Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-06-15

Iresn several days; and here are some
flowers for you And she gave him the
little bunch of violets she had gathered
"Run quick with them now, or you will be
late to school. You're going to school,
amt you?"
care you the new teacher?'
eyes"
'Pm going, them" I'll be there in
time" And he ran off.
Now, only the night before, he had de-
cla-ed up and down to Tommy that he
would't go to school. 1t was no use. He
never would be anybody, and he was tired
of being fogged, and beaten, and boxed.
He wouldn't stand it from woman teach
er. And if they sent him to school, he'd
play ''hookey," !" he would. Yet the very
next morning he was in a hurry to go, fear
ing that he should be late Who will dare
say there is not magic in kind words?
Miss Merton went early to the school
house. The "worst boy'' was already
| there.
s'Ahl" said she, kindly, 'syou've beat
me. But I'm very glad you're here, for
want to learn something about the school
What is your name 2"
bill Hendrickson, ma am"
"Say William, my dear, or Willie. Bill
is not pretty nickname
| '1t's what I've been called ever since
my father died. And he sighed.
Then your father is dead, poor boy."-
She spoke tenderly. "And your mother
"She's dead, too, ma a'am. She died
when I was little baby. cannot even
remember how she looked and new tears
gathered into his blue eyes,
Courage thought Miss Merton. A boy
who weeps at the mention of his dead
mother can not be all bad, And she laid
her hands caressingly on his brown hair,
and said softly, II know how to feel for
you, Willie for l. too am an orphan"
That gentle touch. It melted the poor
boys heart entirely; but with the better
feeling that surged over his soul came
feeling of shame, too, and for the first time
III his life he hlushed for his matted hair,
and his dirty face and hands.
Il believe" he said, after moments
tho't, s'I'll run down to the brook, and
wash myself. I forgot it this morning.
No, didn't either, disdaining the false
hood. II was too mad to do it, but I'll
wash now"
"Do. Willie, that's a good boy. I love
to see my pupils neat and tidy. Here's a
towel for you to wipe on. Ialways bring
one with me to school, for the little ones
most always need washing after dinner
And here are pair of pocket combs
bran-new ones. Ill give them to you, if
you'll promise to use them every day.
| Willie ran to the brook, and made such
dexterous use of the towel and the combs
that he hardly seemed like the same boy,
when he returned.
s'Why, you're real handsome" Miss
Merton spoke involuntarily; but she spoke
the truth, for he was a handsome little fell
low, with high, fair brow, and a wealth
of nut brown hair clustering about his
temples, in soft silky curls.
81 shall not have much time to talk to
you, for I hear the children coming. p
And as she spoke, little snatches of musi-
cal laughter came ringing through the
open door. 'But one thing I must say :
Il need your help Willie.
He looked up, and his blue eyes dilated
in wonder. His help! what could he do
to help her?
She continued: 81 need your help, VIII
lie You are probably one of the Oldest
pupils l shall have, and the little ones
will all look up to to you as an example.
If they see you quiet, mannerly, orderly,
faithful to your studies, and prompt in rec
itations, they will strive to emulate you,
and | shall have but little difficulty in gov
erning the school (; but if, on the contrary,
you are noisy. forward, rude, negligent of
your lessons, and dilatory in coming to
your class, they will imbibe your spirit,
and | shall go home every night sad and
weary Willie, you are cut out for a
good boy"-and she moved her hand over
his now glossy hair. Your head is good
one. If you only guide it with your heart,
it will make good and perhaps great
man of you. Can l trust you, Willie p
VIII you help me to make this school a
credit to the district"
Willie had never been talked to in that
way before. He had never had trust re
posed in him. He hardly knew what to
make of it now, but he did not hesitate to
say at once. Il will help you all can
Perhaps l shall forget sometimes, and act
bad, because I'm so used to cutting up,
that it'll go hard to be good all at once but
if / do, just look at me, and I'll give up.
The other scholars came in just then,
and looked surprised enough to see Willie
there in earnest conversation with the
teacher. They hung back bashfully.
Tell me their names, Willie" said Miss
Merton, kindly; and as he spoke each one,
she took them gently BY the hand, strokine
the heads of the little boys, and kissing the
cheeks of the little girls.
:, School opened The scholars watched
in vain for Willie to begin his antics but
, proud of the confidence reposed in him, he
: never that morning violated single rule
You have done nobly.' said Miss Mer
ton to him, as, at the nooning, she sa
down by him. She opened her dinuer-pail
sBless me, but Mrs Gray must hav,
thought ! had VOLTS appetite. Can
you help me to devour some of this gener
Gus dinner?" The boy, used to scraps ans
| crusts, took eagerly the nice white bread