The weekly union record., 1864-05-28

NIEl AN.> ~ s14 Il H.
Uucle John was devoted ajmirer of "Old
Hickory" He was never known TO converse
an hour without bringing bis name il.
No, sir" be shouted again; the Gineral
hadn't no better school house than this; and
didn't be larn? He knowed enough 10 whip
the Bri,ishers of New Orleans, and be knowed
enough to govern this country mighty sight
better nor the President we've go; over Us
now What say is, that if the Gineral cold
larn in sich a school house as this, why can't
our children? l am opposed to these new
tangled notions. Last year we had to build q
new church, aud DOW its school house that's
wanted. Good heavens. what are we coming
to-"
And Uncle John began a new house last
week" added Mr.. Brown. in bis pleasant man
ner; why did be DO that? "
~'Cause the old one is worn out!' called out
Uncle John in loud voice from behind the
stove.
Precisely! and that is why we wish new
school house. l noticed last week, also, that
Uncle j ohm was taking new moving ma
chine home. II he believes in our old fash
ioned notions, why doesn't be stick to the
scy;he and sickle? If you will go behind the
barn, You viii see fne newly painted thresh-
ing machine, ready for use. Doesn't Uucle
John recolect when he and | were young men
and used our fails side by side? Eow is it be
has abar doned that, and resorted to this new
tangled potion Of threshing machine The
simple reason. as l take it. is, that these new
inventions will do his work better.
"Mr. Chairman, said the speaker, assum-
ing an earnest tone, Il trust the day has gone
by when it is considered that any old, tumble
down building is good enough for our children
to receive their schooling III. We all take the
newest and best inventions to our farms and
workshops; we tear down our old houses and
build new ones we erect our handsome
church but here the school house stands-an
eyesore in the sight of every intelligent man.
Every thing is progressing excepting our edu-
cational interests. Let US pull this miserable
old building down, and put up one that we
shall look upon with an honest pride, and in
which we shall feel that our children are not
being tortured as they learn their lessons"
"Anoiher thing" shouted Uncle John,
springing to his feet Il don't like what they
larn now days Ny Oldest gal come home,
t'other day, with a grammar and the fust
thing | heerd her saying. was: i might,
have, can, should, would. will love- and some
other like nonsense. | axed her what she
meant, and she said that was the lesson she
was given TO larn. | told her to take that
book agin, and never touch grammar agn.
She'd never got it, if her mother hadn't bot it
without aXing me. When | went TO school,
we larnt readin', 'rtin', and 'rithmetic Il can't
forget them words for every one begins with
~, and spelling: but nova days, they've got
oggerphy, grammar. algebra. and jomme;ry.
| don't believe Gineral jackson ever heard of
sich things when he went to school,
At this point the secretary whispered to the
chairman, and the latter gently reminded the
speaker that be was not combining himself to
the question whereupon Uncle John dropped
into his seat highly offended, and resolved to
say no more that evening.
Mr.. Brown arose
Il see that Mr.. Brandon is in the room.
am sure we shall all be glad TO hear from
him"
There was general turning OF heads to
ward the door, where the gentleman alluded to
was standing. He was their representative in
Congress,-fne, scholarly gentleman, who
was universally respected. as much by his po
.tical opponents as by his supporters. He
had arrived by the evening stage, aud it was
not known that be was present until Mr..
Brown announced the fact At that very mo-
ment, the opposition were preparing for a
most determined argument against the other
party but they now instantly shrank back,
as the stars hide themselves before the greater
light of the sun. One thing in favor of what
| Mr. Brandon might say, was, that the major
ity of the opposition were his political friends
1t was manifest that whatever be might utter,
would be listened 10 with respectful attention
by both sides.
"My friend, said be, as he walked forward,
Il have come all the way from Washington to
attend this meeting. am glad that it has
been called, but regret that single person
should oppose this measure | think the
cause of the opposition arises solely from mis-
conception. Laying aside the intrinsic neces-
sity of new school-buildiDg let me appeal to
your selfshnesS. On my way here made the
acquaintance of merchant, who was looking
for some village in which to erect himself a
home, away from the hustle and turmoil Of the
city. He bad his eye upon this place, and ID
quired regarding our school house. Truth
compelled me TO reply unfavorably ard he
added, that he should not settle in commu-
nifty where the people were so blind to their
interests. l took the liberty, however, of sta
ting that we would soon erect a new school
must, " UiCA, Int UuT NOulu DG al IT-
nament to the place; and believe, after all,
we shall have him in our midst
Don't hesitate moment. my friends
Through the towns and villages which l have
passed on my wsy home, have seen tasteful
and commodous school buildings, filed with
happy ard joyous children. And in all such
places you will find real estate worth owning
If Ben Franklin and Andrew jackson had as
poor a means of ed cation as we have, ii is no
reason why we should hold back Uncle
John has forgotten that these two great per
sonages had ID advantage far above any Of Us
God gave them a quality of brains which We
do rot possess. To that fact, and not to any
other, is to be ascrihed their greatness.
I'VE may leave our children wealth, but
they may lose it and become paupers We
may rather leave them good, sound educa
ton. of which they can never be robbed. and
which will be of far greater value to them
than gold or lands. Let Us not stop, then. at
any means which can procure this inesiimable