The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-03-18
How to Pick Huckleberries.
~ = = u p
BY THE REV. JOHN TODD, D. D.

When [ frstokneW Mr. John lHorseley,
he was an old, white haired man, and very
rich. AS he seemed neverto have been in
any great business, such Us merchants and
spectators now engage in, and he was new
er accused of being a dishonest man, it
was always mystery to me how he came to
be so rich. | knew that his father was a
poor country clergyman, and that John
could have received no property from him.
Meeting my friend one day, when our con-
versation happened 10 turn on the subject
OF gathering property, L ventured to ask
him how it was that he had been so success,
full in life :? @
"When ! was boy. said he, "my father
was poor minister. We lived very plain,
and dressed very plain, but that never trou-
bled as. We always had enough Of some
thing to eat, and my mother was one who
would contrive to have her children dress
ed neatly, if not richly. One day when
was little fellow, several little boys and
girls came along on their way to pick buckle
berries. They invited me to go with them.
And when | saw their bright faces and
their little faskets, and the bright after
noon, wanted to go with them. SO |
went into the house and asked my mother
l saw she sympathised with me, but said
must go and ask father
"And where is father ?" q 80 PIT
Cup in the study, of course"
"Up bounded, hat in hand, and gently
knocked at his door" He bade me come in.
"h'Well, Johnny, what is your wish I?
6" i want, sir, to go with the children
and pick huckleberries.' z0aa84
az" 'Where are they going p aiuhfS
Only TO Johnson's mill SIR pad u
How many children are there ?7H
Seven, besides myself. Please let me
CO. d ael
well, you may GO. Be good boy
and use no bad words.'r a,1-R
"Away scampered, and had just got to
the bottom Of the stairs, when my father
called me back % dear, it's all over now
He's going to takeit all back said to
myself. Trembling, | again stood in the
doorway, expecting to have the permission
withdrawn. Z, fs..
G. y Johnny,' said my father, with a peculi
ar smile, 4 have q word of advice 10 give
you. You will find the berries growing or
bushes standing in cldmps, all over the
lot The children will pick few minutes
at one place, and then go off to another
in hopes Of finding better picking, and thus
they will spend half of the afternooR in
roaming from one place to another. Now
my advice to you is, that aohen you .tf1lC
pretty fair picking, stick to that spot a',o
keep picking there. Your basket at night
will show whether my advice is good OF
not u s. 7oaAi1 salR.
"'Sir / followed myIfathers advice, ant
though the children would wander about
and cry out, %, Johnny, here's a world o
| them, and here is splendid picking and
here you can fill your basket in less than nc
time, yet / stuck to my fair picking place
When we got through at night to the as
tonishment of every one, and my own nc
less, it was found that / had nearly twice
as many berries as any other one. 4 They all
wondered howit was. ButI knew And
| that was the lesson that made me q rich
man. Whenever | have found fair pick
! ing I have stuck it. Others have chang
ed occupations and business, and have NOV
ed from one place to another. have neY
er done so and attribute all my success:
tosthe lesson by whicheI learned to pick
| huckleberries. 13aiha Hn a9sd ai4di baH
| / have recalled this conversation, ant
the form Of my old friend, who has Ions
since passed away, to impress it upon the
parent, and upon the teacher, that single
sentence Of instruction may shape thu
course of the whole life of the child nov
under his care. Not only did property ant
success hang on the minister's hint butth'
shaping of his sons whole character fo
life, aud perhaps for ever. How much wis
dom we need, to be able to say the righ
thing at the right time! .e
And no less urgently do l want to i'm
press the lesson on the child, that if he il
doing pretty we'll where be is, if his teach
er does well by him. don't change, or tr.
another class, or another school. 1t you
advantages are less than you could wish
stick to them, and make themost of them
The stone that rolls the least gathers th'
| most moss. What was wise in picking
| huckleberres, is wise in every attempt t.
learn and gather what is valuable. g.f IN,
E - 81 ri,