Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-08
"Thc Worst Glass In School"
Asronr ror TEACHERS.

STORY foh fHAchthH.
"Will you take class to-day ?" asked the
superintendent Of young lady whom he OBJ
served sitting apart during the opening ex-
ercses
"Thank you. shall be most happy to be
Of service. You have several without teach
ers, see" running her eye over the large
school
AYES, as usual There is large class Of
young ladies, another Of girls, and there one
of small boys-which would you prefer 2"
Pardon me-" said the young lady, rising
and looking across 10 a seat full of'restless
big boys, who, caps in hand, seemed about
10 effect an exodus from the room, IS there
not still another class with no teacher 2"
Oh, yes; that one, indeed But should
not think Of asking a stranger to take that.
Their fourth teacher has just left them, dis
couraged and"
g. think, sir" said the lady, eagerly, 81"
should very much like to try tha; one, and
as am to be ia town for few weeks, per-
haps you will allow me TO call it mine for
the time"
"Joyfully, If you still wish it, after this
morning said he, with smile Of no doubt
ful meaning coming into his face, as be
stepped into the aisle and escorted her 10
her place Boys, have brought you one
more new teacher-one who has kindly Of
fered to instruct you let me beg that you
give her respectful hearing for this day al
least aud he passed on
3" I'm sure I'm respectable always" said
one boy in loud whisper while in the gen
eral litter that followed, another took the op-
portunity 10 run a pin into his neighbor's
arms, and he ia turn repaid the attack by an
energetic pull at his tormentor's ear
Miss J. sat perfectly still for a moment,
with a quiet, pleasant expression of coun-
tenancc. but each boy had the sensation of
being looked over and read through by those
same grave. gray eyes which. however,
when they met his own, gave him smile of
friendly greeting.
This mode of attack was so uncommon,
that for time all hostilities were suspended,
and every eye fixed upon hers, waiting in
tently for the next move
Boys" she said at last, and the voice
was so sweet and kind that it touched the
cord which, after all, lies very near the sur
face in such boys hearts" as we are stran-
gers, perhaps you will first tell me your
names, that | may write them in my book
and then, if YOU like will tell you mine,
aud also Of the one who told me TO take this
class to-day"
The superintendent, Of course" said one
of the oldest guess we all know him we'll
enough I suppose he told You We were the
worst set in school, didn't heY 2"
No. very quietly, writing all the time
d" only asked him, and he said yes. There,
now, ! will show you his picture and then
YOU can Judge whether you know / i'm -
and the lady proceeded to unloosen a small
gold locket from her watch-chain, and handed
it 10 the hoy next her. There was a general
movement of desire to q" see first" but the
face that met their gaze was SO unlike what
they had expected to see instantly quiet,
subdued expression came over each one as
lac handed it on to his next neighbor. It
was that of q boy, like themselves. perhaps
fourteen or sixteen years old--a bright, mer-
ry-eyel, vet earnest, thoughtful face, full Of
intelligence, energy, aud above all, sweetness
Of expression and more than one lifted his
ewes from that 10 the one before him, the
unasked question on his lips "Your
brother 20
A." Yes, he ,cas my brother
What did he go and die for =" asked
Ned Evans, in an aggrieyed tone That's
one reason why | don't want TO be good.
You always have to die if you are "
Always " said the teacher. "did you
never hear or know Of good boys growing up,
Of bad boys dying?
Perhaps ia my Edwins case, you may
think his early, sudden death was in part on
account of his goodness. yet believe either
of YOU would have done the same under the
circumstances, and yon will not be sorry to
know that months before he became a Chris
tian, for you will see he had little time to
prepare for death afterwards.
" lie was a very stout, brave boy, so brave
Al. l,- fal e. TO, ba
tiou of boys he saw abused no matter how
big and cruel the one might be who was
troubling them-and then he was so geuer-
Gus, he was always the first TO offer his hand
and make up the quarrel-and often and Of
ten he turned such tyrants into his warmcst
friends There was another way in which
he showed his courage. lie was not afraid
of being laughed at, not bit, If he was only
sure he was right. Oh, So many stories |
could tell you to prove this, but We shall
have time now for only the last act of his
life, and the last words which fell from his
Inns, for it was those which made me your
teacher to-day. lie was coming home from
school whistling merrily, his satchel Of books
over his shoulder, when suddenly there
dashed almost upon him runaway horse
he was attached 10 a sleigh, and in it there
was little child, clinging to the seat. No
one could ever tell just how it was done, but
in an instant Edwin was hanging on to the
bride, and succeeded in so far arresting the
progress of the frightened creature, that he
was soon surrounded by willing hands, who
relieved him OF his fearful charge, but not
| till he had received blow in the chest which
Mt first made him senseless. The first we
knew of it all, he was brought home TO us,
only TO leave us again forever in less than an
hour.
lie was conscious then, and happy-so
happy, boys; | never saw any one so happy,
think. lie bade us all good-by, and begged
us all to be sure and meet him in heaven.
"Then he raised his eyes, over which the
death-shadow was already falling, and whis-
pered, Sister, dear, | leave you my rork,
| You know what mean-the boys-the boys
! wanted to help TO be good and brave, and
serve God. Give my love TO them all when
ever you can get a chance, in the Sabbath
school or in the streets, and tell them they
will never be sorry, never, if they begin now
TO love Jesus, and follow Him. He is calling
me nova smile lighted up the dear face,
and he was gone.
"If YOU could have seen the crowds of
bows who came 10 weep over his cold re-
mains Not only those we knew--his school
mates and friends-but boys out of the work
shops and the mills, and the street boys, too,
those who have no other homes. What tales
they told us, then and many times afterwards,
as we got acquainted with as many, as we
could for his sake, of how he would seek
them out, get them to tell him, OF their
troubles and sorrows, and try to help them
into better life. We had known that he
was always ready to work for Jesus, but the
extent to which he carried II we had no idea
Of till now. Many that winter among the
BOYS, both in the school and out Of it, became
Christians, and dated their first desires to be
so, sometimes, from his talks with them by
the way, or from the impression which his
peaceful, happy death made upon them
And so, boys, you see why it was that de-
sired to talk with you to-day, that ] might