The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-04
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'.a'hl AN INTERESTING INCIDENT. 70
Sigma contributes to the Bosto
|. Transcript the following interesting ste
: y: y: -g'k %
] Icannot remombcr the ycar-it wa
> long ago-that passed the night, undc
the hospitable roof Of the Hon. Salon
Townc, Of Charlton,in the county Of Wor
cester. As We sat together, in the even
ing, and were speaking Of education an,
of schools, Mr.. Townc informed me, tha,
about the year 1900, Inc taughta school
,, in the South. Western district Of Charlton
An inhabitant of Sturbridgc, the adjoin
ing town, had a son, Of whose abilities
and general characterize appeared to en-
tcrtain low estimate, and Of whom h,
he spoke to Mr. Towne "disparagingly, "a,
boy,who'gavc himtrouble." Mr.. Towne
/ Notwithstanding this paternal forcwarnine
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 a bad boy,and
would disturb the school, and must bc
turned out. The agent, very probably,
received his impressions, from the judi.
cions parents, who seems to have made
no secret Of his opinions. Mr.. Towne re-
ljcctcd this hasty counsel, and informed
tho agent, that he should keep watchful
eye upon the lad, and that he thought il
would be time enough to turn him out OF
school, when he made any disturbance,
and that he was entitled to fair trial.
When the boy came, for the first time, to
recite his lessons, and had gotten through,
Mr.. Townc told him to shut up his book.
He did NO, but instantly rccoilcd, and
lodged his head as il he expected blow.
The teacher cnquircd what was the mat
ter the boy replied that ho supposed
he should be beaten; AMI, being asked II
he had been accustomed to such usage,
he replied in the affirmative. Mr.. Towne
then quictcd his alarm, and assured him,
that he had nothing to fear, il he conduc-
ted himself well, and encouraged him by
commenting his recitation; aud so oilnprcs.
cd by the lads manner Of receiving
tbs appreciation, that he venturcd to say
to him--"I beiicre you are a. 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 a very intelligent
Jesuit, and say, that the teacher had found
a master key TO the soul ofhis dieipie !:
but, from that hour, he had ctfcctually
turned The spitch. That beautiful ap-
pcal-"my sou, gire me thy heart" had
not beon thus silently made, in vaiu.--
The lad told his associates that, though
others had said he was a bad boy, Mr..
Townc had told him lic believed he was
a good boy, and he was sure he wished to
be good boy. p
Not long alter the school agent came
again and earnestly required, that this
boy should be dismissed from the school.
With this request Mr.. Townc refused to
comply and said that he "likcd the ap-
pcarancc 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 .u I'D.
This youth continued to attend school,
daily, and steadily, and proftably, for two
winters. AT the close OF the second win
ter, the father came to Mr.. Townc, and
said--"BiH says, that you say Imast
send him to College, and haze him fitted,
wih some private family, not at an lead
emy." The father inguircdof Mr.. Townc
what he had seen in Bill, to justify the
idea of sending him TO college. VI see"
saidNlr. Townc, "a boy that you wiH hear
from in after lite.. Mr.. Towne recon-
mcndcd the Rev. Mr.. Lyman, Of Connec-
ticut, as an instructor. This course was
followed; the boy went to college, and
the predictions of this kind and judi
cious primary teacher have been verified
tile bog ,cas heard from IN after iye'-
After having filled many stations OF the
very first Importance in our country, and
passed the SEVENTEEN milestone, In the
path of man, from the cradle tothc grave,
he is numbered with the dead-that Stur-
bridge boy, WV. L. MARCY, is no more
Upon the tidings OF Mr.. Marcy deceasc,
| had wish to tell this interesting story
to the world. Unwilling to trust entirely
to my memory, i addressed letter TO my
friend Gen. Townc, and communicated
that wish TO him. His reply is now be-
fore me, in which he says" Please say
rs little OF me as YOU can. II can only
bo said, that boy, who hnd bccn unfor-
tunatcly dealt with, happened to become
a pupil of mine; and happened to dis
cover, that he was a Lad Ola noble mind (;
aud that proper direction and change OF
policy only, were necessary to make him
a man, whose influence might, in after
life, be widely extended Firmly believ-
ing, rs I do, that under God, Mr.. Marcy
was deeply indebted to this kind, consid-
crate friend, for thus turn,ng me sri,eh,
so opportunely, ] think the public will
not agree with Gen. Townc, in ascribing
10 chance what has obviously resulted from
the exercise Of an excellent discretion.
l Upon the occasion of military review
and, at the dinner table, that gallant sol.
dier and perfect gentleman, Governor
Brooks, observing the very familiar md
friendly relation, between Mr.. Marcy and
Gen. Townc, who were present, inquired
ofMr. Marcy, how he aud Townehad be.
conc so intimate upon which Mr.. Mar.
cy replied, pointing towards Gen. 1ownc
she made me-,rhaterer LAure attained
/ ore 10 him." That 'rcjoined the Gov,
crnor, arcquires some explanation" Mr..
Marcy tlicn nprocecded,i in the happy man.
Nor, and in the presence Of the Company
who had become interested in the rcci-
tai, to narrate the story Of his days OF
4 Isr,.u tb;nrs-his carly discourancmcnts