The Shasta courier., 1865-02-04

this is good enough I'm satisfied to hav,
, nv children edicated here, and ] guess SO il
! most of the people. Do you 'spose Genera
jackson or Benjamin Franklin had better
school house than this to larn in?
Uncle John was devoted admrer of " Old
Hickory" He was never known to conyers.
an hour without bringing his name in.
"No, SIR" he shouted again; " the Gin
eral hadn't no better school house than this
and didn't be he larn? He knowed enough
to whip the Britshers of New Orleans. and
he knowed enough to govern this country a
mighty sight better nor the President we've
got over us now. What say is, that if the
! Gineral cold larn in sich school house as
this, why can't our childrenp | am opposed
to these new tangled notions. Last year we
had to build new church, and now it's a
school house that's wanted. Good heavens !
what are we coming to 7"
And Uncle John began new house last
| week" added Mr.. Brown, in his pleasant
manner; why did he do that 7"
"'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. Inoticed last week, also, that
Uncle John was taking new moving ma
4
ioned notions, why does mt he stick to the
scythe and sickle? If you will go behind the
barn, you will see a fine, newly painted
threshing machine, ready for use. Doesn't
Uncle John recollect when he and l were
young men and used our fails side by side ?
How is it he has abandoned that, and resor-
ted to this new-fangled notion OF threshins :
machine? The simple reason, as | take it.,
| is, that these new inventions will do his work
better.
"Mr. Chairman" said the speaker, assum-
ing an earnest tone, az 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 in. 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 in
telligent man. Every thing..is progressing''ex-
cepting our educational 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"
| 4" Another thing" shouted Uncle John,
springing to his feet; Il don't like what
.icy iiiH ~" d odys. NY oiuest sal come
home, t'other day, with grammer; and the
fust thing heerd her saying, was l 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
agin. She'd never got it, if her mother hadn't
bot it without axing me. When | went to
school, we larnt readin', 'ritin' and 'rthme-
tic Il can't forget them words, for every one
begins with n, and spelling; but now-a-days
they've got joggerphy, grammar, algebra,
and jommetry. | don believe Gineral Jack
son 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 he was not confining himself
to the question: whereupon Uncle John
dropped into his seat highly offended, and re-
solved to say no more that evening
| Mr.. Brown arose:
81 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 representa-
tive in Congress,-fne, scholarly gentleman,
who was universally respected, as much by
his political opponents as by his supporters
He had arrived by the evening stage, and it
was not known that he was present until Mr.
Brown announced the fact. At that very
moment, the opposition were preparing for
a most determined argument against the 9TH
er 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 majority of the opposition were his politi-
| cal friends 1t was manifest that whatever
he might utter, would be listened to with res
| peetful attention by both sides.
My friends" said he as he walked for
ward, 9 have come all the way from Wash
| ington to attend this meeting | am glad
| that it has been called, but regret that sim
gle person should oppose this measure. |
| think the cause of the opposition arises solely
from misconception. Laying aside the in
| trinsic necessity of a new school building, 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 home, away from the hustle
and turmoil of the city. He had his eye
upon this place. and inquired regarding our
| schoolhouse. Truth compelled me to reply
unfavorably; and he added, that he should
not settle in community where the people
were SO blind to their interests Itook the
| liberty, however, of stating that we would
soon erect new school house. which, like
our church, would be an ornament to the
| place; and believe, after all, we shall have
him in our midst.
:" Don't hesitate moment, nv friends.
Through the towns and villages which have
passed on my way home, l have seen taste
full and commodious school buildings, filled
with happy and joyous children. And in all
such places you will find real estate worth
owning. 1fBen Franklin and Andrew Jack
son had as poor q means of education as we
have, it is no reason why we should hold
back. Uncle John has forgotten that these
two great personages had an advantage far
aboEe any of us. God gave them a quality
of brains which we do not possess. To that
fact, and not to any other, is to be ascribed
| their greatness.
=" We 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 inesti
mable blessing
1t was wonderful whata revolution this lit