Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-29
-" Rabblt-Lip."


About thirty years ago there was stand
ing in one of the northern towns in Frank
lin county, Mass, little dingy, onestory,
brown school-house, such as were common in
those days all over the state. II was in n ru-
raj district, and the children who attended
the village school were those of common
farmers and mechanics. Among them there
was n little boy aged about twelve years.
bright, kind-hearted and intelligent, but he
had the misfortune Of being greatly disig-
ured with hare-lp.
lie was the son Of poor man who gained
a livelihood by working out by the day at
ANYTHING he could find to do. Little " Charlie
Hawks Jared hard at home indeed. His
parents were kind TO him. but he had to go
miserably clad and sometimes he even went
to bed hungry But Charlie was always
punctual at school, and there was not
scholar in his class ahead of him in any
study. There were some roguish and even
bad boys in school, who, in order TO have
fun" as they called it, would make game Of
anything and everything that came in their
way Now Charlie, with his cleft lip and
imperfect palate, could not speak plainly
and these bad boys often made him the OBJ
iect Of their ridicue and rough sport.
One day when the boys were all at play in
the yard, they saw Charlie coming. lie
was Just little late, and he came clumping
along in his big boots worn pantaloons and
rimless hat, his face flushed aud his whole
appearance rather stunning" as the boys
all declared. lIalloo Rabbit; how are
the old ones ?" shouted one Of the boys.
Split upper lip and high toe-nail,' shouted
another. as not his mouth q beauty p
81 II looks Just like a cuttleiish with one OF
| the legs cut off," said a fourth. Let's hear
you whistle, Charlie; come now, pucker;
| said another of his tormentors The poor
boy bore this TRADE just as long as possible
without replying Finally the tears came
into his eyes and rolled down his checks
" I'm Just as God made me, he replied
and am not to blame for it. Any one OF
you might have been Just like me. When
you laugh at me, you laugh at God who Is
the author of us all.
" Now look here boys. Next week | an
going TO Boston to the hospital. Colone
Green has given us the money 10 pay my
fare. am going to have my lip operated
upon aud il it. succeeds, hope | may look
as we'll as other boys. have got to b,
laid down upon table and have my lip cut
by the surgeons, aud sewed together Will
needles. If am cured and look like othe
folks, then you won't laugh at me- will you 2
All the boys stood still and listened will
wondering eyes. The hearts of the worst o
them relented. Tears actually stood in Ole
Bruiser's eyes as Charlie told his story.
"But you amt going to Bosting will
them ar old boots, be you 2" said BruiseI
=" And with such hobby hat" said another
And with them particular holey panta
looms, said a third.
4 4 4 81 ft..ri La
for father can't afford to buy me ne'
clothes"
"I.ook here, boys" said Bruiser; ther
will be a meetin' at the schoolhus tonight
and all hands is invited to be present. !
full meetin is requested. Early candle
light, aud plenty of tin in your wallet
That's the program" O}ruiser did not us
very good grammar.)
Charles story had softened every wicke
and bad heart in the district. The idea tina
he must lie on a table and have the doctor
cut him with knives and sew him wit
, needles, and he willingly submit, so as t
look like other boys, aud escape their rid
cule, awakened all their better natures.
Evening came, and the little school-hous
in X. was wellfled not only with schoC
2 children. but 10y others who had heard {
little Charles case.
Bruiser" called the meeting to orde
Gentlemen" said he, eve are conglome
S ated here tonight for the purpose of biz
{ Aud that biz are that Charlie Hawks is g
, ing to Boston to be surgerized by the do
tors; to have his mouth made perpindiculi
like common folks and it will hurt awfu
= tell We. Now them Bosting people are
/ kind Of proud, stuck up, nobby sort of folk
and If Charlie goes down there with h
present fxin's on, he won't appear respec
able like aud they will think us folks Il
this way is nothin' but heathens and beggar
Now propose we start 'scription pape
T. and raise THE needful to get him a ne
r suit of clothes
=, 81 second the notion replied one
' the Others
IAN in favor hold up hands" " IT'S
+ vote" And so the measure was carried.
/ paper was accordingly drawn up in dI
h FORM and in less than an hour a suficiel
sum was subscribed TO purchase a compile
outfit for little Charlie. The next day, aft
e school, Bruiser, who was "chairman of Il
a committee took Charlie to a clothing stor
r and fitted him with new suit of clothir
, from "top TO toe" not emitting even a ne
! pair Of boots. There, sir" said Bruise
: " this will pay you for what we boys said
you the other morning; now we are eve
amt we, Charlie /"
: Even J" replied Charlie, " never laid 4
:, anything against one of you; especial
y against you; for you have got n good hear
10 il you did laugh at me-"
4 1--WE was all in fim," said Bruiser; " bI
e come to think it all over | guess it ain
If quite right to make game OF anything thi
:. a feiier IS moi 10 blame f0r"
h Charlie went 10 Boston. The operate
d was performed with perfect success, an
II Charlie came home so completely restort
e that any one would hardly have known tn
, a deformity ever existed.
n Thirty years have gone by | hay
q watched the life and history of little Cha
q lie Hawks. lie is to-day prominent Met
J, odist clergyman, well known for his talen
and eloquence as a preacher. And mo
than once in all this time he has been pr
siding elder Of the conference Of his churc
y -Congregaiioaaiid.
U..Io~f..I tnIf Sto..