Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-07-24
The BOot-IIIack--A story for Boys.
BY PHILIP BARRETT.
Let u then, be up and doing,
With heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Learn to labor and to wait.
Il Longf,2om.
About hundred years ago, there lived
in the city Of Oxrord, England, a boy
whose name was George. lie was very
poor-sn much so that he was compelled t.
clean the boots Of the students at the Uni
ycrsity to obtain money with which to buy
the ncccssnrics Of life. His countcnancc
was one Of no ordinary appearance. His
eye was keen and piercing; his forehead
noble and lofty; and every feature Of his
lace was perfectly developed BY his easy
and polite manners, his obhging disposition
ami his warm and generous nature, he
soon won the confidence and esteem OF
many OF those upon whom he waited. The
poverty pc clothing served better to show
the richness Of his mind which only needed
cultivation to make it one OF the brightest
in the whole country. The students of the
University seeing such noble qualities in
their lowly and humble boot. black, deter
minel to educate him, and many Of them
devoted no little share of their time to
that purpose. They found him ready,
willing and studous. lie lost not mo-
nent Of his precious time; but applied him
self diligently, pers3veringly, to his stud
Us, lu soon became an ,qnll, if not a su-
I'Tlpf lD ono Ol MS instructors.
Ills Advancement was very rapid, SO
great WIS it that numbers were unable to
recognize in the gifted and talented young
man, the once poor and needy boot black
About this time there was great change
in the religion Of England. There arose Il
sect, which from the peculiar habits of its
members, their strict observance Of the
Sabbath, their faithful reading of God $
N,,rI .,,,1 g,.S ,,l ,tn tnl
gagements in prayer, was called Method
lists. With this party George Immediately
connected himself and soon became one of
the ahlcst and most consistent members
The youths who once sought his company,
now treated him with sncering contempt
Those who once considered HIM young
man OF extraordinary abilities, then con-
sl1crcd him reckless fanatic, and avoided
his society as they would that ola worthless
drunkard. Al this did not move him. lie
was as firm as a rock. Nothing could
change him. Like Moses, he preferred II
life OF Christian consistency to the enjoy
mcnt OF sin for a season, Ills unchanglug
conduct won Tor him many warm and ar
dent admirers, and numbers who formerly
branded hIm as fanatic became his best
irlcnus. have not the time, children, to
say much moro concerning the character
Oi TINS Interesting yOungman. 1t will be
sulhelent to add, that he soon became one
OF the most pious aud talented preachers
IN England, and such numbers nDckcd tc
hear HIM that the largest houses in Lon
don could not contain them.
lie preached in the open fields to thous-
ands upon thousands; and the great "a
mount ol good which he did, eternity shall
tell. Dear boys, do not mind the snccrs Of
your companions. DO your duty, let the
Consequences be what they may. BE in
dustrlous, energetic Don't mind difficult
les. They only make your arm stronger,
and your heart braycr. If this poor boy
could arise from the lowly position of "a
bIpt-blLck to that Of one OF the most piuus
aud eloquent preachers England ever pro-
duccd, cannot you go and ''do likewise'
You have no idea what you can do till you
try. Energy combined with earnest prayer
will accomplish the most difficult task.
Boys, would you like to know the name
of the boy who blacked the boots of the
students at Oxford University 1t is
GEORGE WHITFIELD.