The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-12-21
Misfellaueuas.
The sohoolma,tsr Of Bouohuroh.

L
Bonchurch, In the Isle Of Wight, is a pic.
turesqie village on the upper cliffs Of Vent.
nor. Here some years since, lived ! pool
schoolmaster, who rented a cottage Of two
rooms for his dwelling. and q barn for a
school. He was self:educated in the com.
mon elements Of knowledge, and had made
the human heart his study and Il was his
delight not merely to teach the mechanical
parts Of reading, writing, aud arithmetic,
but also to influence tho moral and intellec.
tual powers Of his children, and to strength.
Ell, elevate, and purify thenL In this large
aim he had hut one textbook the Gospel
Of the Great Teacher; and In this he learn.
ed one lesson in especial-that "it is good
to seek to save that which Is lost ,
Like oil Of his order, the master in bis
school had to contend with boys who
could not learn, and boys who would not.
Hut the boy who gave him most trouble,
and did learn; only he was 50 intractable
In his general conduct and such an imp Of
mischief, that II wus ceaseless pcpleXity
with tho good master whut ought to dc
done with him. The master had no world.
y motive for rcclalning 10 difficult a charge
since he gained not penny by il; hut he
felt Christian yearning toward the lad,
who was an orphan, and was not without
promise ofbe,ter things .ytnril s'.-7r "a
"Harry, Harry, look in my face, sir" OK.
claimed the master, one day, In his very
earnest tones. .. r...'.~... ..4n
Harry lifted up bold, handsome. and
always dirty face. surrounded by tnngled
mesh Of dark curling hair, and made a
comic grimace; but when his brigh, eye
met that Of the master, he glanced aside
AZ if something panied him. " " a.'
"Harry Bonner. you were last night
stealing Farmer wntson's apples"
"Was I, master ?"
His tone Of mock innocence and sim.
plicity excited sudden laughter in the school,
and the frown Of the master could scarcely
check il. .,.....,-...-'.~,
"Yes, you were, sir; md tell you H-r-
y,' said the MASTER solemnly, j" il you 20
OF in this way, you will como to some sad
end" .... .- .. ir ir-..
~ hope not, MASTER"
A stout lca,hem strap was produced.
"Ilod out your hand" said the master. ~
No, thank you, sir" an. '.'. ..
@Hold out your hand"
"Rathcr not, if it's all the same to you,
SIR"
~ insist"
The hand was held ont very firmly, Har.
ry winked hard the strap descended, aud
then with IN affected howl, ending in tn"
laugh Of a young savage. the culprit went
hack to his fonn-only to plan new often
ces. # r as..
~ feel this is not the way to reclaim that
boy" said the master, after school hnurs,
to his sister, an invalid dependent on him,
who 50, all day 10 her wicker easy.chair.
generally employed in knitting dappled.
gray worsied stockings; "yet what else am
I to do with him? he Is excessively hard.
enej, full Of courage and cunning I; ! nev!
er met with boy so precociously wicked ;
everybody prophesies evil Of his future life
Tie defes restraint. In every quarrel, all
the boys fear him; but he fears no one.
lie inven,s wild fun enough for all the
mischievons boys in England. He has
robbed every orchard within ten miles and
really, often fancy he does il on, Of mere
love Of adventure and peril" -..
@Yonr strap will do him no good" said
the sister, quietly. +. ' ..........
"what then will? !. -.l..s,.,
aPa,ient kindness, instruction. and time y
"Why, does he not know that ! have
almost paid his uncle, the blacksmith, to
le, linn como to school-that ! send him
vegetables out Of my garden every now
and then, to keep him in good hnmor pa
.iiarry knows you arc his only true
friend, and thinks moro of one gentle wor,l
from you than Of all your blows with your
strip. lie has Gar too much Of violent us.
age at home" .a..s' 'is.r' t
4" That is true ; you are right."o'' 50
One forenoon, Harry homer lett his sea,
At the head Of the high form, flung his
book aside, and planted himself at the win.
dow, whence he enjoyed view Of The sen
and Of man-of.war that had approached
near the shore, in order, as Harry had heard
II rnmored, that its cnw Of scsmen for the
French war might be recruited BY forcibly
imprcssing men along tho coast. .'-a. .
Harry was engaged In easy con,cmpla-
ton Of this prospect, when the master es-
pied how he was passing his time: ..,
What arc you doing there, Harry Bon
ner !-Whcre is your book' Have you
learned your lesson7" awa r., s7s,a
sNo." a. er.. sa losngtr trr "a
"Then, sir. you shall learn double -
con before dinner" ' -. ''.' ."
81 like double lcssous," said Harry,
finging himself hack 10 his place. an,l
learning rapidly long row Of words and
meanings. rEs ,av -'rsn el1f 70.
8cfo,e dinner time had CONS, ihe double
,s.k was perfectly mastered, and hard sums
got ,hrough-for sums and lessons were sll
play to Harry. ,., -
Tho master looked a, him with feelings
Of pity, regret and admiration. -.t
"Oh my poor boy !" said he, "how
can You throw away such abilities on mis-
chief and wiekedness1' --A s.r-
Harry co'ored up 10 his semplcs; his eye
dashed and n,oissensd; be was going 10
Il - IA