The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-05-27

Anecdote OF himself:
"When / was boy,l had to study !
Latin grammar hut it was dull, and |
| hated it. My father was anxious
TO send me to college, and therefore
| studied the grammar until could
bear ii no longer; and going 10 my
father, | told him | did not like study,
and asked for some other employ
ment. This was contrary to his
wishes, and he quickly replied:
wei, John, If Latin grammar
Toes MOI suit you, you may try ditch
5Ng; perhaps that will. My mead
o~ ycnder needs ditch; and YOU
may put by Latin and try that
This seemed delightful change,
and 10 the meadow | went. But
soon found ditching harder than Lat
m, and the FIRST forenoon was the
longest J ever experienced. That
.iayia,e the bread OF labor, and glad
was when night came on. That
night. made some comparison be-
tween Latin grammar and dilching,
bu; said not word about it. dug
next forenoon, and wanted to return
t. Latin at dinner; but it was hui
initiating, and | could not do il. a Il
rtstib leilconquered pride and tho
II was one Of Inc severest trials ] ev-
CT had in my life. l told my father. if
ne chose, would go back to Latin
granimar. He was glad OF ii; and
~ i3haVe since gained any distinc-
s;tqn, il has been OWING 20 the two
days labor in that abonainable ditch
This story contains a lesson for
: both parents and children-ihe for
mer how 10 deal iudiciously with
children under like circumstances,
the latter that parents know better
than Children what is best for them,
and that their own wishes are often
very far from the best thev couid
entet1ain in their own behalf. Had
voting Adams followed his own in
clinaii lion instead of his fathers judg.
menl, he neuer5would have become
great, and finally President, but, like
thousands Of other boys who dislike
study, would have grown up ignor-
ant, and remained unknown. Boys,
if YOU wish to make anything Of
yourselves, study hard while you are
Young; improve every opportunity
10 store your minds with useful in
formation, that YOU may become
wise, useful and eminent men.
Patrick Henry spent his youth in
idieness, and when he found his nat
ural gifts and endowments at man.
hood, he had TO lament his misspent
youth all the rest Of his life, and he
never became what he out TO have
heefi and would have been, had he
improved his mind and stored his
memory with useful knowledge while
growing up. .
Abraham Lincoln, when boy and
a young nsan, used to read by lamp
light and fire. light, and thus laid the
sure foundation Of his subsequent re-
nown, while other boys slept and
PLAYED. He became the savior of
his country, while the boys that liv-
cd and grew up around him remain
unknown to fame or their country.
William Writ, in his youth, FORM
ed che destroying habit Of using in
toxicating drinks, aud the habit so
grew upon him that it became his
master and he its slave. He had fine
powers of mind, and good educa-
ton, but these did not save him from
becoDiing a drunkard. He manag-
ed SO far 10 conceal his degradation
as 10 win the esteem and affection OF
gifted and highly cultivated young
lady whom he ardently loved but
ueiii,er did this save or reform him.
On one occasion he INDUCED his
fry appetite for strong drink to such
an extent that he became beastiy
drunk, and, like any other drunkard,
he was lost 10 shame and conscious
ness, and found his way TO The gut
FER beside the street, where he lay
snoring and dis6gured in the piila-
bIe condition Of one dead drunk
hi tiiis shocking condition the young
:aJvhe loved saw him as she passed
along. She was Mortified but in a
moment, with a feeling akin TO Di-
vine pity, she crushed back all re-
peIani feelings, and taking fine
handkerchief. with her own name
helicately and beautifully traced on
one corner, she carefully and tender
Is; cad i, eyer his face. that others
might no, see or recognize him in
.tat bloated, distorted and dreadful
condition; and then passed on. She
knew that Writ was worth saving,
if saved he could he, and she would
try This much 10 reform him.
When he awoke and found the
handkerchicf-HER handkerchief
and knew that the being OF oil 9th
-. r,oc, Union, he vouid conceal his