The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-10-03

word painting, BAT they are quite ~hVAiA
cr SOFT 81 thing TO the little shlycriu
wretch who drags them about during ths
cold weather that makes up three-f0urihs
of the New England year.
was helping father dig potatoes on'
day late 10 the fall, when | was aboaI
nine years old A furry Of snow had
Just salluu, enough 70 remind US thai
winter was setting IN. Father Away
pot things OF until the last minute, and
then be would drive All before him and
be a. cross as bear when her cubs arr
Ia danger. We bad been at work since
daylight aud my feet were almost frozen
Ugh! lean feel them ache now. The,
were cut aud sore aud would have beer
bleeding but they were as numb As ioicles
Late in lhe afternoon father sent me Il
the house, and mother went out aud tool
my place In the leld. Ny feet were oyei
the worst OF their aching aud bad pilee
the green wood IN the fireplace and laid
down on the floor with my hands nnde
my head to watch the sap sizzle anC
splutter and fire off miniature oannons
when there came rap at the door, ant
without waiting for an answer, IN cam
q stranger, we'll bundled in fur cap an'
oyercoat
Can warm up herel
Guess so, said !, moving along TO Civ,
him half Of the fireplace.
The man came mp eagerly, like on,
who had travelled long and was wear,
aud chilled, aud spread out bis hands Z
the fire us il heat was luxury TO them
Where's your folks? he asked, CLAN
cling down at me for hadn't the ciyilit.
to rise.
Out.
Arc they aroundl
Digging taters.
Rather late for that, isn't 1t?
Rather.
DO you think could get bite here
Guess so.
Could stay here Tonight
Guess SO.
The man unbuttoned his coat and seat
ed himself, letting his boots steam befor
the Goals.
Where's your mother, my boy3
Digging taters.
And You taking your comfort befor
the fire /? he asked in surprised tone.
explained TO him that was oblige,
to come in on account of my feet, an
then for the first time he appeared t
notice that they were naked.
Have you no shoes?
No, sir.
The man raised his head and gave
sharp look around the room, his eye
wandering over the shelves as If misi
ing something. Thinks to myself-he
hungry.
Have you anything to read here3 wa
the next question.
There's part of Testament on the big
shelf.
Anything else2
There's some almanacs somewhere, bu
pretty much gone.
Anything else2 Books for instancep
Guess not.
Or newspapers
Now | actually had never seen Q
heard of newspaper in my life, SO
said sheepishly, Guess not.
The man gave me sharp glance froI
his keen black eye. You guess not
Don't you know2 My lad, if you are t
20 guessing through the world, you wi
have bad time Of It.
| don't know what a newspaper is,
said.
The man looked at me with an exprei
sion of pity that I.could not understand
Then he rummaged in bis coat poke
and produced one which he handed m
with the remark The next best thin
to the Bible is a good newspaper.
1 | was on my feet in an instant. lai
the sheet on the bed, aud never shall
forget the delight with which 1t was e,
amined | could not read a word-di
not know my letters even but thei
came with looking at that paper, such
longing to read il that ] absolutely pu
both my knuekles into my eyes, and u
tered such a lubberly howl that il brougl
the stranger to my side.
4 What's the matterl hea sked
| can't read ii, said /.
| Don't you know your lettersf
No, sir.
Bring the paper TO the fire and let n
see what we can do.
Then be took q pin from the inside (
the lapel OF bis coat and bade me pa
strict attention.
| am one Of natures schooimasters sal
be, and can teach you your letters
an hour.
BY this time I was wide awake, 20
may be sure.
DO you see that letter? II is A. No
sir, do you take that paper aud prick
dot over all the AS you see.
| dld It. In this way be taught me a
the yowels and consonauts When n
/ parents came in from the field | h'
pricked the whole alphabet into my mer
org IN manner never 70 be forgottc
During ibe evening the man converse
! very freelF with my father in regard
: his spiritual and worldly condition. y
parents readily confessed their need
religion, but as to education, my iath
said. His parents were not edicated. al