The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-02-21
The snvhted scholar.

relate are much too frequent in our
country, and they are such, too, ne
should be guarded against by oil
who have an interest in education
The incident was brought to my
mind by hearing complaint made
by the parent Of a poor boy, who
had been grossly neglected by the
Teacher of tho village school-ne.
iylected SIMPLY because lie was 10 Jr
and comparatively friendless!
Many years ago, when was but
a small boy, ! attended school in the
town Of M. Among the schol.
ara was boy named George Henry.
llis father was u poor, drinking man,
aud the unfortunate boy had to suffer
in consequence. Gorge came to
school habited in ragged garments;
but they wcrs the best he had. He
was rough and uncouth in his man
ners, for he had been brought up in
that manner. He was very ignor
ant, for he had mover had opportu.
nltY lot euuCdtOn.
Season after season, poor George
Henry occupied the same seat in the
school room - il was \ back corner
seat, away from the other SCHOLARS
and there he thumbed his tattered
primer. The ragged condition of
his garb gave homely cast to lis
whole appearance. and what o., in
tclligence there might have been in
his countenahce was beclorded "
tho "outer covering" OF the boy. He
seldom played with the other child,
ren, Tor they seemed to shun him:
bnt when he did, for awhile, ipin
with them in their sports, he was 80
rough that he was soon showed oh
out If the way.
The Teacher passed the boy cold
ly by III the street, while other boys.
in better Garbs, were kindly noticed.
The Teacher neglected him. and
then called him an idle b ockhead, :"
becan lie did not learn. The boy
received no incentive 10 study, and
consequently he was most OF the
time idle, and likeness bagar dis.
position to while away the tirue in
mischief.
For this he wAs whipped, and the
more he WAS whipped The more idle
and careless he became. lie knew
that he was neglected By the Tcach
or simply because no WAS poor and
ragged, and with a sort of sul!en
indifference, sharpened at tim,s by
feelings OF bitterness, he p.odded ON
in his dark, thankless way.
Thus matters went on for several
years. Most of the scholars who
we're Of Gcorg, llenry's aye hal
passed on to the higher branches of
study, while he. poor fellow, sill
spelled ont short words oi one aud
two syllabes, and still kept he dis
tant scat in the corner. His father
had sunk lower in The pit OF inebri
alton, and the unfortunate 10Y was
more wretched than ever. The lool;
ot clownish Indifference which bad
marked his countenance, was giving
way to a shade Of unhappy thought
AID feeling, and it was evident that
the great turn point Of his lie was
At hand. llo stood now upon the
step in life from which the fate q
after years must take its cast.
At this time a man by the nam,
of Kelly took charle o. the school. -
lie was an old Teacher, careful
observer OF human nature, aud re
, ally good man. Long years q
guardianship over wild yonths ha'
given him bluff, authoritative way
and in his discipline he was stric
and unwavering The first day b,
passed in the Teachers desk of on
school was mostly devoted to watch
ing tho movements Of the scholars
and ,tndying the dispositions viii
, watch he had 10 deal. Upon George
: Henry lis eye rested with keen
searching glance. But he cvidentl,
made little of him during the fra
day, but on the second he did more
1t was during the afternoon Of tn
secund day that Mr.. Kelly observe,
. young Henry engaged in inpalIni
- iles npon tie point OF large pin, =
I He went to the boys seat, and ate
reprimsnding him for his idlcues, h
I took mp the dirty, tattered prime
rom his desk.
'llave you never learnei MOI
r. than is in this bOokI" asked I'll
Teacher.
!. mo sir" drawled George.
: GLOW long have you attende
e scIool"
g Il don't know,sir. I,'s ever sine
Il can remember"
;, Then you must be an IDLE, reel
d less boy" said the Teacher, vii
= much severity. "Do YOU rcali;
70 how many years you have throw
d away? Do you know how muc
/. you have lost? What sort Of a I'M
ID do you think of making in this wa.
Ie One OF these days you will be Il
old to 60 to school, and then, viii
is your companions arc seeking son
Y honorable employment, you will
IL good tor nothing. Have you al
ID parentsT
il Yes, sir" answered the boy, in
ID hoarse, subdued tone.
a And do they wish you to gre
i'll up to be an Ignorant and worthlc