Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-15
band into . good humor before she animated her

swered. *
"Think Of that nowl And boy Isaw to-day
had just such another lucky mole as yourself under
| his left eye"
! "What boy ?" inquired the master.
IA poor fatherless and motherless craythur, with
his Tosters and little books sung in strap at his
back. and purity tidy second suit of clothes under
his arm for Sunday. 1t put me in mind of the way
you tould me you set off poor scholaring yerself,
darling !-all as one as that poor boy, 6arren the
second suit Of clothes" ~.
"What did he want?" inquired OLeary, resum-
ing his bad temper; for Mary made mistake IN
her second hit. She judged of his character by her
own. Prosperity had rendered her more thoughi'ui
and anxious to dispense the blessings which sie ell
ioyed, but it had hardened her husband
"Just six months ofyour taching to make man
of him, that's ALL"
"Has he the money to pay for t?'
elm sure never asked him. The tr'te coicct'
ed for poor scholar is little enough to give nm a
bit to eat, without paying anything to strong man
like yourself James OLeary; only just the asc and
commitment it brings to one a sleep by night, and
ones work by day. to be after doing kind turn to
q fellow Christian"
| "Mary," replied the schoolmaster, in a slow and
decided tone, "hats all 6otheration."
| Mary gave start; she could hardly believe she
heard correctly; but there sat James OLeary, look.
ing as hard as if he had been turned from man OF
| flesh into man of stone.
| "Father of mercy y she exclaimed, "spake again,
man alive and tell us is it yerself that's in it,"
James laughed-not joyously or humorous!y, but
a little dry halfstarved laugh; but before he had
time to reply, the door opened slowly and tlm'dly,
and a shock of rusty red hair. surmounting pale
acute face entered considerably in advance OF the
| body to which it belonged
ssThafs the boy told you of, said Mary. "Come
in ma 6uchol;; the master himselfs in now, ana
will talk to you dear"
The boy advanced his slight delicate form,
bowed both by study and privation, and his keen,
jecting brows which ovcrshadowed them
Mary told him to sit down; but he continued
standing his fingers twiching convulsvey amid the
! leaves of Latin book, in which he hoped to be
examined.
"Whats your name ?-and stand up!"-said the
master grutfiy.
The boy told him his name was Edward Moore.
and asked if he would give him the run Of the
school, an odd lesson now and again, and let him
pick up as much he could"
And what" inquired O'Leary. "will you give
me in return?'
Il have but little, sir" replied the boy, "for my
mother has six of us, paving to one whose face we
never see, heavy rent for the shed we starvc I'M.
der My fathers in heaven-my eldest sister Grip
ple-and but for the kindness fone or two families
at Christmas and Whitsuntide, and, above ALL the
blessing of God, which never aves us, we might
turn out upon the road and beg"
8" But all this is nothing to me-" said O'Leary,
very coldy.
II know that, sir" answered the boy, yet he
looked as if he did not know it; though your
names up in the country for kindness as well as
learning. But was coming to i'll have tric Of
about eighteen shillings, besides five which the
priest wanted me to keep when went for his bles-
sing, he said ight want it in case of sickness;
and was thinking if yer honor would take ten out
of the eighteen, for quarter so; know | can't
pay yer honor as ought, only just for the love of
God and if ye'd please to examine me in the Latin,
his reverence said Id be no disgrace to you"
Just let me what you've GOT said the school,
master The boy drew forth from inside his waist
coat the remnant of a cotton nightcap, and held it
towards the schoomaster's extended hand but
Mary stood between her husband and his tcmp:a-
ton.
"Put it up, child, she said :" the masthcr dosent
want it he only had a mind to see il it safe"
Then aside to her husband, Let fall yer hand
James; it's the devel that's under yer elbow keep
ing it out, nibbng the fishes do at the hook is
it the thin shllingS of widows son you'd be aher
taking? It's not yerself that's in it at ALL" Then
to the boy-"Put it up dear, and come in the MORN
ing"
But the silver had shone in the masters eyes
throug the out knitting" the thin shillings,"
Mary called them-and their cGink aroused his
avarice the more So, standing up, he put aside his
wife, men often do good counsel, with strong
arm, and declared that he would have all none;
and that without pay he would receive pupil
The boy thrstng for learning, almost without hest
taton agreed to give him all he possessed, only say
ing that the Lord ABOVE would raise him up some
friend who would give him bit, sup, and lock
of straw to sleep on" Thus the bargain struck,
the pennilcss child turned from the door, knowing
that at least for that night he would receive shelter
from some kind hearted cotter and perhaps give in
exchange tuition to those who could not afford to 60
to the :" great master;" while the dispenser ofknow
ledge, thinking the thin shillings" strobe towards
we'll heaped hoard to add thereto the mite of faith
erless boy. Mary crouched over the cheerful fire,
haol d.
row, and determined to consult the priest to the
change that had come over her husband turning him
out of himself into something " not right"
This was OLeary's first public attempt to work
out his determination and he was thoroughly ashamed
of himself He did not care to encounter Nary re-
proachfu looks. so he bent over his blotted desk,
and set with his back to her, apparently intent on
his books but despite all he could d. his mind went
wandering back to the time he was poor scholar
himself; and no matter whether he looked over pro-
blems turned the leaves of Homer, there was the
pale gentle face Of the poor scholar whom he had
" fecced" to the uttermost.
"Mary," he said, anxious to be reconciled to him.
SELF There one Of them poor scholars that
had not twice as much as they pretended"
"Was that the way with yerself avick ?" she an
swered. James pushed back the desk, flung the
ruler at the cat, bounced the door after him, and
went to bed. He did not fall very soon asleep
nor, when he dill. did he sleep very soundly-but
tossed and tumbled about in most und'gnlted man
ner much SO, that his poor wife left oH rocking,
and taking out her beads began praying hard and
fast as she could and she believed her prayers took
effect for he soon became tranquil, and slept sonndy
But Mary went on praying She was accounted what
called the steadiest hand at prayers in the coun
try; but, on this particular night, she prayed on
without stopping until the gray cock, who always
crowed at four told her what the time was, and she
thought she might we'll sleep for couple of hours
for Mary could not only pray when she liked, but
sleep when she pleased, which is frequently the case
with the innocent hearted As soon hoxeyer rs