North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-06-27
.WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S
.. A WAY.

he wept. if possible, more violently when
his mother told him that they must leave
the pretty cottage, the only home they had
ever known and that hereafter he was to
live with farmer Howard
"We are poor, Henry" she said, every
poor, and young as you are, my boy, you
must now earn your own support. But
keep up stout heart, you can do it. Fie
on those tears p and she turned hastily,
that he might not perceive the grief that
was piercing her own soul.
Farmer Howard was hard master, and
a sorry time had poor Henry during the
long summer days that succeeded this in.
terview with his mother. 1t was work.
with no relaxation, from the earlist dawn
until the twilight had faded. Often did
his course fail. and dependency and in
dolence urge him to stop, but stern
necessity was on him-he must do or
starve; and hence he kept at it YEARLY
enough to be sur, until the last apple was
in the cellar, the last ear of corn in the
crib, and all things secured against the
winter with the mostpains taking thorough
ness. --..:rf ..-.
The winter, tardy as its approach ap-
peared to Henry, came at last with its
three months privilege of school and its
glorious long evenings, that he might spend
as he chose, with no spectres Of huge heaps
of corn TO husk, or vast fields of potatoes
to dig, looming up in the distance.
How well those hours for study were i'm
proved, or how highly priced, the bright
light which the blazing pine splinters shed
from the attic window until loeg past the
hour of u, might tell. "a pine splitter,
because the mistress was a careful soul; and
saved the candle ends to light Henry to
bedl He advanced with surpl ising rapid
ity in his studies. and what wonder: A."
dent, persevering effort was never unsuc-
cessful. When the spring came, he was
quite master of the Latin grammar, and
was beginning to read in this language
with some degree of ease. The summer,
with its wearisome round Of duties, could
not damp his desire for knowledge. Ev
cry spare moment was carefully seized
and sedulously employed in his favorite
study. r;'H .-..- .f...E....
The winter came again, and With glee-
ful heart Henry bounded away to the vii
lage school. On the way a class-mate
overlook him--one who bad often jeered
him for bashfulness, and plain, homespnn
attire. who, with every advantage, had
uGinterruptbly pursued his studies
ella, ha, how are you, Hal = said he:
don'tyou wish you could read all that?'
triumphantly holding up Latin Reader.
spreading his hand completely over The
open page. Henry kept his own counsel,
and together they proceeded towards the
school house. 5sa aa. ... ...r.a .s- Il
/. Soon, after the opening of the morning
exercises the class in Latin was called to
the recitation bench "Henrv,' said the
teacher, Il think you will not be able to
90 on with the class you were in last win
ter, you must fall back with the beginners
81 should like to enter the Virgil class,
sir; said Henry.
Virgil class = Nonsense, boy You
cannot read o1e word an it. Just let me
see now," opening the book and placing it
in Henry's hand.
How far shall / read :"
"As far as you can replied the master,
with a Sharp twinkle of lis gray eyes and
involuntary sarca tic smile.
Henry commenced unhesitatingly to read
and bad turned the first, second an! third
leaves before the teacher had sufficiently re-
covered from his surprise to check him.
sStop, Sir! Where did you learn all this!'
asked the teacher.
Henry told him where. Taking him by
the arm, the master led him TO tie centre of
the room, and placing his hand upon lis
head, said:
"Attention, boys; here is a greater con-
querer than was Cesar OF Napoleon. Give
hlm a round !; three times three, no.
= CHEEKY, heartily rang out that applause,
penetrating the farthe>t recesses of tha.
time-worn building, making the windows
fairly shake again. What proud day
that was for Henry. How his heart leaped
and almost bounded out of his bosom how
girls nodded and blinked their pretty eyes
athim, he has not yet forgotten and al
though at the present time the laurels ola
country's regard are clustering thick about
his brow, he often says, That was the vic
tory of my life. 1t was at farmer How
ards l learned to labor unfinchingly for a
given end,3''
o Children this is no fancy sketch. Such
a lad as have described really existed, and
from his example may we not learn to plant
for ourselves elevated standards, and never
give over until we have mustered every
obstacle and reached our aim. f....
- 1t is not always lessons to be learned, or
wood piles to be demolished or rebuilt
There are bad habits TO govern, vicious in
clinations to restrain, selfish dispositions to
be overcome many, many wrongs to be
righted. There is room for a life long Ia
Dor in our hearts. Up, then, my young
friends, with a strong purpose of life
Shrink not at the slightest difficulty. Re
member, that ''where there's will there's
a way" and that perseverance, is sure