Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-08-28
MI $ c H. Liza n Y.
Mr.. MARCY AS A sCHOOLBOY.

tho county Oi urcrter. As We sat to-
gcthcr, In the evening, and were speaking
Of education and Of schools, Mr.. Townc in
formed me. that, about the year l,OO, be-
taught a school IN the southwestern dis
trict of Charlton IN inhalinnt Of S,ur.
bridge, the adjoining town, had son, Of
whose abilities and general character he
appeared % entertain low estimate, and Of
whom be spoke to Mr.. Tovna, " di'parng.
iu.y as q boy who gave him trouble"
Mr.. Town, notwithstanding thi, ra,rrnal
torrwarnius, consented to receive the lad On
probation.
On the evening Of the very fir; LAY, the
school agent cam5 to the teacher, anl toll
him that ,hc 10y was a ail boy, and would
disturb thc wbolrscho5l, and must b. turnol
out Tho agent, very probably, received
his impressions 'som the judlcious parent,
who ,.cms tp have made nl secret Ut bis
opinions. Mr.. Towna rrest0l this hasly
counsel, and informed the agent that be
should kosp a watchGl cyc upon the lad,
and that hc thought, i, would hc time enough
to turn him on; Of school when he made
amy disturbance. AMI that he was entitled
% lair trial When the boy came, Tor
thc fr., time, to r,ciic hi, lesson. aul had
cotton through. Mr. Twng told him {, shut
up h,, book. ~, dil .D, but instantly re-.
c1I.l, aul dllsol hi' head, a. II he cHPec-
,gI blow. The teacher inquired what was
ihc matter; the boy replied that be sup
posed ho should o. beaten, and, being
asked ID BE- was accustomed % such usage,
hc replied iu tho affirmative Mr. T0wnc
then uu,,t.I h.. alarm, aul ASSURED him
that O., ll nothing ,D fear, De conducted
him.a'. we'll, aul encouraged him by eom-
mruIln. hi. recitation aud was 80 im-
pras..l hy tuc lal. manner ul receiving sAi'
aprrut.1u that Ac yonturyl o. say to him,
- believe you arc god boy" Thc5'
words not only entered AZ the car-thcy
reached the hrl-t. will ~; adopt the
strong expression which once heard from
the liI, ol ID very in,c.lrssn, jesuit and .ay
that the teacher bad found q masier.kcy 70
,ls snul OF hi, Disciple, but, f-om that
hour, hc bad ciI.stullly turned the switch.
Tia, beautiful appeal" Ny son, give mo
,Hy hrar,, ha3 ul; boon thus silently made
ru vain. The laI told his a,s,siatcs that,
though other, bad said De was bal 10y,
Mr. Townc bad told him hc believed hc was
good boy, and be was -ara ho wished to
b. % good boy.
Nlt nn: alter, thc school agent came
again. aul earnestly required, that this boy
should D., dismissed lrom the school. With
thi. request Mr.. Tovne refused 70 comply
aul said that be- liked the appearance aud
conduct OF the boy, aud thought, that with
some lI,,l, Illustration of the law Of kind.
ness. hc would make himself known IA the
world. as useful citlan."
Thus youth continued To attend the school,
daily, and steadily, and produbly, for two
winters. AZ ,hg Close Of ths second winter,
tho father came to Mr.. Townc, ani said'
.. BV ,s,g, iiai y0u ,oy must srHd h'm 10
agrs, and hare L,m f'ioi az some P0rai,
fgui.y. na, az aa a.gl.my." Tho father in.
quircI Of Mr. Towue, what he had seen in
Bin to Justify the idea Of sending him To
college. - So, said Mr.. Townc, bog
that gau -R hear from an oi'r hc.' Mr..
Tounc recommended the Rev. Mr.. Lyman
Of Connecticut. as an instructor.
This cour.a was followed; the boy went
to college, and the predictions Of his kind
and jadiciou, primary teacher have been
,eriisI-Ls bog trl' i.lrd from m ditsrWs'
Anr having GlIrI many stations Of the
very Gr.t Importance in our country, and
pas,l tha seygn,istl milestone in the path
of man, from thc cradle to the grave, he Is
numbered with the dcad-that S,urbridsc
boy. William l.. Marcy, is no more
Upon the tidiug, OF Mr.. Marcy's deccase,
/ had a wish 6, tell this interesting story to
the world Unwilling to trust entirely to
nv memory. addressed a letter TO my
friend, General Townc, and communicated
that wish to him. lis reply is now before
mc, in which he says " Please say as little
Of me us YOU cnu. IL can only b. said that
a boy, who had been unfortunately dealt
with, happened To become pupil Of mine ;
and happened 70 discover that he was a
q ladof noble mind and that proper direc.
ton and q change Of policy only were ncccs-
sary to make him a man, whose influence
might, in after lrr, be widely extended"
Firmly believing, as DO, that, under
cod, Mr.. Marcy was deeply indebted to thi,
kind, consiierate friend, Tor this turning he
sir,ioh 50 opportunolY, | think the public
will not agree with General Townc, in as.
cribing to ohano, what has obviously resulted
from the exercise OF an excellent discretion.
Among the accomplishments and virtues
Of Mr. Marcy, be possessed and cultivated a
genial and grateful temper. lie never for
got his Obligations to the teacher OF the vii
lage school, in Charlton and on numerous
occasions, private and public, evidently took
a particular pleasure in proclaiming them
openly.
Upon the occasion Of military review,
and, at the dinner table, that gallant soldier
and perfect gentleman, Governor Brooks,
observing the very familiar and friendly re-