Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-07
GWOrtester Daily Spp.
THE WORST BOY IN SCHOOL.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.
CFrom the Iowa state Journal

ragged and dirty barefooted, too, and wore
ar old straw hat, so much in pieces that his
tangled locks stuck up every which way"
through the holes. He was throwing stones
at robins nest that hung high up in a cherry
tree, and screeching all the time i'll way that
made one Involuntary clap his hands to his
Hs
81 am sorry to say it is, replied Deacon
Gray. 'The worst boy in school, too, the one
that will make you the most trouble Indeed
don't believe you'll ever be able to do any
thing with him. He's as strong as a giant
little short fellow as he is. lie logged the
teacher last winter, and left him tor dead.
He's the worst boy, take him all in all, ever
saw"
HAS he parents 2"
"No; his mother died when he was baby,
and his father, hard working man, hadn t
any time to see him, and the child, | expect
had a pretty hard time of it, with one old
maid and another for housekeeper When
he was five years old, his father died, and
since then he has been tossed from pillar to
post He's naturally bright boy, and if his
mother had lived he might have been some.
body, for she was just one OF the most pa
tient, loving women you ever saw in all your
life; christian woman, if there ever was
one"
Poor boy p Miss Merton spoke tenderly
"What pity somebody don't adopt him. take
him into their home and heart"
CHATS just what I've told father many
time, said Mrs. Gray, looking up from the
bread she was kneading Owe always said
if some one would take him in and do by him
as they would by their own born child, it
would be the salvation of him."
"Mother wanted L should take him this
spring, when he was out OF a place. but told
her it was too risky. If hadn't any children
might perhaps, but to have such rough,
tearing, swearing, mschievous boy here all
the time with my three little girls, learning
all sorts of badness to that youngster there"
and ne pointed to a two year old boy who
sat on the floor, playing with pussy; 81
couldn't risk it no way. Yet Pm sorry for
him"
"Thats what everybody says" continued
Ills wife. "They are all sorry for him, but no
one is willing to try and reform him, and if it
amt done soon, it will be too late, for Just
as sure as he goes ON in the way he is now,
he IL be in the penitentiarY before he's twenty
one"
81 wish you had taken him in" Miss Mer-
ton spoke earnestly.
"You wont wish SO a month hence" said
the Deacon, Just wait till you've seen him cut
up"
"But if do think so four weeks from now,
will you take him Say yes; please do" and
she laid her hand cOntidngly on his arm.
"Well, yes; if after that time you think
you can do anything with him, why, I'll try
him spell. But he's hard case"
Miss Merton looked out Of the window
again. The boy had climbed over the paling
and was now starting up the tree. She went
out quietly into the front yard There were
not many flowers in bloom yet only few
daffodilS, bunch of feV de tyS, and a box of
violets- She gathered few of the latter, and
sauntered leisurely down the gravelled walk !;
Gspsing now and then to look at the ANIMALS
gust peepng out of the moist ground. By
and by she reached the cherry tree, on whose
lowest bough the boy yet Stood for he had
not advanced a foot since she came out, hay
ing been closely eying her.
"What are you trying to get, little boy 2"
She spoke pleasantly, and lovely smile play
ed about her lips.
"a robins nest, ma'am." He was no liar,
with all his faults.
ooh, l wouldn't" Her voice had a grieved
tone. sit would be such a pity, when the
birds have just finished it. Are there eggs in
it?"
81 don't know; I'll see,' and lie climbed
rapidly to the nest. Eyes, ma'am, four" He
didn't touch them, but came down again to the
lowest bough.
"There'll be little birds, soon, then, and it'll
be SO pleasant for me to watch them. l wish
you wouldn't touch them"
81 won't, ma'am. didn't want it for my
self, but poor little Tommy said last night he
wished he had a string OF birds eggs to look
at. Tommy is lame, ma am, and can't get
out much, and he gets lonesome, and wants
something to play with. So l thought I'd get
him some"
rs Tommy your brother 2"
mo, ma'am never had any brother or sis
ter, either" His voice sottened as lie spoke.
ale belongs to the folks where | stay"
"Ill send Tommy something as pretty as
birds eggs. See here" and she broke off a
large bunch of lilacs and handed him the pur-
pie plumes. Garry this to him. Put it in a
pitcher of water, and it'll keep fresh several
days; and here are some flowers for you, "
and she gave him the little bunch of violets
she had gathered. "Run quick with them
now, or you will be late to school. You're
going to school, amt you %
'Are you the new teacher 2"
eyes"
'I'm going then; I'll be there in time" and
he ran off
Now only the night before he had declared
up and down to Tommy that he wouldn't go
to school. 1t was no use. He never would
be anybody, and he was tired of being fogged
and beaten and boxed. He wouldn't stand il
from a woman teacher. And if they sent him
to school he'd play 'hookey," he would. Yet
the very next morning he was in hurry to
go, fearful he should be late. Who will dare
TO say there is not magic in kind words
Miss Merton went early to the school-house.
The "worst boy" was already there.
"Ah" said she, kindly, you've beat me.
But Pm very glad you're here, for l want to
learn something about the school. What is
your name?"
"Bill Hendrickson, ma am"
Say William, my dear, or Willie. Bill is
not a pretty nickname"
"Its what Pve been called ever since my
father died" and he sighed.
Then your father is dead, poor boy" She
spoke tenderly, "And your mother"
"She's dead, too, man She died when
was little baby. l cannot even remember
how she looked" and new tears gathered into
his blue eyes.
Courage, thought Miss Merton. A boy who
weeps at the mention Of his dead mother can
not be all bad. And she laid her soft hand
caressingly on his brown hair, and said softly
Il know how TO feel for you, Willie, for |, too
AN an orphan"
That gentle touch. 1t melted the poor
boys heart entirely, but with the better feel.
lngs shat then surged over his soul came feel
ing oil shame, too, and for the first time in his
HE he blushed Tor his matted hair and his
dirty face and hands.
81 believe" he said after a moments
thought IN run down to the brook and wash
myself ! rgotit this morning. No didn'i
either disdaihlng the iasehood. 81 was toe
mad to do it, but III wash now"
"Do, Willie, that's good boy. | love IN
see my pupils neat and tidy. Here's towel
for you to wipe on. / always bring one wifi
me to school, for the little ones most AWAY.
need washing after dinner. And here are j
pair of pocket combs-bran new ones. ri
give them to you, if you'll promise to use them