The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-11-08

all the petty annoyances bis fertile brain
could devise. Such was the lad when he
became pupil Of Miss Almer. She had
rsbuked him for his first error gently, as
was her wont, and. trusting 10 the poten.
cy OF such reproot, had dismissed him
from her mind /; but not 30 easily were
the kind words forgotten by the poor boy,
to whom 50 gentle a tone was so rare as
to awaken astonibh0nent. 1t fell among
the rude thoughts and feelings Of his heart,
as flower among thorns. II was to his
ear, that was wont to catch only the harsh
tones Of uukindnesa, as a strain OF sweet
melody after a jarring discord. Oh T! 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 AImer fingered at the school
room till all the pupils had left. and was
walking alone homeWard, when this, to
her, triAiugvveutrf the'd*y, was4bsO~slst
to her mind, by observing Johnny sitting
by the roadside, apparently waiting for
her When she came to him, he rose and
offered her a nosegay Of vio'ets, saying,
."Please maj will you take these"
"Certainly;Johnny, they are very sweet.
and the finest 1 have seen this season; |
love them dearly. aud you,tOo, for bring
iug them 10 me-" .rt -.9
She bad taken the boys hand in hers,
despite IFS disgusting appearance, and, as
she finished speaking, his eyes we're lifted
TO hers with the same expression as in
the morning, and a tear was making a
furrow through the dirt that begrimmed
his face. itti ID u h -. q
/ .Johnny, what is the matter?'' asked
his teacher, in surprise.
"What you said" falteringly uttered
the boy. "Do you love me p
"Indsod | do" was Miss Almer's reply;
"But something must trouble you. Can
| do anything for your"
"Oh, you haze done more for me than
any ore else, for nobody ever loved me
before; but | thought you did when you
didn't scold me for not getting my lesson.
But I'm a dreadful boy f; you don't know
it ALL"
"Well, tell me all, ;" answered his teach
or, touched by the earnestness OF his man
ner. So saying she led him to a large
stone, and bade him sit By her there, and,
as he unfolded his tale Of wrongs done as
we'll as received, 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. al. .iI..tH
The next morning. Johnny was missed
from his place at school. and at the close
of school Miss Amer called at the rude
hat which had been his home, to learn the
cause Of his absence, and, TO her surprise,
found it vacated. Whittier the people had
gone no one knew. WE.
Many years after this (6fieen think }
Miss Almer was visiting far away from
this scene Of her early labors, and during
her visit, attended a meeting for teachers.
Remarks were offered and experiences re-
lated, by many laborers in the good work
of instruction of youth, and, at length
gentlemen rose and expressed a wish to
say word to the band Of teachers, on the
power Of kindness, and in the course Of
his remarks, related the story have Civ
en- above, closing with these, or nearly
these words -
II am that lad those were the first
words oi kindness remember ever tc have
had addressed to me. They have beer my
talismsn, my guiding star through life
They have made me what am and, God
helping me, 1t shall be The aim Of my life
to reward the friend Of my youth, in the
only way In my power, ramely, by living
so as to spread BY precept and example,
the influence the divine principle Of love
which actuated her."
Miss Almer listened 10 this recital with
an agitated heart, for she recognized in
the speaker the little johnny whom she
had never forgotten. She sought an in
terview, 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 his evil
Courses and urging him to higher life
Need we say to any teacher who may
read this, "Gu thou and do likewise 2
All may not meet with 50 speedy d reward
as did Miss Alhier but let us remember
that the time is rot 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 degradation
by our endeavors to chine forever, star
in the Saviour's Coronet Isl
A harsh word will kill where a gentle
one will make alive. s...-.-, r.