Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-04-09


7, o irtment. But. being modest and sensi-
nj cradle by a few i,ile aud envious boys.
| He could not bear to be despisel. When
| the afternon, Sc ssion OF the school closed.
| Ned fingered behind the rest lest he
might meet Crank going Tor lis pony.
and he did not care 10 walk the same
way with him. just then. When be
reached the d Dor. however. there stood
his tormentor With two friends awaiting
him.
4 Stop. Ned. don't be irl such haste.
he said. Il want to walk with you.'
4 Ned knew very well chat he only wish
ed to get him into a quarrel. which he
and his friends might report. with their
comments 10 the teacher. So he said. Il
cannot stop. now. I'm in haste TO. get
home:' and walked rapidly on. ..;l
Poor fellow. see his limbs fly = cried
out one 4 believe in my heart he is afraid
of US! He thinks we'll turn highway
men in the grove aud rob him of his cash
and gold wateh!' 4,.
This sarcasm on his poverty, brought
shout OF triumph from the cruel trio. !,
%! no boys, cried Frank, loud
ouOuSu W US HSatN W I4S. '0SS0tuS htS>
tim. 'he isn't a coward. fear is not the
cause Of his haste. His mother charged
him to hurry home to do up tic house
work. while she stuck to her binding
Say, now Ned didn't catch you taking.
the clothes eff the line. Monday. like
girl. hu % ..f
Ned stood sliIl al the top Of the hill,
and replied. No, you didn't catch me,
for didn'tru take them down every
Monday. am not ashamed OF my
mother. nor yet am l ashamed to do
any thing which will relieve her.
That's q good girl, Betsy cried Frank
in tone q mock approval; run, it'v
nearly time 10 put the kettle on
Poor Ned /; between anger an1 woun
ded iuSe he WAS very unft 10 50 into the
h 'use to his mother. His eyes were red
for he could not keep back The hot tears
b,nea'l. his unprovokeH insult. He ndun
tea hill before ne c me to the house.
aud threw himself down on the ground
under an old oak tree. which for its Siz
was the phi !e OF The surrounding region
No one knew how long the monarch had
stood there but all knew that many a
generation had passed away from him.
and that growth after growth of his own
descendants had been hewed down since
he had reigned king OF the trees. Hi
magnitude and beauty had spared him
from the woodman's stroke. a tender
oAkling stood beside The towering oak
II was not thicker than man's arm, and
every blast had power to bend tito and
fro. 'unlil at times il almost touched the
ground .,r-
All said he to himself. Frank is like
that OAK; like the poor and weak sap
ling AS he looked up strong breeze
passed by, but the OLD tree stood firm in
is grandeur. seeming to defy that wind
o shake his huge trunk. H uodd d .r..
Cas- ica!Iy with his Ica9y head. and with
his brawny out stretched arms bcckoned
the wind TO the conflict. When the gust
tallied with him he seemed TO turn his
top around, and with scnrnGuI whistlng
among the branches. began to pelt the
little sapling most uumerclful with his
acorus. And what did the little sapIins
do in return? !? Didssh whiS Ie back, and
taunt her powerful foe She hid nothiag &
of which 10 boast. not missile To throw.
she had not yet borne one acorn. So she
Just bore Il, buwinI her head when they
8 ruck it. aud raising it as soon as they
ceased falling! Ned looked cheered. al
though he did not speak. Hrhad learn
ed from nature q lesson OF endurance
| He ran blithely down totEe spring at the
foot OF the hill, bending over its velvet
brink, he took long draught OF the dia
mond water. bathed his heated brow. and
cheeks. and then felt happy enough 10
meet his weary mother.
| Boys, this course of Ned's was a wise
one. When vexed or insulted, you should
rest an hour. take good drink of spring
water. and bathe your red cheeks, and
the wounded hear wall feel easier. You
will not wish to retaliate; you will try to
| endure.
The wind began to howl pretty 6ercely
as Ned walked on. It. increased all the
evening aud at midnight perfect TEN
pest ragged around the home OF the boy.
It was such night has we sometimes
have. when the air seems laden with
sounds various and iudescribable. Moan
| ing. creaking. Tapping rustliug and ,wav-
ing, it shook the cottage TO its very Ioun7
dalions, aud forced itself INFO every crack
and opening OF the doors aud windows
The heart turned towards the deep. and
all who were in danger there; and many
prayers rose in their behalf from those
who realized that there was ''sorrow on
the sea" The night waned, and ere
day break. the storm hat 81 ent its fury,
Ned rose and looked from the Iiltle cham
Der window. But alas ! what desolat,on
an object familiar as the spire OF the VIII
| lage church-the king oak-was gone
The boy hurried on his c!oshes. apd de-
spite the wet grass. he sought the spot.
There like a fallen hero. lay the tree,
splin.ered, wrenehed and lorn. LIS