The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-08-31
The First Kind Word.

WAS your lesson difficult = kindly in.
quired young teacher of ragged, ,uncouth
looking lad of about ten yOars, who was one
OF class who had uSt flashed recitation
Was your lesson difficult, my boy =
Tho boy thus addressed, raised his large
gray eyes with an iuquiring look. us 1t tn
satIsfy himself that tho words, breathcd in
so sweet tone. c.wero intended for him ; but
as no met his teachers gentle gaze, they fell
and, dropping his head. ho forbore to re.
ply. Ills teacher percoiving that he telt the
rebuko, and dcemiGg it sufficient. said no
moro. and dismissed the class. This lad
johnny by name. was tho son of poor
parents, both Of whom were addicted to the
use OF ardent spirits, and Of course. grossly
neglected their children. beating and abusing
them as their excited passious prompted
and seldom, perhaps never, lot fall from
their lips word Of kindly interest oven
much less of love. Johnny, boing of mis-
chioyous temperament. was tho recipient OF
unbOundcd harshncss {; but to this d;spo.
siiion be owed tho privilege of attending
tho village school, whittier he was sent to "bc
out of tho way" This was tho first day b,
had been under tho caro- Of tho present
toachor, whom ! will call Miss Almer,-
Johnny possessed a quick and retcn,ivo
mind, and when he chose 10 apply him
solt could stand at tho head of his class.
But his hall. learned lessons clno oftoner
than his perfect oncs. and always brought u
sovere reprimand. and often chastis emont
which seemed TO havo no othor effect than
to harden and dobaso him. Growing VI
under such Influences at homo and ut school
ho became moroso and ill.tcmpered boy
dislikcd and Stunned by his playmates or
whom he sought to avonge himself by al
tho petty annoyanccs his fertile brain coulc
devise. Such was tho lad when ho bcca m,
tho pupil of Miss Almar. She had rcbukcC
him for his first error gently. as was hel
wont, and, trusting to tho potency of such
roproof, had dismissed him from hor mind
but not so easily were the kind words for
gotten by tho poor boy, to whom so gentle
| a tono was so rare rs to awaken astonish
mont.
1t fell among tho rndo thoughts ant
feelings of his heart, as y flower among
thornS. 1t was TO his car, that was wont ia
catch only the harsh tonos OF nnkirdness
as strain of sweet melody after jarriu,
discord. Oh ! why do we so often withhold
that which costs so ltlle to givo, and ye
may prove such treasure to tho receiver
But to the story. Miss Amcr fingered n
tho school room till all tho pupils lad loft
and was walking alone homeward, when th'
to hor, irifling event Of the day, vas trough
to her mind. by observing johnny sitting b,
tho roadside, apparently waiting for her,
When sho camo to him, he rose aud offcraS
hor noscgay of violots. saying, "Please
ma am, will you take these
"Cortainly, Johnny; thoy are very swoot
and the finest have seen this soason--l
love them dearly, and you, too, for bringing
them to me-"
Sho had takcn tho boys hand in hors, do
spite its disgusting appearance, and, as sht
| finished oPooking, his eyes woro lifted tt
hers with the same expression as in tn,
morning, and toar was making furrov
through the dirt that bogrimmcd his face.
Johnny, what's tho matter :" asked tn,
| teacher, IN surprise.
what you said" falteringIy uttered th,
boy. "Do you love mo :"
"Indoed do" was Miss Almor's roply -
But something must trouble you. Can
do anything for you :"
'oh, you haze done more for mo thar
any ono else, for nobody ever loved me be
fore; but l thought you did whom you ddn'
scold mo for not getting my losson. Blu
I'm dreadful boy--you don't know ALL"
"Woll, tell mo all" answered his teachor
touched by the earnestncss OF his manner
So saying she od him to largo stone, ant
bade him sit down by her thero, and, as h.
unfolded his talo of wrong done as we'll a
received, she mingled hOr tears with his
which flowed freely. They sat long, ant
ore they parted, she had given rest to hi
eager heart by promising ever to be hi
! friend.
The next morning Johnny was missec
from his place at school, and at the close o
school, Miss Almcr called at tho rude hu
which had been his home, to learn th'
cause of his absence. and to her surprise
found it vacated. Whlher the people haC
gone no one know.
Many years aftor this, (ifteen l think)
Miss Almer was visiting far away from thi
scene of her early labors, and dCring he
visit attended meeting of teachers. Re
marks were offered, and experiences related
by many laborers in the good work of in
structing youth and at length gentleman
rose and expressed wish to say word I,
the band of teachers on the power of kind
ness, and 10 the course of his remarks, Z o
lated the story have given above, CLOSING
| thus:
| at n n, that Iad-thoaa wara tha 4, ,Sf ,Bord