Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-24
The First Kind Word.

! Was your lesson difficult - kind
! ly enquircd Young teacher Of Z
ragged, uncouth looking lad Of abou,
/ ten years, who was one Of a cIaS,
which had Just finished a recitation
twas Your lesson difficult, my boy q
The boy thus addressed, raised bis
large gray eyes with enquiring look,
as if to satisfy himself that words,
brcathed in so sweet q tone, were in
tended for him but, as he met his
teachers gentle gaze. they fell and,
dropping his head, lie foreborc to re-
ply. His teacher pcrceiving that he
iel. the rcbuke, and dccming it suifi-
cicnt, said no more, and dismissed the
class. This lad, Johnny by name, was
the son poor parents, both Of whom
were habituated to the use of ardent
spirits, and, of course. grossly ncglcc-
ted their children, beating and abu-
sing them, as their excited passions
prompted ; seldom. and perhaps never
let from their lips a word Of kindly
interest even, much less of love.
johnny being Of a mischieyous tenn
permanent, was the recipient of m
bounded harshncss: Eut to this dispo-
sition he owed the privilege of atten-
dance at the village school, whittier
he was sent to "bc out OF the way
This was the first day he had been
under the care Of the present teacher,
whom | will call Miss Almcr. john
ny possessed quick and retentivc
mind, and. when he chose to apply
himself could stand at the head OF his
class.
But his halflcarncd lessons came
oftcncr than his perfect ones, and al
ways brought him severe rcprimand,
and often I chaStiscmcnt. which seem
cd to have no other effect than to
harden and dchaSc him. Growing up
under such influences at home and at
school. he became q morose and i'll
boy. dislikcd and Stunned
by his schoolmatcS on whom he sought
to revenge himself by all the petty
annoyanccs his fertile brain could dc I
wise. Such was the lad when he be- +
came a pupil Of Miss Almcr. She had
him for his first error gent
Is. as was her wont, and, trusting to
the potency of such rcproof, had dis
missed him from her mind but not .
50 easily were the kind words forgot /
ten by the poor boy, to whom so
gentle a tone was so rare aS to ava /
Ken astonishmcnt. 1t fell among the /
rude thoughts and feelings Of his
lcart. as a flower among th0rns. 1t /
vas to his ear, that was wont to catch .
,nly the harsh tones of unkindness, as /
/, strain of sweet melody after jar /
ing discord. Oh! why do we SO Of
en withhold that which costs so little
o give, and yet may prove such a
rcasurc to the receiver? But TO the
tory. Miss Almcr fingered at the
chool room till all the pupils had
eft. and was walking alone home
ward, when this, to her, tritling event
# the day, was brought to her mind,
" Observing Johnny sitting by the
oadsidc, apparently waiting for her.
When she came to him, he rose and
ffcrcd her 4 noscgay Of violets, say
NJ, please ma'am will you take
hese ~ II
Certainly, Johnny, they are very
wcet, and the finest have seen this
cason; | love them dearly, and you,
90, for bringing them to me-"
She had taken the boys hand in
er's, despite its disgusting appear
nee, and, as she finished speaking,
is eyes were lifted to hers with the
anne expression as in the morning,
nd a tear was making 4 furrow
trough the dirt that bcgrimmcd his
ice.
johnny, what is the NATTER"
sked his teacher, in surprise. |
What you SAID fal'eringly utter
i tie boy. DO you love mc?'