Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-11-10

the ship forbade it, Agau the service was
grNtuitous, except in small souvenirs and cx-
prcssions of gratitude, botf from the ministers
and the scholars, at the sane time it was the
best paid labor in my life.
These young men have been in the United
States, and before this hive left it, carrying
back with them books ard knowledge which
will have an important inficnce over that most
interesting country, now passing through cri-
sis full of the most intense interest and impor-
tancc. After awhile my scholars were required
to write sentences in English for me to inspect
and correct, as the best method of mastering
our language, while at the same time it served
to reveal the order of thir minds and their
modes and subjects of thinking. Some of these,
copied at the time cannot fail TO interest your
readers, both as illustrations of the turn of
thought and rapidty of progress of these young
japanese. 1t should be icmembcred that not
one of ;he number unders ood a word of Eng
ish when they came on beard, except a lad of
the name of Tatcise Onegcro, "a son of the
second interpreter, and wlo was called the third
himself, though he was attached TO the mission
mainly in compliment to MS father, and from
his showing fine talents for learning, and when
he could only spcdk a little English which he
had picked up by accident, without any ability
to read and write it. From his good nature
on board, name which, as | see in the papers,
has followed him to the United States.
| will first give n sentence as originally writ
ten, without any correction, to show the chorac-
ter of their composition at the first stage Of
the trial -
"Ihc English is at present the most [nccessa-
ryl language, but in myself fool it is very diff
ficult However by receive the teach of good
master, then back to Japan, | shall can done
little speak.
My dear Master"
This is fair specimen. Soon however, after
infinite drilling in grammar and vigorous repe-
tition of the lessons in Webster's old spelling
book beginning with a b G. the Improvement
became marked, but not without close attention
and hard study as will be seen from the cx-
ercises following, in which the very least cor
rection is made. After our visit to Honolulu
one wrote:-
"Ihe Sandwich Islands men were originally
unknown 10 build a house, but dug hole and
ate rain. When they had children they sunk
them in the earth. They were very malicious
and irrational For forty years, by the imprints
[iiiblesl of God, now they are always reason
able and kind"
Another wrote:-
Last night the north heavens were very light
or red, which is called the northern light. What
is the nortl lightP Some natural philosopher
say that he could not tell. master, show see
plainly"
Tommy vrote:-
81 shall study English more, and improve by
diligence, and become teacher by and 6y when
| come back to Japan. Then | want to see YOU
in there. Let You come, please. When | see
you commng then say: Iialol Mr.. Wood,
my teacher, good master. am glad TO see
you. Wecom. Wolcom. How feel at pres
ent? Health is it good? | will invite YOU to
the city of Jeddo, and show you around it,
One of them was an officer in the Japanese
army. and very naturally his thoughts were
turned to the necessary defcnccs of his coun-
try, both from It's being now opened to for
eign commerce and intercourse, and from see
ing the heavy guns and arrnament of ships
He WAS marked by great coolness and solidity
of Judgment.
"If country has an understanding men,
then it is richer than all he world, or than it
would be if it had 1OO,OM dollors. since other
countrys will not wage wa with it."
Again
~ bay in a country mist have a very strong
battery; if It has not, thci the country shall be
mocked by other countrys"
Again =
"lf in the world yariols study -books were
criminals Though tho observation-disclosures orc
different in each country vet thc in,cn,ion Of
instruction is IN let the m.n lac Understandable
and the country rich. and the wnanons stronf7' '
er."
Tommy showed ot ,imA tondor moral som
sibili,v ond n l,rC,or rar,,, of thoncbt tbnn ,Lo
others. lie wrote at onp timc ,be following
touching sentencp-bod rxnloineJ the grcnf
doctrines Of Christianity ~ The school
"Tbourb our lie Is shrt and unbanrv but
after the burial we viii gn into orothcrr rwiorId
which is very rood nlace / think .
TnIerneoib I wrd,c mi banJed !, hack to
hin, -
"Verv truc Tommy Ufc ;s sbor, and or,or
worry unbonny Rnt Cod i good and ,rhem
we die If wc oro GOOD h, vii take onr somIs
or ,bot which ,b;nI ond fo"lD u;,h;, ms ~ :,
bcani;c,l world ,rhcre ,ho;, u;ll hn No ,rorblo
or sorrow and whero wo shaiI n,oet viii oli
whom we lovod II ,bev ,rorn ,,onJ and nnyor |'.
he sonora,nd oga;r y vh;s .ooe,noJ 70 roI;ovo
his Genress;or end ohoor his sa;r;,s
me mil;,or, ",hoIar aoa;n niY
"Brove men in convrsso,;op oro nc fooI;sh
mon. bm, in fahtn@ t;,n" tSo,' horo ,nr.;iJn
nowerGrIness "eo ''"''' 'A'' ""'' w '''''
Another
..A bnt ci,,o,o ,,rod,oo. .,,,ol, r.,.oo, ,1o,..7
and 6no ,roos ,,Ia,ts nn;r,I,a1 i;nLs WI