The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-10-12

The old squlte consented though with
some misgiyings, and the child was taken
from the arms of her weeping brother, and
carried to her new home some four humid
red miles distant.
When one year had rolled over, and
Richard was expecting to see his sister as
per agreement, the squire received kind
and polite note from madam, saying that
Bertha had Just died from severe attack
Of the Group. Enclosed in the letter was
a lOcket that Bertha had worn since she
was six months old The locket was for
Richard. To our young hero this was a
severe blow, and although but nine years
old, he felt it keenly. He felt that now he
was entirely alone III the cold wide world.
1t was many day before the color came
back to his cheek, the fire to his eye or JOY
to his young heart, saddened thus early by
a triple loss and bereavement. However,
he rallied and ultimately regained his &C
customed sprightliness of movement and
hilarity Of spirit
In summer the boy worked on the farm
for the old squire, and iii winter he went
to the village school He was quick at ev
erything i'll the line Of common school stud
les, but he especially appeared to have
heaven born gift for mathematics. He
was also of a very philosophic and inquir-
ing turn Of mind The distinction which
the teacher made i'll the scholars puzzled
HIM amazingly. He could not understand
why the teacher should treat some Of the
boys with more Difference than others. He
especially noticed that dress and assumed
social prominence had much to do III shap-
ing the instructors predictions. He had
frequent conversations with the old squire
on these matters, but the old man ) answer
that these things were the natural and
legitimate OutgrOwth Of a morbidly false
and iniquitously wrong system Of society,
founded on barharuus principles, and fOs
tered and maintained by partial one-sided
legislation, did not satisfy his useful thirst
for information concerning causes which
his pure unbiased notions uf Justice could
not comprehend.
The fancied difference i'll the social posi-
ton Of the school boys and the neighbors
Of the village, was also a constant theme Of
enquiring thought to the boy. He could
not understand why one man, outside his
acquired super excellence of mind, should
be any better than another and not being
any better, naturally or Of himself. 1t was
a mystery to the boy why he should be any
better cared for, or possess more Of the
comforts and good things Of the world
than his fellow man.
In his fourteenth year, his thirst for
knowledge assumed quite a virulent aspect /;
he devoured everything If literaIy ma
ture that came in his way He wished to
study algebra, philosophy, rhetoric, geom-
etry, and the other higher sciences, which
tend to expand and beautify the mind
but his aspirations were checked by his in
ability to procure suitable textbooks and
to add to his humiliation and despair, he
saw boys Of only mediocre intellect and
passable or questionable morals, sent BY
their parents to a neighboring college to
receive classical or finished education.
Although the boy was Injured from child
hood to patient endurance. aud calm resg-
nation to his hard, nexorable fate. still
this matter chsfed him continually 1t
was, to his young, inqulring brain. an
habitual and constant source uf veNatiuus
thought. 1t so preyed upon his mind that
he became morose and gloomy. He finally
preached the subject to the squire
The old man counseled fortitude, rcsi1-
nation and perseverance.
But, said the boy, :" ] don't under
stand this educational system Nhy should
one class of citizens be educated while
another class are kept in hopeless igno-
rance n
Well, my boy, it don't seem right. M,
by CAD, it don't but then you see one
class are able to educate their children, and
make Of them ornaments to society, while
the other class are not.
"Oh | know that full well but
Squire, Is it right or Just 2 that's what
would like to know"
Why, said the Squire, after some hes
itation, - don't hardly think it is Just or
right. 1t is manifestly unjust. but can't
hardly see how the evil may be remedied. "
" But, said Richard, ~ can.
"HOU CAN - exclaimed the old man, al
most startled out Of his seat Come.
come, my boy, he said, after his surprise
subsidized you astonish me-yes, by CAD
you do. Well, well You can see a RON
edy, can you; well, let's hear, let's hear
Richard paused and remained medi;at-
ingly silent.
Out with it lad, out with it lad, said
the Squire
well, said Richard, does not the
prosperity, stability and perpetuity Of any
nation Of freemen depend upon the Wis
dom and intelligence of its citizens =
. Certainly it does, my boy.
And ignorance and depravity are al
ways connected with despotism- that Is
among the masses OF the people =
Your historical knowledge is not at
fault, said the squire, now thoroughly in
terested.
"Well, then, said Richard to pre-
serve a republic like ours free and intact,
it requires grand national education.
That | admit, said the Squire
"Then can you not see, said the youth
full statesman, that to tit every
child i'll the land, who is one day des-
tinued to become pillar Of the Nation,
for the patriotic and conscientious dis
charge Of the duties If citizens and cleo
tors, should be, and is the great paramount
duty of the State. far-reaching. far
seeing, and sound generous craftsmanship
would make education. in all its phases.
gratultous to every child in the land and.
what's more, compel these children to
acquire such an education as would tit
them for the responsible duties Of citizens
of great and free republic besides, all
the colleges, academies, graded schools,
and universities should be controlled by
the State, and should be free to All who
wished to avail themselves Of a higher or
more classical training BY such an edu-
cational system, our republic would, in
time, rival that described by Plato.
The old man had nothing to say He
remained in deep thought for a while, then
looked long and earnestly at the boy, He
finally said
"Well, my good lad, of one thing am
certain, under such a system you would
not long remain an obscure village boy /;
you are an embryo Jefferson you are, by
CAD you are and the old man hobbled
out of the room.
When Richard was fifteen years Of age,
the old Squire informed him that it was
very essential he should learn trade of
some kind. To himself was given the
choice Of deciding what trade he should
l H. h,,- . .,,-.,- > L.,