Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-08-22
The First Kind word.


"Was your lesson difiieultY kindly inquired
a young teacher of a ragged, uncouth looking
lad of about ten years, who was one of a class
who had Just finished recitation-'was your
lesson difficult, my boy 2
The boy thus addressed, raised his large
grey eyes with an inquiring look, as if to sat
isfy himself that words, breathed in SO sweet
a tone, were intended for him; but as he met
his teachers gentle gaze, they fell, and drop
ping his head, he forebore to reply. His teach
er perceiving that he felt the rebuke, and
deeming it sufficient said no more, and dis
missed the class This Johnny by name, was
the son of poor parents, both of whom we're
habituated to the use of ardent spirits, and, of
course, grossly neglected their children; beat
ing and abusing them, as their excited pas
sions prompted; seldom ard perhaps never let
from their lips word of kindly interest even,
much less oflove. Johnny being OF a mischiev-
GUS temperament, was the recipient ofunbound-
ed harshnesS but this disposition he owed the
privilege of attendance at the village school,
whittier he was sent to ''be out of the way
This was the first day ne had been under the
care of the present teacher, whom will call
Miss Almer. Johnny possessed quick
and retentive mind, and when he chose to
apply himself, could stand the head of his
class.
But his halflearned lessons came oftener
than his perfect ones, and always brought
him severe reprimand, and often chastise-
ment, which seemed to have no other effect
than to harden and debase him. Grow
ing up under such influence at home and at
school, he became morose and illtempered
boy disliked and Stunned by his schoolmates
on whom he sought to revenge himself by all
the petty annoy3nces his brain could devise.
She had rebuked him for his first error gent
ly, as was her wont, and, trusting TO the pc
tency 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 tone was so rare as TO awaken as
tonishment IL fell among the rude thoughts
and feelings of his heart, as flower among
thorns. 1t was to his ear, that was won't to
catch only the harsh tones of unkindness, as a
strain Of sweet melody after a jarring discord.
OH why do we so often withhold that which
costs so little TO give, and yet may prove such
a treasure to the receiver2 But TO the story.
Miss Almer fingered at the school room till all
the pupils had left, and was walking alone
homeward, when this, TO her, trhing event OF
the day, was brought to her mind, by observ.
ing Johnny sitting by the roadside, apparently
waiting for her When she came 10 him, he
rose and offered her a nosegay of violets, say
ing, "Please ma am will you take these p
Certainly, Johnny, they are very sweet,
and the finest have seen this season; love
them dearly, and you, too, for bringing them
to- me-"
She had taken the boys hand in hers, des,
pite its disgusting appearance, and, as she
finished speaking, his eyes were lifted to hers
with the same expression as in the morning
and tear was furrow through the dirt that
begrimmed his face Ia
Johnny, what is the matterT asked his
teacher in surprise.
'What you said" faltering uttered the by
''Do you love met" .
'Indeed do" was Miss Almers reply
But something must trouble you. Can dc
anything for you p .t.a
"0h, you hare done more for me than any
one else, for no one ever loved me before
but thought you did when you did mt scold
me for not getting my lesson But I'm a
dreadful boy, you don't know it all
'Well, tell me all, answered his teacher
touched by his earnestness of manner Sc
saying she led him TO large stone, and badC
him sit by her there, and as he unfolded his
tale of wrongs done as well as received, she
mingled her tears with his that flowed freely
They sat long and ere they parted, she had
given rest to his eager heart, by promising ever
| 10 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 haG
been his home, 10 learn the cause Of his alb
sence, aud, to her surprise, found it vacated
Whittier the people had gone no one knew
Many years after this (ffteen | think, Miss
Almer was visiting far away from this scene
Of her early labors, and during her visit, at
tended meeting for teachers Remarks
were offered and experiences related, by ma
ny laborers in the good work of instruetinQ
youth, and, at length gentleman rose and
expressed a wish TO say word TO the band o
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
II am that lad; those were the first lcord,
Of kindness | remember ever TO have had ad
dressed to me. They have been my talisman
my guiding star through life They hav,
made me what am, and, God helping me, i
shall be the aim of my life to reward the ffienC
Of my youth, in the only way in my power
namely, by living so as to spread by precep