Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-08-24
From the Independent
THE FIRST KIND WORD.

| red young teacher OF a ragged, uncoutf
looking lad of about ten years, who was ont
OF class which had just finished a recitation
:" was your lesson difficult, my boy?"
The boy thus addressed, raised his args
grey eyes with an inquiring look, as if to sat
sfy himself that words, breathed in SO sweet q
tone, were intended for him but as he Ine
his teachers gentle gaze, they FELL and drop
ping his head, he forbore a reply. His teach
or perceived that he felt the rebuke. and deem
ing it sufficient, said 10 more, and dismissed
the class. This Lad, Johnny by name, was the
sou Of poor parents, both of whom were babit
uated to the use of ardent spirits and Of course
grossly neglected their children, beating and
abusing them as their excited passions pron,p-
| ted, seldom and perhaps never let fall from
their lips word Of kindly interest even, mach
less of love. Johnny being Of mischievous
| temperament was the recipient of unbounded
| ilarshness but to this disposition he owed the
! privilege of attending the village school, whith-
er he was sent to be out Of the way" This
was the first day he had been under the care OF
| the present teacher whom l will call Miss Al
nier- Johnny possessed a qnick and retentive
mind, and, when he chose TO apply himself,
| could stand at the head of his class
But his halfIearned lessons came oftener
than his perfect ones, and always brought him
a severe reprimand, and often a chastsement,
which seemed to have no other effect than to
harden and debase him. Growing up under
such influences at home and at school, he be-
| came morose and ili-tempered boy, dis!iked
and Stunned by his school-nates on whom he
sought TO revenge himself by all petty annoy
ances his fertile brain could devise. Such was
the lad when he became pupil of Miss Al
mer. She had rebuked hun for his first error
I gently, as was her wont, and, trusting to the
| potency of such reproof had dismissed him
from her mind but not so easily were tie
kind words forgotten by the poor boy, TO whom
so gentle tone was so rare as to awaken as
tonishment. 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 of unkintlness, 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 receiver? But to the story.
Miss Almer fingered at the schoolroom till all
the pupils had left, and walking alone home
ward, when this, to her trifling event of the
day was brought to her iniua by observing
Johnny sitting by the roadside apparently
waiting for her. When she came to him, he
rose and offered her nosegay Of yioets, say
ing, Please maam will you take these? ?"
" Certainly, johnny, they are very sweet,
and the finest have seen this season I love
them dearly, and you, too, for bringing them
to me-
Sine had taken the boys hand in hers, de-
spite its disgusting appearance, and, as she fn-
islsetl speaking his eyes=were4 lifted tex hers
with the same expression as III the morning,
and tear making furrow through the
dirt that begriEnnled his face.
'Johnny, what is the matter? " asked his
teacher in snrprise.
What you said" faltcringly uttered the
boy Do yeu love me?"
Indeed | do" was Miss Almers reply
But something must trouble you. Can do
anything for your"
"Oh, you haze done more for me than any
enc else, lor nobody ever loved me before but
thought you did when you did not scold me
for not getting my lesson. But I'm dreadful
bad boy you don't know it ALL
'' Well, tell me all" answered his teacher,
touched by the earnestness of his manner.
So saying, she led him to large stone, and
bade him sit by her there, and, as he un-
folded his tale of wrongs done as well as re-
ceived. 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 lersurprise, found it vacated. With
er the people had gone one knew.
Many years after this Fifteen [ Think Miss
AImer 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 many labor
ers in the good work of instructing youth, and,
al length gentleman rose and expressed
wish to say /. word to the band of teachers, on
the power of kindness, and in the course OF
his remaks, related the story I have given
above, closing with these, or nearly these
words:
'' / am that lad /; those were the first acords
| Of kindness l remember ever to have had ad-
dressed to me. They have been nay talisman
my guiding star through life. They have
made me what am, and, God helping me-
| it shall be the aim OF my life to reward the
friend of my YOUTH in the only way in my
power, namely, by living so as to spread,
by precept and example, the influence of
| the divine principle of love which actuated
| her,
| Miss AImer listened to this recital with all
agitated heart for she recognized in the speak
| er the little Johnny whom she had never for
gotten. She sought an interview, and learned
his history. How, after leaving his early
home, the love Of virtue, which she had reused
in his bosom, was ever leading him away
from evil courses, and urging him to higher
life
| Need we say to any teacher who may read
| this, d" Go thou and do likewise ?" All may
not meet with speedy reward did II ss
| AlT1er !; but let us remember that the time Is
not yet, and if we labor faithfully, we may
hope that the guerdon shall yet be ours to find
that some poor soul has been rescued from de-
gradation by our endeavors, to shine forever
star in the Savior's Coronet!
A harsh word will kill where gentle one
will make alive.
RASTINATXCN.