Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-15
Thoughts in an Empty School Room.

Fanny Fern, in her latest book, "Foly as
II Flies" gives the following "Reminiscences of
her visit in Brattleboro: While in Brattle-
boro obtained permission to write in the
quiet empty school house, during the summer
vacation. thought while seated there Of the
probable fate and fortunes of their absent oc-
cupants. How many Senators, how many
Presidents, how many Artists, how many
Sculptors, how many Authors, how many men
and women Of note, might make their starting
point from that very school-house.
should like to keep the statistics from this
time had leisure. You must know that it is
an article in my creed that a New England
cradle is the safest and iittcst TO rock baby
in. In other words, that New England
foundation is sounder and bcttcrtha any other;
the superstructure may be laid clsewhere-I
had almost said anywhere--this being secur-
ed
With these views, from which | am quite
willing you should dissent, should it so please
you | look around on these vacant seats of
our future men aud women, with intense inter-
est. "Ihe war is over" hear people say;
say it has jnst begun. The smoke Of battle
having cleared little, he that hath eyes to
see, shall note the dead who are to be carried
out of sight the manned who are TO be tender
y cared for aud the yulturcs who are TO be
driven at all COSTS from feeding on that which
Is as dear TO us as our hearts blood This
work these children will have 10 do. Pima
fores aud blousos they will not wear forever.
Balls kites and dolls are but for now Ear
nest men and women they must be- being New
England boru Earnest for the Right plead
as ! glance at the Teacher desk. | do not
know him, who wiolds power for which
would not change a mouarch's throne-who
must face in this world and account for in the
next, these boys and girls who look 20 him
tor guidance and help; but whoever he may
be-; | trust that he holds his Office, for sublime
ity and honor second TO none, trust he looks
beyond to-day, when lac gazes into those clear,
bright eyes, where his teachings are miro ed
like the branches and blossoms in the clear,
still lake beneath. | trust he sees in those
boys something beyond a trouscrs-tcaring,
Understanding crew, out Of whose crani-
ums must be thumped fun. and into whose
craniums must be bored grammar. | trust he
sees ia those girls something besides machines
for sewing on buttons and frying "fap-jacks."
and making cheese. | trust he does not ex-
poet to run all these children, like pound Of
candles into the same shaped and sized mould
| trust he knows a properly developed head
when he sees it, and believes in individuality
of character, whether male or female | am
glad TO hear that be does not see only dollars
and cents in the glorious vocation he has adj
opted
Schoolmasterl Why, Emperor, King Pres
ident, are nothing to it, There is only one
thing before it, and that is--"Mother." Let
the world look to it who are its schoomasters
Let schoolmasters look to it that they are
God-apponted to their places fla conscien-
tious clergyman need ask Gods blessing on
his Sunday message before delivering it to his
flock so much the more need the schoolmaster
take the shoes from Of his foot; because the
place where he treads is holy grouud
Meantime | sat there in the empty school
house, and watched the birds fit in and out
through the open window, while the breath Of
the clover and the smell Of the newmown hay
came pleasantly enough to my ciiy-disgustcd
nose So now, dear children all, whoever you
may be, leave you my hearty and sincere
benedietion for the pleasant hour in your
school-house, when you had vacation aud
| had none