The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-07
HOaU to Pick Huckleberries.
4 STORY FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES

When first knew Mr.. John Horslv.
he was an old white haired man, and very
rich. As ne seemed never to have been
in any great business. such as merchants
and speculators now engage in, and as he
was never accused of being dishonest
man, it was always mystery to me how
he came to be so rich knew that his
father was poor country clergyman, and
that John could have received no property
from him. Meeting my friend one day.
when our conversation happened to turn
on the subject of gathering property, l
ventured to ask him how it was that he
had been so successful in life.
"When | was a boy he said, my faith
er was a poor minister. We lived very
plain and dressed very plain, but that
never troubled us We always had
enough of something to eat, and my moth
er was one who would contrive to have her
children dressed neatly if not richly. One
day when was little fellow. several
little boys and girls came along on their
way to pick huckleberries. They invited
me to 90 with them. and when saw their
bright faces and their little baskets, and
the bright afternoon, wanted to 90 with
them. SO went into the house and ask
ed my mother saw she sympathizel
with me, but she said / must 90 and ask
father.
And where is father
Tp in the study, Of course
up bounded, hat in hand, and gently
knocked at his door. He bade ME come
in
We'll Johnny, what is your wish ?
i want, sir, TO 90 with the children
and pick hucklebcrries.'
Where are they going?'
Only to JOhnson's hill, sir
| How many children are there!'
Seven, besides myself: Please let Inc
go
We'll, you may 90. BE a good boy.
and use 10 bad words
Away | scampercd. and had just gol
to the bottom of the stairs. when my faith
er called me back % dear. its all ovel
now. He's going to take it all back
sad to myself. Trembling. again stood
III the doorway, expecting 10 have the per
mission withdrawn.
'Jolny.' said my father. with pecu.
liar smile. i have Il word of advice to
give you. You will find the berries GROW
ing on bushes Standing in clumps all over
the lot. The children will pick few
minutes at one place, and then 90 off I,
another, in hopes OF finding better picking
and thus they will spend half of the after
noon in roaming from one place to anoth
er. Now, my advice TO you is, wL,n g.,
fnd pretty .tar picking, stick to that spot an,
keep p'chulg ht.7e. Your basket at nigh
will show whether my advice is good o.
not
"Well, Eir, followed my fathers ad
vice, and though the children would wan
der about and CRY out: oh johnny
here's Il world of them,' and heres Splcn
did picking AMI here You can fill you
basket in les than no time vet | stuck I,
my fair picking place. When we 90
through at niGht. 10 the astoni-hment o
every one, and my own 10 less. it WA
found that | had nearly twice as man,
berries as any other one They all won
dcrcd how it was But Iknew. And tina
WAS the lesson that made ME Il rich man
Whenever | have found fair picking.
l have stuck TO it. Others have change,
occupations and business. and have move,
from one place to another | have neve
done 80 and | attributed all my success I,
the lesson by which learned TO picl
huckleberries"
| have recalled this conversation, an,
the form of my old friend. who has lon
since passed away. to impress it upon tn,
parent. and upon the teacher, that a singl
sentence of instruction NAV shape tn
course of the whole life of the child nov
under his care. Not only did propcrt,
and success hang on the old minister's hint
but the shaping of his sons whole charac
ter for life, and perhaps forever. How
much wisdom We need, to be able to Sa
the right thing at the right time.
And no less urgently DO want to i'm
press the lesson on the child. that if he
doing pretty well where he Is, if his teach
er does well by him, don't change. or IT.
!, another class or another school. If YOU
advantages are less than you could wish
stick to them, and make the most of them
The stone that rolls the least gathers til
most moss. What was wise in pickin
huckleberries, Is wise in every attempt t
learn and gather what is valuable.
day School Times
astounding Oil Discoveries.