Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-07-28

circle of SGnday-sch0Ol pupils. Methinks
see that benignant. kindly face. and hear
that loving, sympathetic voice even now.
well remember some Of the stories he used
to tell Us tor our own instruction and de
light | shall never forget Mr.. Roots say.
ing to Us ON one occasion that on the SAB
bath following he was going TO bring u:
out some nice SUnday-sclOJl books 10 read
They were second hand books to be sure
but proved to be none the less acceptable on
that account. How eagerly we awaited the
arrival OF that package. and the delivery OF
those books At last the happy day arrly-
ed. How our eyes must have glI~tened a
that bundle was opened, and those books
marble paper-cOvered treasures-werc dis
trlbuteI. | wOnter If the ewes of the little
boys and girls away out ON the plains
sparkle and shine as ours must have then,
when the boxes Of books sent them from
sJme thoughtful and generous Sunday
school IN the East. Is opened In their pres
ence. Much as ever. inieed. a. the books
manufactured nOw-a-1sys Will scarce hold
together to be read once. much less TO be
read out and then transported u the Far
West. All but bow windy do | remem-
Der the story contained in that very first
Sunday-sehUOl book ever read, and which
L tIIil hnN lNSNAftt hnbN- VI
dear Mr. Root. No school girl ever read a
novel more passionately than | that story.
Ii was all about bad boy, named Robert,
who was always getting into trouble, fall
ing from apple-trees and breaking his arms,
and " no finally came to a very bad end ;
and about one William, also. Tho was a very
nice and proper boy, and who. Of cOurs {,
lived happy and died happy. Inls sort ot a
book would he called " gOody' now-a-days.
| suppose. But what did care abOu. that
then? In fact 1t was all the better scIted
to nv capacity on that very account. There
Is deal Of nonsense uttered and written in
modern times, in my judgment, about these
so-called " gOOdy." or " gOodIsh Sunday
school story books. Let these writers, who
have 20 many smart things To say In this
direction, once try their own had al Sun
OOi-literature-maklng, and let US
see whether either their graces of style. or
their descriptions of " real lie, will prove
either more acceptable to the lutte folks. or
more effective for their moral and rel gIOus
instruction. The fact l. we very greatly
mistake when We assume that these young
readers read IN the critical and eaptIpus
mood, or from the literary and artistic
STANDPOINT of the New York Nation or
the North AmericlH RerIec.
But | set out 10 write description. not
so much Of my first Sunday-schOol, as OF
MY FIRST sUSDAY-scHoOL EXCURSION.
1t was on glorious day in July or August.
Ere the sun mad Yet arisen. and while the
dew yet lay heavy on the fields, and the air
was - cool, - fresh and invigOrating, a
large double-team. driven probably by Loyal
) Sorague, and already pretty weil-loaded,
Iaar at tho Old rod bnn-a
| was already " up and dressed" as you
may readily imagine, my mother, though
not accompanying me. having got me
duly through my hasty breakfast, and into
nv" Sunday best" How well remember.
not only the sense of honor felt at having
- big a team driven up to take me in, but
the delightfully."- cool ride that July morn
ing into town, and the glowing expects-
tIOns a. to what that day would bring forth.
Arrived in town, We Gebarked at the old
Congregational yeStry, a very plain, un-
adorned structure, 50 long prominent fea-
ture Of White street. Here joining the
other Sunday schools Of the place, We were
duly uniformed. or badged By the tying OF
Il bit Of blue ribbon IN our button holes. a
grand procession was then formed, and We
marched to the lake, embarking on the
old steamer WlnOO>ki at about eight o clock
in the morning. | had never seen steam
boat before With what interest, not to say
amazement, | watched the deck hands as
they planted their long pike against the
pier-head. and with their brswny arms
showed the boat out into the broad lake,
communicating to 1t somehow an impetus
which ii seemed aiterward to retain. This
truly was To be Jay Of wonders The ex-
perI-nces connected with It, lrOm beginning
10 end, were like those Ul new creation.
The hours required for our passage to
Piatt-burgh were spent by me 10 exploring
the cabins. traver-Iug the gang~ays. mount
ing the decks. scanning the waves III the
steamers wake, a she glided 80 swiftly
over the blue waters OF the lake. The mys-
teries Of the engine especially absorbed me,
and | never ur,d OF contemplating the
movements Oi it, majestic "waikIng-beam.
or the sturdy strokes of it, pOnderOus pls-
ton. Several OF the ladies, remember. were
sea-sck. hut happily remained a stranger
10 this not enviabie affection.
Arrived at PIattsburgh. We were formed
apaln IN procession and marched up 10 the
old PRESBYTERIAN church. | was assigned a
Mace in a great box pew in the LETT lott OF
gallery | well remember the appearance oI
the sheets on which our hymrs were print
ed the sand dwiches that constituted Oul
luncheon the very style of the caps of tht
pretty lively specimens of Young America
. ~no ". pn;1,ar;a1 - Ioot;ng -e,tIsmen " hq
coaleu' mn ~ go, 49,, baIow 1rbomgt
2ocupieu 'no eha,I apr,'har ,nnob ns ,hs;,
canio' sA' 'I'as III 40 ra,.,a,, Re- ~.
speeche,J' anu a - - -,
hplesS"S a-.uise 'i - - ~, - ~
ana 'ne E'oiiou Tss. ~, -, -
cnuiou u -, 20 ra I,sw.Lens,
", IL "as - :. -, - -
eehos III ,uo N a. ~ Va
are ie'elo a''s - ,.o f,-,,
Inc services az "a. e"uiiI t4iS a,." 80 H..
eu' anu lhaioueu ~ sns o.a oa.A 80,
"eiS noIy.' Tha"a iona rows of bnge cannon:
hanu; iuo9o 'ons .o ,J-..5 - ~,
hao tney uone p,I..:,, -,
last "ar OF il VIC IVY, ut., H..
had nearu my oiu auuty 'eii aooI' H. 81
Tor the hrs' ,lme l nealu pla hasS uo.n, oa
same oeins tne reg inentai oauu eonneUe' sc,t'
with that post. now my puefie sens.oi
lities were thrilled as 1 listener ior .ne lrs
time, to the brszen notes Oh Oh 1nose ponuer
Gus trumpsts and horns. Inen mere wer
real live soiuiers. one IN iui1 iesnueu.n's
with musket uprlght, anu ioeking neisne
to the right or lei', paced Slowly 70 anu ~
between his sentry boxes MOST 9i 'ne sol
diers were IN undress UNIFORM; lrememoe
one of these taking me up In his lap, simi'
and shrinking. and kindly asking me now
would like to become soldier Dear soul
| wonder where he Is now Is ne ngn'inl