Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-24


In his bosom lies
But on earth are tears and sorrow,
For dear one dies.
THE GOOD FOR NOTHING.
eyes, think may say without boast
ing that this is the model school of. th
State, and Clarence Terry is it's mode
scholar"
Mr.. Pigeon, as he spoke, glanced at
slight, tall boy, at the head Of the class.
"Always first. Recites page after pag
without the break of syllable. Obedient
gentlemanly! In short, sir. if you dis
cover fault in. that boy, you must hav
keener eyes than mine.''
It was Mr.. Pigeons last day in the AGA
denny. He had been appointed to pro
fessorship in college, and the new teach
er, Mr.. Maggie, had arrived to take hi
place. Mr.. Pigeon, in fact was Inaugural
ting him in his office.
"Here is the roll of Names" he said. 81
have added a remark to each which may
give you hint of the characters of tn
boys. You will find it useful
Mr.. Nagle looked it over.
sJohn Steele-which is John Steele?" hi
asked.
.sThe loutish, red-haired lad at the enc
of the bench. You'll observe the vacanc,
in his face"
Now opposite John Steele's name was
written, "The good-for-nothing.'"
AS the boys changed class, Mr.. Pigeor
whispered: 81 am almost forced to be
lieve that that boys mind is impenetfablt
so far as knowledge goes.''
Mr.. Magic paid more attention to Joh1
Steele than to any other boy that after
noon. He was undeniablY a bad case. HI
was in the first pages of, the Latin gram
mar, while the other boys of his age were
reading Virgil.
John stumbled over the first declension
breaking down invariably in the vocativt
case. He bounded France by Russia, an6
moved Canada in lump down to South
America.
Mr.. Pigeon had a taste for poetry; hi
read with fine effect, and was anxious
that the boys should acquire the same
taste. He was in the habit of reading
some brief poem to them at the close Of
the mornings exercises, To-day he chose
Loncfellow's ''Psalm of Life.'' The boys
were encouraged to give their opinion on
it. -sas=--77 fgsrr--ss--s s ~
elbow does the poem affect you Clar
ence?" asked Mr.. Pigeon.
"They are most noble verses, sir" said
the lad fluently.. "We might take some Of
them as motto for our lives.'
every true. Good criticism.-An
what do you think of them, John?"
didn't think anything"
ssYou must have had some glimmer Of
an idea about them.'
Johns freckled face grew red.
s'What was it? Out with it.''
"Any mans fool to be a spendin' his
time making footmalks on the sand,
burst out John. "Why didn't he build
somethin'-somethin that wouldn't wash
away?'
Mr.. Maggie smiled, and looked at the
boy, puzzled. He managed to talk to
most of the boys separately during recess
and among the rest to John.
81 am sorry to see you so low in your
class, Johns
''I'm always there" promptly respond
ed the boy.
''We must try and bring you up" said
the new teacher cheerfully.
"You can't do it sir,'' John answered
looking him straight in the eyes, and
speaking with ready decision that quite
startled the teacher. 81 study more than
any boy here. But can't learn. I'm Of
no account, Mr.. Pigeon says"
Mr.. Maggie was very patient with John
But, after few weeks he, too, began tt
despair. The boy seemed to have alb
solutely no memory for words. and very
little for ideas. If a rule in arithmetic OF
fact in history was hammered into his
head to-day, by tomorrow it was sure te
be gone. AS far as this poor brain waf
concerned, it certainly seemed as if nature
preferred a vacuum.
One day Johns mother called upon Mr.
Maggie. She was little, anxious woman
dressed in deep mourning. Scan you dc
nothing with the boy?" she said, the tears
coming to her eyes. "He is all | have
H is father is dead. I hoped to give him
a classical course, and see him in SOME
profession.''
81 will do all can," promised Mr.
Magic. But his heart sank within him.
Leaving Mrs. Steele, he went down the
village street. A crowd had collected
about trench which had been dug tol
some purpose. The Doctors horse had
fallen into it, and was struggling despera
tely to get out, the shelving yellow clay
giving him an uncertain foothold.
Some of the men had struck him cruelty
and some were trying to urge him by drag
gipg at the reins. All the others were
looking on solemnly, with their hands II
their pockets. Just then Mr.. Maggie hear6
clear authoritative voice:
sHelp me bring these planks and put
them in the trench!'
EuraJu thot Tob,,,c voioo