The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-02-01
John POund DIS, the Shve-menders
\ TRUE STORY.

member, OF his little nephew, child of
about four years of age, who was set
ting on a broken cricket in the little
yard where he lived, crying bitterly.
1.-The boys laughed at my crooked
feet, and | can't play like other chill
dren, and have a coed time" sobbed
Bonnie
am sorry for You, Bennie.n re.
,olned Uncle John IN q kindly tone,
but cheer up, little man, and I will
see If cannot help you. If 1 were a
rich man, you would soon be all right;
but patience and perseverance can ac-
compiish a great deal, and maybe a
shoe-mender can be as clever as the
doctors. Come, suppose I carry you
down to the shop. [ want to measure
your feet and see if cannot make them
whole again, SO that you will be able
to run about as much as you want to-.
VIII you be brave boy and not mind
little pain, in order to get well -
Yes, " answered Bonnie, not know
ing what he promised.
am not sure that | can cure YOU,
Bonnie" Pounds added, fearing to in
crease the boys miseries if he failed in
IN his attempt; "but l Will try, and
trying sometimes works wonders. And
you must try also, and be a good boy,
and mind what | say while | am at
work. y So the kind uncle lifted up
the boy, and took him down to his little
workshop, room SIX feet by eighteen,
IN weather boarded tenement He
gave Bernie an old knife and some bits
of wood, with which to amuse himself,
while he laid aside his own employment
Of mending shoes, to puzzle out a
mechanical design similar to one which
he had heard physicians made use Of
to remedy the distortion. He became
SO absorbed IN his occupation, that he
forgot the presence of the child, until,
on rlslng to get a tool from drawer, he
saw the little fellow had cuddled
himself up in corner and was fast
asleep.
"Sieep on Bennie," he murmured,
END take what rest you can, for
poverty and toll await thee, or, still
worse, helplessness and want, if l sue
coed moi; but | must and will, for your
sake" He had Just finished his plan
and was congratulating himself it would
answer quite well, when the child
awoke, complaining of being hungry,
and wishing to be taken home
Here is biscuit for you, Bonnie, ="
said John, "and you must try to amuse
yourself while longer until uncle is
ready to take you home You know
you cannot get well unless you help me
by being a good boy Here are some
pictures TO look at, > he added, handing
Rennie q torn Illustrated paper I" But
what are they about" asked BennIe,
after he had looked at the pictures.
More W. rk for me, thought John the
boy must be taught to read II can
not stop now, Bonnie, he said aloud,
TO explain them to you, but If you
will be patient [ viii teach you to read
some day, and then you can under
stand the pictures yourself. Would
YOU like to learn -
Yes, replied Benne. "Tom Pratt
reads and goes to school Can I 60 to
chool a.
"4our father Is too poor to send you
to school, answered John; g but if
you get well, SO as to run about, you
can come here every day and learn from
me. But play now by yourself, and let
uncle work =
And thus good John Pounds plodded
down on his benevolent toll, must have
reioiced. He succeeded to his hearts
content. Bonnie was cured, and ran
about as well as any boy. Then COM
menced the task of teaching him. for
the novelty OF play and exercise made
1t doubly difficult for Bonnie to stav in
doors and learn; but by coaxing and
perseverance,, John succeeded likewise
z I.
that the child would learn faster and
fa happier tor a companion. SO he
hunted mp another ragged, neglected
child, and there seated, with last and
shoe Oh his knee, might any lay be
seen John Pounds teaching those chill
dren. And the work grew on his hands
Daily he felt stimulated to assist
others, until his room was crowded
Some sat on the table, one climbed
upon a shelf, others brought logs with
them for seats. Books, too, were
equally scarce. But john taught the
children to gather mp the hand bills
from the street, from which they could
learn their letters. When this was
done he taught them to spell orally.
& Bonnie" he would say, look up
at the window; what is it thaG blinds
You so, that you winkl'
The sun, answered Bonnie.
Spell sum-" said John, and then
followed this lesson, until all the chill
dren could spell sun.
Tommy, what Is it | am mending?'
he would ask OF another.
A shoe, answered Tommy.
Then the class were taught to spell
shoe. Outlines the recltations would
be interrupted by children knocking at
the door with the request, "Please, sir,
may we come to your school 2"
Johns big heart was panied to refuse,
but there was no more room. SO he
had TO limit his number an | select the
most ignorant, and those who were
most likely, from neglected circum-
stances or vicious influences, to lose ali
chance of Improvement, If he turned
them away. As soon as they were able
to read he begged clothes for them,
that they might attend other schools /;
keeping thegarmants Mt his own house,
and requiring the children to come
there and dress, and return the clothes
at night, as his means were so scanty,
1t required the utmost care and dill
gence on his part TO exc out sufficient
for his benevolent projects Thus, year
by year he labored on, without any pc
cunlary reward.
Moments that he could snatch from
sleep were spent In making toys for the