardent peraeyeriEgl effort was never un
} successful: when h9>SSprfng came, he wa
;. quite master Of the latin grammar, ant
e. was beginning to read in this laugua ge will
If some degree of case. The summer, will
ic its wearisome rouud of duties, could no
N damp his desire for knowledge Ever,
es spare moment was cheerfully seized, aE'
IS seduonsly employed in his favorite study
10 The winter came again, and with gleefr
n heart, Henry bounded away to the villag
n school. On the way classmate overtoo
ty him, one who had often jeered him for
d. bashfulness, and plain, homespun attir'
ne and who, with every advantage, had unir
10 terruptedly pursued his studies.
ur "Ha, ha, how are you, Ha!' said he
in. "don't you wish you could read all that
is triumphantly holding up Latin Readc
IN and spreading his palm completely over tt
er- open page. Henry kept his own counse
and together they proceeded towards Il
IF school house.
;s- Soon after the opening of the mornir
, exercises, the class in Latin was called
mo the recitation bench.
nv "Henry," said the master, 81 think y
in will not be able to go on with the class y,
ew were in last winter, you must fall back wi
Get the beginners" s."
IA. II should like to enter the Virgil cl;
nn ~ Sir"
int "Virgil class Nonsense, boy, you cou
- not read one word Just let me see now
tn opening the book and placing it in
nst hand.
dc ''How far shall l read p
IN "As far as you can," replied the mast
md with sharp twinkle of his gray eyes, a
dis an involuntary sarcastic smile.
ooh Henry commenced unhesitatingly
opr read, and had turned the first, second q
nm third leaves before the master had su
to ciently recovered from surprise to arl
nm him.
,ted "stOp, sir! Where did you learn
,nn this ?"
enc Henry told him where Taking him
,nt the arm, the master led him to the Ger
the of the room, and placing his hand upon
dars head, said
ave "Attention, boys; here is greater
can queror than was Caesar or Napoleon.
him round three times three, now. y
stu Cheerily, heartily rang out that appla
auti- penetrating the farthest recesses of
soft time worn building making the wind
ling fairly shake again. What proud day
ndry that for Henry! How his heart lea
anG ana aImOSG DOunuCA OuL OI his DOSOl
than how the boys shook hands and envied
lings how the girls nodded and blinked
sited pretty eyes at him be has not yet for
f the ten, and although at The present time
is ofIlaurels of country's regard are cluste
we thick about his brow, be often says q
there was the victory Of my life. 1t was al
Ictiye farmer HoWard's learned to labor
If the finchingly for given end"
bited Children this is no fancy sketch.
xious lad as [ have described really exi
s, but and from his example may we not lea
lat he plant for ourselves elevated standards
ii the never give over until we have mas
With every obstacle and reach our aim ?
he la It is not alwayszlessons to be learn,
from wood poles to be demolished or rebu
2, 40 There are bad hearts to govern, "
inclinations to restrain, selfish dispos
bright to be overcome; many wrongs to be ri