Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
A Stranger i'm the School.

On warm day, large school of boys
and girls were coming over their lessons.
The teacher tried hard to keep order, to
make all take to their studies to help those
who needed aid, and to make all happy. lie
opened the doors and windows to give them
fresh air, but all would not do. Some felt
discouraged with their lessons, some felt
sleepy, some felt cross, and everything
seemed to drag and linger. By-and-by the
heavy tread of foot on the doorstep was
heard, and without knocking, in walked
hard-faced man, somewhat old in years, but
with firm step. The children al first felt
afraid of him, but they soon found that be-
meath his hard looks there was bright
eye, pleasant smile, and kind heart
But instead of sitting down and staring at
the school, he sat down by the side of lit
tie girl who was trying in vain to get her
spellng-lesson. There were tears Of dis
couragement in her eyes. "Well, what's
the matter with our little one ?" go sir
| can't get my lesson It's so long, and the
words are so hard, can never learn them !"
Let us see. How many of those words
are there i'll one column ~ Fifteen, sir"
And how many columns in your lesson 7"
Three, SIR "Nery well. That makes
forty-fve words to be learned. How many
of these are easy, so that you can spell them
at onceY Count them" Twenty-Five,
sir "Then you have twenty left which
you call hard Now take the first one, look
at it sharp, see every letter in it, count the
letters, see just how the word looks. Now
shut your eyes, and see if you can still see
just how the word looks Spell it over
softly to yourself There, now you spelt it
right. Now do so with the next word, and
tba fiji haun than oil ~ n eir !
That is very easy. | can get my lesson
now" Then the visitor went to a boy who
was pulling over a sum in arithmetic. lie
was discouraged, and almost cross. "Let
us see. What's the matter here :" "This
sum, sir | can't do it, and every sum
grows harder and harder! 1t seems as if
the man who made the book tried to see
how hard sums he could put down." " | see.
Now what's the rule by which this sum is
to be done Repeat it. Very well, only
you have not said it quite right. Turn to it
and see. There, now, you left out one i'm
portant link. You now understand the rule.
Try the sum now, putting in the part you
left out" 80 sir It's easy now. l see,
and can now do them ALL" "Yes but
you must not be thinking about your ball,
and kite, and play You must give all your
mind to the things you are studying, and
then it will be easy" The stranger next
sat down by boy who was trying to COM
nit the declension of a noun in Latin gram
mar. Over and over he had repeated, but
alas he could not make the memory hold
it, He was ready to throw down the book.
"Hold there, my boy Don't look so dis
couraged. Take your pen and carefully
write down the declension. See how every
word is written and what letter ends every
case. There, now, is every one right
Yes Well, shut your grammar, turn over
your paper, and on the other side write it all
over again from memory. So no How many
mistakes have you made ?" 1.-Two, sir p
Very well. Put away that bit OF paper,
get another, and try it again, and again, till
you can write it without single mistake
You can say it then, for writing will fix it
in the memory" Thus he went from seat
to seat, and helped all. The scholars forgot
the heat. They all had their lessons the
teacher smiled and praised them, and all
We're happy. Just as he was leaving, the
teacher thanked the stranger, and hoped he
would soon call again. "Ohl" said he
Just send for me at any time, and | will
come and give any one lit" Pray, sir
by what name shall we ask for you 7" " Mr.
lIardstudy, sir, at your service JOHN
| T'o1H