Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-03-21
If They had Only Kissed that Little Hand

divine, one Of America most gifted and hon
olcd soas, as he gave some account Of The
wrongs Of his ooyhood. | went away to
school, said he, when was seven years old.
Nv first teacher assumed that nothing was
easier than to understand children. Hence
he never took pains TO study tile character
and understand the disposition Of a child.
- You have bIotted your book, eir-how
is chat? 30 you mean to disobcy me Have
not told you ihat / 1roald have clean writ
ing book. said my master
~ have not bIo.tcd my book, ssid ] ,
stouty.
''Who has blotted it, then? No one ha,
had It but yourself. Do you accuse any one
else?
~ DO not accuse any one and have not
bIolted my book.
Ispoke in good faith, though imprudently.
had no knowledge Of having b.otted my
book.
. Hold out your hand aud be punished for
disobedicnce and lying held out the hand
that my mother had 20 often kissed was
not yet eight years old. The master feruIed
me TIL he was tired, and never shed tear.
My cyebalIs seemed on fire. The teacher
rested, and then whipped me again. did
not weep Or cry cut
. You shall bee to be let off, sir said be.
did not beg endured all he chose to il.
Aict and he was obliged to leave ne at last,
worn out with my o5stinacy.
The worst boy ever saw, said he. You
viii come to the galowa yet. You have not
human feelings
/ looked at my swollen and discolorcd
hand. Oh If any oae had kissed that little
hand instead Of beating it, could have hid
my face in his bosom, and vcpt for every
fault had committed, or ever should commit.
believe | registered vow in Heaven then,
to be always kind to little children. God
knows he has kept it most tenderly and re-
ligiously. That master did his best, bat he
could make nothing of me. God forgive him
as have, and may such teachers be like
angel visits, lew and far between. A teach
er with great heart and a wise head, who
can know his or her pupils, and teach them
adapting instruction to capacity,ls treasure
| remember fellow who sat by me in the
lecture room, who fell under grave rebute
because the lecturer Judged by appearances
lie had u trick OF whiting. One day he
fashioned small keel of ship, dainty
thing, with wtching figure head. He flo
ished it Just as the lecture was finished. Dr.
NJ. was reverend man, with white hair, and
kind heart. But the good man was wounded
BY the whittier. He was Idle and dlsrespect.
/ c,ii ~nd he summoned him to his study, to
administer a wholesome rcbukc
! - Y Dung man. said he, 0 / am obliged to
speak 10 you about the foolish and tridiDg
way in which you spend your time.
Frank W. looA cd at him in surprise.
- Please take that thing out Of your peck
ct that you made during the lecture
Frank drew forth the keel-ho had made
it without thinking and he was hardly con,
scious Of is existence.
Your disrespcct for me and the students
might pass by, said DR.. NJ, but your IT,
reverence for important subjects, | must treat
more severely. Can you tell me the subject
Of the lecture this morning.?
Frank told the subject, readily.
." Can you tell NE any thing about The
manner in which il was treated
" Think 50, raid Frank. And he began
at the first remark Of the lecturer aud re-
peated almost every VOID OF the lecture.
/ e" | did not think you soticed anything
that | said, Mr.. W. said the Doctor, aston
ishment and respect struggling for the mas
terry of his mind.
" suppose was whiting said Frank,
| generally am, but did not know it, up
on my honor, never was more interested
in a lecture in my life
Z" Appearances are deeeitiul, said the Doc.
tor. You will pardon me for Judging you
, wrongfully
" And hope you will pardon me for my
everlasting whiting, said Frank. would
give it up but | am afraid should lose the
Fl thread of my ideas il had not something
in my hands.
, Narrow men are men Of routine, aud ca
silly scaudalized by any eccontricity, Will,
genius is essentially eccentric, though eecen.
tricity is by no means always mark Of sc
MUS