The Van Buren press., 1860-09-07
Miseellauv..
The First Kind Word

1t Is not long since we had occasion TO
write short article on the subject of kind
words from teachers and others who have
charge of children. The following illus
trates the power of kind words;
% Was your lesson difficult % kindly
inquired young teacher of ragged un.
couth looking lad of about ten years, who
was one OF a class which had Just finished
its recitation" was your lesson difficult,
my boy ~
The boy thus addressed, raised. his large,
tgray eyes with inqairing look, as if to sat
tisfy himself that words, breafhed n so
sweet tone were intended for him but as
he met his teachers gentle gaze, they fell.
and dropping his head, he iorebore 70 re-
ply. HIS teacher perceived that he felt the
reouke, and deeEling it sufficient, said no
more, and dismissed the class. This lad.
Johnny by name, was the son of poor pa
rents, both of whom were habituatcd to the
use OF ardent spirits, and, of course, gross
~ neglected their children, beating and
abusing them as their excited passions
prompted seldom, and perhaps never fell
from their lips word of kindly interest,
even, much less of love. Johnny, bein.
OF a mlscrheyous temperament, was the re-
cipient OF unbounded harshness lut to
this disposition he owed the privilege of
attendance at the village school, whittier he
was sent to 4" be out of the way" This
was the first day nc had been under the care
of the preeente Deacher, whom | will call
Mss. AImcr. Johnny possessed quick
ana reteniive mind. aud when he chose to
apply himself, could staSd at. the head of
the class.
But his alf-learned lessons came oftcncr
than his perfect ones, and always brought
him severe reprimand, and often a chas-
tlsemoI1t, which seemed to nave no other eff
feet than to harden and debasc him. Grow
ing up under such influences at home and
at school, ne became morose and ill-tem-
pcred boy, disliked and Stunned by his
schoolmatcs, on whom he sought to avengc
himself by all the annoyances his fertile
brain could devise. Such was the lad
when he became pupil of Miss Almer
She had le5u ked him gently for his first
error, as was her wont, and, trusting to the
potency Of such reproof had dismissed him
from her mind but not so easily were the
kind words forgotten by the poor boy, to
whom so gentle a tone was so rare as to
awaken astonishmcnt 1t fell among the
rude thoughts and feelings of his heart. as
flower among thorns. 1t was to his ear
that was wont to catch only the harsh tones
| ct unklndness. as strain of melody, after
jaIring discord. Oh why do we so Of
ten withhold that which costs so little to
give, and yet may Move such a treasure to
the receiver! But to the story. Miss Al
mer fingered at the school-room till all the
pupils had left, and was walking alone home
ward. when this, to her. tritling event of
the day, WAS brought to her mind, by Oh
serving Johuny, sitting By the roadside. ap
parenty waiting for her. When she came
TO him, he rose and offered her nosegay of
vio.ets, saying, Please ma am, will you
take. these ?''
Certainly, johnny. they are very
sweet, and the finest | have seen this sea-
son l love them dearly. and You, too. for
bringing them to me-
She had taken the bows hand in hers
despite his disgusting appearance and, as
she finished speaking his eyes were lifted to
hers with the same expression as in the
morning, and II tear was msking a furrow
through the dirt that bcgrimmed his face
W hat you said, falteringiy uttered the
Doy, 10 you love me
Indeed | do,'' was Miss Almer's reply.
But. something must trouble you. Can
l do anything for you 20
"Oh, you hare done more for me than
any one else, for nobody ever loved me be-
fore; but | thought you did when
you didn't scold me for not getting my les
sons. Bat I'm a dreadful boy; You don t
know it all"
s. Well. tell me all, answered his teacher
touched By the earnestness of his manner
SO saying, she led him to a large stone and
babe him sit by her there, and As he unfold
ed his tale of wrongs done as wei! as receiv-
! ed. she mingled her tears with his which
flowed freely. They sat long. and ere they
parted, she had given rest to his eager heart
| by promising ever to be his friend
The next morning, Johnny was missed
| from his place at school, and at the close
of school, Miss Almer called at the rude
hut which had been his home, to learn the
cause of his absence, and, to her surprise
found it vacated. Whittier the people had
gone no one knew.
Many years after this (fiftcen, l think. }
Miss Almer was visiting far away from this
scene of her early labors, and during her
visit attended meeting of teachers Re-
marks weIc offered aud experience related by
many laborerS in the good work Of instruc-
ting youth, and, at length a gentleman rose
ana expressed a wish to say word to the
band OF teachers, on the power of kindness
and in the course of his remarks, related the
story ! have given above, closing with
these, or nearly these words
"I am that lad g those were the first
scordsof kindness | remember ever to have
had addressed to me. They have made me
what | am, and, God help me- It shall be the
aim of my life to reward the friend of nv
youth, il the only way in my power, name
ly by living so as to spread by rrecept and
example the influence OF the divine princi-
pie of love which actuated her.
Miss Almer listened to this recital with an
agitated heart, for she recognized in the
speaker the little Jimmy whom she had no:
forgotten. She sought an interview, and
learned his history. How, after leaving his
early home. the love of virtue which she
reused in his bosom, was ever leading him
away from his evil courses, and urging him
to higher life.
Naad we cav IN any tooohor -.