Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-12-25
ETfH II HER AID.

Arthur and the rest Of the children
hsdbeen put to bed long ago, and his
father and mother and Aunt Susan
had at last retired also, one by one,
after a great deal of maneuvering.
For you see, each Of them wanted to
be the last to go, in order to put f.
nal touch to the stockings and piles
OF presents, after the others had de.
parted. So they kept hanging around
and hanging around, until at last
Aunt Susan broke out:
"Now what's the use Of making
believer ! know you two have got
a present for me, that you don't wish
me TO see till morning-bless your
dear hearts land you know that
I've got trife for you that you
mustn't see till morning. But We
can't go on shassaylng about and all
trying to be left behind in the parlor.
Now, Jenny, do be sensible, and 20
to bod. You look tired to death. IL
you've got loIlypop for me, dump it
in the corner there, and I'll not
peep"
This sensible suggestion of Aunt
Susan's led to general treaty Of
armed neutrality. Arthur's father
turned his face to the wall, while the
two ladies arranged a pile of mysteri-
Gus packages IN the corner; then
each Of the ladies in turn contempla-
ted the hall-door while rustling ar
rangement OF presents went on be-
hind her; and finally, all three "took
hold Of hands" and went solmenly
giggling out of thu parlor with their
eyes bent upon the floor. Then
there was some laughter on the stairs
and shutting of bed room doors,
and, after that, silence.
OF the four children, Arthur, who
is next TO the youngest, is the only
one | snail mention particularly in
my story. He was bright little boy
who had just begun to 90 to school,
and comes in contact with the rough
side OF the Of the world. Like many
children brought up in loving home
circle, he was sensitive and timid;
that il, timid about some things,
though brave enough in others. For
iostance, he wasn't afraid Of the dark,
or OF ghosts, because nobody had ev-
or stuffed him with superstitious
nonsense on such subjects; but he
was very much shocked and frigh-
toned by the rude boys at the school,
with their rough plays and practical
Jokes, their redicue and slang, and
sometimes their wicked words. One
boy especially seemed to delight in
tormenting him-Bob Manning, a
hardheaded, freckled, active fellow,
who wore ragged clothes, and tyran.
lied over all the boys that were well
dressed. Bob's father was q labor
or, who had "bad luck" in life, loos-
ing first his little savings, then his
wife, and finally his good habits and
good temper, and becoming a harsh,
reckless, desperate man-though he
never treated Bob to any thing worse
than angry words. But the boy,
hearing nothing at home but COM
plants Of poverty and envious saw.
age talk about rich people, came to
consider all such people as natural
enemies, and, though he was not at
heart, more cruel than other thought.
less children, he enjoyed teasing and
paining his sehool-mates.
The day before Christmas, Arthur
came home with sad story Of small
prosecutions. Bob Manning had
said his new brass buttons were
"looney,' and no Teller would wear
such buttons as them, and this oppin-
ION was enforced by yy cutting off
couple with his jack knife, and
dropping them into the gutter
Moreover, he bad scrubbed Arthur's
face with snow, because, he said, his
nanny didn't wash him enough; and
no had wiped out an elaborate pic.
tNre of a locomotive and train of
cars, which Arthur had drawn with
much pains, during three recsses, on
his slate. "Slates is all nonsense"
said Bob; "look a me | ain got no
slate, and | can lick any TELLER in
school"
Arthur's mother was highly indig.
nant, and said it was a shame that
such boys should be allowed To come
TO school, and that she thought her
boy ought TO be taken away. But
his father, who believed it was good
Tor the boy to be knocked about a lit.
tie OF course, we must watch that
ms principles are not corrupted; but
| have too much faith in his home
training to be afraid OF that; and
really, l think that having child
who is gentle and intelligent, and will
not lie, nor steal nor swear, it is our
duty TO send him where his influence
will roach other children. He will
give and receive benefit. As for bad
boys, unless they are hundred times
worse than anything | have heard of
Bob Manning, they certainly ought
to 90 to school. 1t is good sign in
Bob and his father that the young
ster goes so regularly. Depend up
on 1t, he may make o citizen yet. In
short, there are two classes of BOYS
who should, by all means, attend the
common schools, namely, good boys
and bad ones i"
Arthur's mother meditated upon
these remarks, aud, although she was
not fully convinced, resolved 10 make
the best Of the case. So she had a
long, sweet, mother talk with her
little son, in which she reused him
to enthusiastic pity for poor Bob,
who bad no pleasant home and love.
ing friends. Perhaps" said she. "if
you saw all'the other boys provided
with books and toys aud handsome
things, while you were obliged to 90
without them, you, too, would be en-.
Ylous and ues bitter words-though
l hope not"
Yes, said Arthur; that's Just
what George Seeley said, that Bob
Manning was jealous because he
hadn't got AEy slate-and. mother |
was 70 blame just 4 little. because |
when my picture VS. done. / held /, |