The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-07-24

-THE-
WORST BOY
TN SCHOOL.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.

Is that one of my scholars Z"
| Mis- Merton, the new teacher, poin-
| ted to lad just outside the garden
fence. He was ragged and dirty
barefooted, too-and wore an old
straw bat, so much in pieces that his
tangled locks stuck up every which
way " through the holes. He was
throwing stones OF q robbins nest that
hung high up in cherry tree, and
screeching all the time in way that
made one involuntary clap his hands
to his ears.
"T'm sorry to say it is" replied
Deacon Gray" The worst boy in
school, too, the one that will make you
the most trouble. Indeed, ] don't
believe you'll ever be able to do any
thing with him. He's as strong as a
giant, little short fellow as he is He
| logged the teacher last winter, and
left him for dead He's the worst boy,
take him in all, I think / ever saw"
Has he parents p
"No; his mother died when he
was baby, and his father, hard
working man, hadn't any time to see
to him, and the child, / expect had
a pretty hard time of it with one old
| maid and another for housekeeper.
When he was FIVE years old his father
died, and since that he has been tossed
from pillar to post. He's naturally a
bright boy, and if his mother had lived
/ he might have been somebody, for she
was just one of the most patient, low
ing women you ever saw in your life
Christian woman if there ever was
! one"
| Poor boy p Miss Merton spoke
tenderly. What a pity somebody
don't adopt him, and take him to
! their home and heart"
That's just what told father ma
ny time" said Mrs. Gray, looking
up from the bread she was kneading.
GIVE always said, if some one would
only take him in and do by him as
they would by their own born child,
it would be the salvation of him."
! Mother wanted I should take him
this spring, when he was ont of q
place, bnt I told her it was too risky
! If I hadn't any children, might, per-
] haps but to have such O rough,
| tearing, swearing, mischevious boy
here all the time with my three little
girls, learning all sorts Of badness tG
that youngster there,' and he pointed
to o-year old boy, who sat or
the floor playing with pussy"
couldn't risk it no way. Yet I an
sorry for him"
That's what every body says
continued his wife. They are al
sorry for him, but no one is willing tc
try and reform him; and if it AIM
done soon, it'll be too late, for just as
sure as.he goes in the way he is now
he'll be in the penitentiary before he
twenty-one."
81 wish you had taken him in.
Miss Merton spoke earnestly.
"You won't wish so a month
hence" said the Deacon; "just wait
till you've seen him cut up"
"But if do think so four weeks
from now, will you take him +? Say
yes; please do" And she laid hel
hand confdingly on his arm.
"Well yes; if after that time yor
think you can do anything with hin
why, I'll try him SPELL But he is 6
hard case.
Miss Merton looked ont Of The
window again. The boy had climed
over the paling, and was now starting
/ up tree. She went out quietly into
the front yard. There was not many
flowers in bloom yet, only a few daffo-
dis, bunch of tReug de lis, and box
Of violets. She gathered a few Of
the latter, and sauntered leisurely
down the grayelled walk. pausing now
| and then to look at the ANNALS just
peeping out of the moist ground. By
and by she reached the cherry tree,
on whose lowest bough the boy yet
stood, for he had not advanced a foot
since she came out, having been close
" cycling her.
!" What are you trying to get, little
boy?' She spoke pleasantly, and a
4 ! I :