The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-05-30

Miss Merton, or you would not take so much
pains with him." aa l,z. stsf-.
"I have great hopes of him, Deacon Gray
And she detailed the experience of the week.
"Ah, but one swallow doesn't make sum-
mer." s @ 5sa..
81 know it, Deacon, but then one swallow is
a harbinger of summer. It gives US hope of
seedtime and harvest. 1t tells us there is
warm weather somewhere. Deacon, have
studied the boy this week, and L am satisfied
that he only needs kind treatment and encou-
ragement to place him far above the average of
men. O, if you would only let him come here
now. I'll answer for his good conduct"
The Deacon hesitated, but Miss Merton
plead, and eloquently too, for she felt that a
souls salvation lay in the answer she should
receive to her petition. .,z=z-s s..-.issss.a
seYou'd make a good preacher, Miss Merton
and he drew his hand over his eyes. "It's
hard resisting you. In fact guess I'll have
to yield. IF mothers willing, he may come
tonight" 1s a-.
"You1l never repent this good deed, Dea-
con, never, never. The boy must be good in
such home as this; so neat, quiet and well
arranged. I'll answer for him."
"Where are those pants I laid off last week,
wife; those gray ones2 They were pretty
good yet--only thin about the seat, and out al
the knees. L guess between you, you could
get the boy decent pair out of them"
go yes, indeed, father, I could cut them
over and turn the fronts to the back. Yes,
indeed; I'll get at them as soon as do up the
dinner work"
just at evening Willie came for his jacket,
and words cannot express his joy at learning
he was henceforth to live under the same roof
with his idolized teacher"
20, I'll be so good" he said. eDo tell me
what could do for you, Mrs. Gray" and with
out waiting for an answer, he ran out to the
shed and brought in the nights wood, and
split the kindlings, and drew the water and
filed the kettle, fed the pigs and brought in
the eggs. pa 4-sa
ssCan you milk, Willie? the Deacon gener-
ally does, but he's late to night, and will be
tired when he comes in.'
go, yes, ma'am, guess I cam" and he soon
brought the swimming pals into the dairy
The snow white biscuit, the quivering Gust
ard pie, and mellow cider apple sauce, the
golden butter and the fragrant tea, were just
placed on the neatly laid table when the Dea-
cons step was heard.
"Waiting?" said he, "well, sit down, I must
do my chores first" -ia
sThey're all done" said Willie, respectfully
did them"
sAh, you did them did you? Well, then
we'll have tea"
Mrs. Gray had placed an extra plate by the
side of the school ma am, and now she motion
Willie to sit there.
'sI can wait, always do," said he, hanging
back. 4Ii
tNobody waits at my table, when there's
room," said the Deacon. "Sit down, boy, anG
remember that is your place hereafter"
It seemed to Willie that he had suddenly
slept into another world, everybody so kind
every thing SO free. E-
Sunday morning came
Willie was up before sunrise, doing the neces
sary chores, and then Mrs. Gray hung up ar
old blanket in one corner of the wood shed
and gave him pail of warm water, and some
soap, a sponge and towel, and told him tt
strip himself to the skin, and wash himseE
thoroughly, and then, just when the boy was
holding the dirty, ragged shirt in his hand
and hesitating to put it on, sweet voice said
kindly, -'you will find your clothes just outside
the blanket" Willie, and then light footsteps
ran away. s
He peeped out. Sure enough, there was
bran new shirt, the gift of Miss Merton, which
she had made evenings; the Deacon's pants
the needed jacket, a pair of neatly darnec
socks, some of tie Deacon's that had shrunk
and pair of good, stout shoes, the last pres
ent from the Deacon, who had told Miss Mer-
ton and his wife, she wouldn't do things by
halves, he'd test the boy thoroughly"
There were many happy little faces in the
church that Sabbath morning, butnone bright
er or more cheerful than William Hendricks
sons, and no boy behaved himself better ii
meeting either, than he did, reading out OF
the same book Miss Merton did, kneeling by
her side, and reading the beautiful words Of
the hymns, as her voice joined with the cho
rus of the choir. ~
Weeks passed on. The summer time was
gone, and with it the dear school ma'am
az may never see you again, Willie," she
said tenderly, as she held his hand at parting
sbut hope always to hear good report of you
The Deacon has promised to write to me occa
sionally, and shall expect to hear from you In
every letter. I shall never forget you. ]
shall remember you in my prayers night and
morning Willie, you will not disappoint me. >
Through his tears the boy sobbed out, "no
no, no; o, if you could always be with me. >
MI leave you with friend who never for
sakes, Willie; God is with you."
She was gone, and seemed to the poor boy
that heaven had shut its door on him forever.
But he manfully struggled with himself, ano
though it was not near so easy to be good un
der the new teacher that came, he aoos good
remembering ever his promise.
I would like to follow his career, step by
step but my story is growing long, and car
only tell you the results of his continued eff
forts after knowledge and goodness. He be
came SO near and dear to Deacon Gray, thai
when he was sixteen years old he adopted him
his own little blue eyed son being called to
the "other side of the river" He went first to
teh academy, then to the college, then to theo
logical school, and then into the pulpit. Yes;
he whom the country people all said was bound
to go to the penitentiary, now breaches the
gospel of Christ on every Sabbath day. And
the dear teacher, now an aged matron with
silvery hair, listens to him and learns of him.
The pupil has become the pastor; the worst
boy in the school is now one of the most elo-
ouent preachers, and what is better far, one
of the best of men. Verify, Gas ye SOW, SO
shall ye reap" .sa-s III:
p% It used to be said of person who had
been imbibing pretty freely that he was carry
ing "brick," OF more, according to the amount
indulged in. That phrase has now, in the
march Of ideas GIVEN Mace to one eGually II