The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-11-14
awHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S
A WAY.p

A WAY"
Henry Burgett was not quite twelve year.
of age when his father died. and fast as hi.
tears fell when he knew that his kind papa
| would be with him no more, he wept if posi-
BILE, 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 farmer Howard.
ave are poor, Henry" she said, 'very poor
and young as you are, my boy, you must now
earn your own support. But keep up stou,
heart, you can do II. Fie on those tearsl' and
she turned hastily that he might not perceive
the grief that was piercing her own soul.
Farmer Howard was hard master. and O
sorry time had poor Henry 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 cour.
age fail, and dependency and Incidence urge
him to stop, but stern necessity was on him
he must do or starvc; and hence he kept at it
wearily 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 painstaking thoroughness.
The winter, tardy as its approach appeared
to Henry, came at last with its three months
privilege of school, and its glorious long eve.
nings 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.
How well those hours for study were i'm.
proved, or how highly priced, the bright light
which the blazing pine splinter shed from the
attic window, until long past the hour of II,
might tell. "a pine splinter, because the mis-
tress was careful SOUL and saved the candle
ends to light Henry to bed.) He advanced
with surprising rapidity in his studies, and
what wonder? Ardent, perseverng effort was
never unsuccessful When the spring came
he was quite master of the Latin grammar,
and was beginning to read in this language
with some degree of ease. The summer, with
its wearsome round of duties, could not
damp his desire for knowledge. Every spare
moment was carefully seized and seduously
employed in his favorite study.
The winter came again, and with gleeful
heart Henry bounded away to the village
school. On the way classmate overlook
him; one who had often jeered him for his
bashfulness, and plain, homespun attire, and
who, with every advantage, had uninterrupt-
edly pursued his studies.
"Ha, ha, how are you, Hail." said he; don't
you wish YOU could read all thatg triumphant.
ly holding up Latin Reader, and spreading
his palm completely over the open page
Henry kept his own counsel, and together
they proceeded towards the school house.
Soon after the opening of the morning ex.
ercises, the class in Latin was called to the
recitation bench.
"Henry," said the master, Il think you will
not be able to 90 on with the class you were
in last winter, you must fall back with the
beginuers.'
81 should like to enter the Virgil class, Sir. "
"Virgl class! Nonsense, boy, you could
not read one word. Just let me see now "
opening the book and placing it in his hand.
"How far shall Iread ~
"As far as you can," replied the master,
with sharp twinkle of his grey eyes, aud an
involuntary sarcastic smile.
Henry commenced unhesitatngly to read,
and had turned the first, second and third
leaves before the master had sufficiently re.
covered from his surprise to arrest him.
, "StOp, sir! Where did you learn all this!"
Henry told him where. Taking him by the
arm, the master led him to the centre OF the
ROOM, and placing his hand upon his head.
said:
"Attention, boys; here is a greater conquer.
or than was Cesar or Napoleon. Give him
round; three times three, now"
Cheerily, heartily, rang out that applause,
penetrating the fartherest recesses fthat time
worn building, making the windows fairly
shake again. What proud day was that for
Henry! How his heart saped and almost
bounded out Of his bosom-how the boys
shook hands and envied him-how the girls
nodded and blinked their pretty eyes at him;
he has not yet forgotten, and although at the
present time the laurels Of a country's regard
are clustering thick about his brow, he often
says, "That was the victory Of my life. 1t
was at farmer Howard's learned to labor un.
flinchingly for given end"
Children this is no fancy sketch. Such
lad rs have described really y existed, and from
his example may we not learn to plant for
ourselves elevated standards, and never give
over until we have mastered every obstacle
and reached our aim!
It is not always lessons to be learned, or
wood piles to be demolished or rebuilt. There
are bad habits to govern, vicious inclinations
to restrain, selfish dispositions to be overcome;
many, many wrongs to be righted. There is
room for life long labor in our hearts. Up
then, my young friends, with strong pur-
pose of life. Shrink not at the sight of diff.
Guilty. Remember that "where there's will,
there's way" and that perseverance is sure
guaranty of success.--NeD York Indepen.
1tnf