Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-26
Mr.. Marcy as a school.Boy.

The following interesting anecdote, from tn
Boston Transcript of the 1st, is said to be iron
| the pen of Lucius NJ. Sargent:
This is short preface to short story, which
interested me, when heard it, many years ago
and which recent event has freshened up my
memory. | cannot remember the year-it wa:
long ago-that passed the night under the hos
pitable roof of the Hon. Salem Towne, of Charl
ton, in the county of Worcester. AS we sat to-
gether, in the evening, and were speaking of e.
ducation and of schools, Mr.. Towne informed
me, that, about the year 1900, he taught {
school in the southwestern district of Charlton
An inhabitant of Sturbridge, the adjoining town
had a son, Of whose abilities and general char
acter he appeared to entertain q low estimate
and of whom he spoke to Mr.. Towne "dispar
agingy, as boy who gave him trouble" Mr.
Towne, Notwithstanding this parental forewarn'
ing, consented to receive the lad on probation.
On the evening of the very first day, the
school agent came to the teacher, and told him
that the boy was bad boy, and would disturb
the whole school, and must be turned out. The
agent, very probably, received his impressions
from the judicious parent, who seems to have
made no secret of his opinions. Mr.. Towne re-
jected this hasty counsel, and informed the agent
that he should keep watchful eye upon the
lad, and that he thought it would be time e.
nough to turn him out of school, when he made
any disturbance, and that he was entitled to a
fair trial. When the boy came, for the first time,
to recite bis lesson, and had gotten through, Mr.
Towne told him to shut up his book. He did
so, but instantly recoiled, and lodged his head,
as if he expected blow. The teacher inquired
what was the matter the boy replied that he
supposed he should be beaten and being asked
if he had been accustomed to such usage, he re-
piled in the affirmative. Mr.. T. then quieted his
alarm, and assured him he had nothing to fear,
if he conducted himself well, and encouraged
him, by commencing his recitation; and was so
impressed by the lads manner Of receiving this
appreciation that he ventured to say to him, 81
believe you are good boy" These words not
only entered at the ear-they reached the heart.
will not adopt the strong expression which !
once heard from the lips of very intelligent
Jesuit, and say that the teacher had found o
master key to the soul of his disciple, but from
that hour he had effectually turned the switch.
That beautiful appeal-"My son, give me thy
heart" had not been thus silently made in vain.
The lad told his associates that though others
had said he was bad boy, Mr.. Towne had told
him he believed he was good boy, and he was
sure he wished to be good boy.
Not long after, the school agent came again,
and earnestly requested, that this boy should be
dismissed from school. With this request Mr..
Towne refused to comply; and said that he liked
the appearance and conduct of the boy, and
thought that, with some little illustration of the
law of kindness, he would make himself known
in the world, as useful citizen"
This youth continued to attend the school
daily and steadily, and proftably, for two win
ters At the close of the second winter, the
father came to Mr.. Towne, and said, "Billy says,
that you say l must send him to college, and
have him fitted with some private family, and
not at an academy" The father inquired of Mr..
Towne what he had seen in Bill to justify the
idea of sending him to college. 81 see," said
Mr.. T., "a boy that you will hear from in after
life" Mr.. Towne recommended the Rev. Mr..
Lyman, of Connecticut, as his instructor.
This course was followed; the boy went to
college, and the predictions of his kind and ju-
dcious primary teacher have been verified-the
bog was heard from an after lJe! After having
filled many stations of the very first Importance
in our country, and passed the seventieth mile
stone in the path of nan, from the cradle to the
grave, he is numbered with the dead-that Stur-
bridge boy, William L. Marcy, is no morel
Upon the tidings of Mr.. Marcys decease, l
had wish to tell this interesting story to the
world. Unwilling to trust entirely to my me-
mory, addressed letter to my friend, Gen.
Towne, and communicated that wish to him.
His reply is now before me, in which he says {:
"Please say as little of me as you can. 1t can
only be said that boy, who had been unfortun-
ately dealt with, happened to become pupil OF
mine; and | happened to discover that he was q
lad of noble mind; and that proper direction
and change of policy only were necessary to
make him O man, whose influence might, in at
ter life, be widely extended"
Firmly believing as l do, that, under God,
Mr.. Marcy was deeply indebted to this kind,
considerate friend, for thus turniny the sUitch
so opportunely, think the public will not agree
with Gen. Towne, in ascribing to chance what
has obviously resulted from the exercise Of an
excellent discretion.
Among the accomplishments and virtues OF
Mr.. Marcy, he possessed and cultivated genial
and grateful temper. He never forgot his obli-
cations to the teacher of the village school, in
Charlton and on numerous occasions, private
and public, evidently took particular pleasure
in proclaimlng them openly.
Upon the occasion of a military review, and,
at the dinner table, that gallant soldier and per-
feet gentleman, Gov. Brooks, observing the very
familiar and friendly relation between Mr.. Marcy
and Gen. Towne, who were present, inquired OF
Marcy how he and Towne had become so init
mate; upon which, Mr.. Marcy replied, pointing
towards Gen. Towne HE made me-what-
ever have attained owe him." "That," re-
Joined the Governor, requires some explana-
tion." Mr.. Marcy, then proceeded, in his happy
manner, and in the presence of the company,
who had become interested in the recital, to mar
rate the story of his days of small things-his
early discouragements-his first recitation be-
tore the village school at Charlton-how, expect
ing to be cuffed as usual, he had lodged from
the anticipated blow-the teachers surprise
the effect upon his young heart of the first words
of commendation lie had ever receved-the
stirring of all his good purposes, upon hearing
for the first time in his life, that he was believed
to be 'good boy" eyes," said Mr.. Marcy
"Towne made me"
"NorHING TO Do."-The Boston Courier say:
that the success of Mr. Buffers clever satire
called "Nothing to Wear" of course has pro-
voked imitation, and accordingly We are not
surprised at the appearance of Nothing to Do,
got up in similar style, and purporting to be
written "by lady" 1t is not precisely an i'm.
tation of the other SATIRE but seems in some sort
intended as a reply to it from the feminine side
The keynote is indicated in the following lines,
which we quote from about the middle of the
poem:
"But all styles have admirers, so I've heard say;
And those which Fitz Frivol admires, are they
Who spend all their lives dressing, yet ever declare,
As we lately have heard that they nothing to aCear
As the cause of this dressing I'll whisper to yon-
'Ts TO suit the young men who have nothing to do,
'Ts fact uudsputed, from Pekin to Cadiz,
That the taste ofthe men is the guide for the ladies'
The Flora McFlimseys, beaounced and belaced
Are just suited to many masculine taste; &c."
The argument is that if silly ladies' are foolish
and extravagant in dress it is because they are
tempted thereto by silly men whose idleness is
more criminal. The answer to which plea is
that temptation may palliate but does not ex.
cuse offence.