Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-10-09

~ Ioihtcu W inherent person frnm
the one he bad named. He read
che sentence over again and object.
ed to my idea, maintaining he VAS
right; and he was proceeding to
show me wherein | was in error.
when ! interrupted him. aud m ad 8
him stand out 10 the fl ,or an h our
for his disobedience OF my instruc
ton. That night, when alone in
my room. | road the passage over.
and at length became convinced
that Luke was right. But | would
not own it TO him. No, no.--that
would have lowered me in my own
esteem. Yet resolved to be more
careful in future how | corrected
him ia his parsing issoLs. Howev-
or, he was, in my estimation, full of
short comings. With his general
behavior | had no reason to find
fault, for he was a noble, generous
hearted fellow, and was beloved by
his friende.
luke said |, as stopped him
one night alter school, why is it that
you do not get your lessons p
He said he didn't know.
Don't tell me,' | cried, that you
don't know. You don't study-that's
the reason. See how James Shute
gets his lessons. You are older than
he is
Luke said he couldn't get such
long lessons-he could not remem-
Der them. He had tried hard enough
to do the puzzling sums and to spell
the long words, but could not do it.
told him it was as nonsense. He
could do it if he had mind to. He
did not try. He was more fond of
play than ofstudy. In short, talked
very severely to him, and assured
him that if he did not have his les
sors perfectly on the following day, |
should punish him. He went away
with his head bowed, | thought in a
sulky mood.
The following day came, and with
it came the first class in arithmetic.
James Shute could do every sum-
Lake Weston had not done half of
them. When the class came up TO
spell, James spelled all the words,
and gave the definitions promptly;
but Luke could DO. remember them.
So / told Luke Weston that | must
punish him; and | stood him out on
the floor and | made great FOOLS
cap and put it on his head; and there
he stood until the school was done.
He did not cry or did not look par
ticularly ashamed but he COM
pressed his lips, and looked very
ugly. At all events. so l thought at
the time. He made me no reply,
but left the room with quick, stern
step; and went home without stop
ping to play with his mates.
On the following day Luke did not
come to school, and on the day after
eaaf HnsdsrstG9a that he had gone made i
some little inquiries, and found that
he had declared that he would 90 to
school to me no more, if he had to
run away; and, as his parents were
poor, they had allowed him to 90 at
work in neighbours shop.
In time / finished my school, and
James Shute bore off the palm OF
scholarship. Upon him l bestowed
the highest encomiums, and held him
up to the admiration of visitors.
During vacation visited neigh.
boring State, and found employment
there. Then l went South, and final
ly became engaged as teacher of
mathematics in a school in New
Orleans. The years slipped by, and
still remained in my new home
One day | received apaper from my
native State, and saw mention made
of one Luke Weston as being the
leader of strong faction in the legis
lature. Of course that could not be
my Luke-it could not be the one
upon whom | had put the FOOLS cap.
Not must be another of the same
name.
Time passed on, aud by and by
read in the papers that Luke Weston
had been elected President of the
Senate of my native State, and that
he was now powerful leader OF a
powerful party. Of course this was
the same Luke of whom had before
read but it could not be the same
Luke who had worn my FOOLS cap.
OF course not.
And still time passed on, and f.
nally read that Luke Weston had
been elected to the Senate OF the
United States; anu that he was
greatly honored by all who knew
him.
In another year / visited the home
of my youth and one of my first in
quiries was of Luke Weston He
was United States Senator. So it
was my Luke, after all.
And where was James Shute ? He
was book keeper in bank, and was
accounted very correct and faith.
ful clerk He had been there twelve
years, and would probably remain
there, as he liked the place, aud had
no particular ambition or qualifica-
ton above it.
And now with the silver touch OF
many years upon my brow, l sit
alone in my study, aud reflect upon
the past. | see the many, many
children who have been under. my
charge, now grown to be men and
women; and | see many of those
whom | had thought to be excessive
ly stupid, occupying places Of honor
and trust while many whom !
had thought wonderful in learning,
are plodding along in the ordinary
pursuits of life, the lessons of the old
ol-books all forgotten, and the
one idea of food and clothing occu.
plying their whole attention.
And | think II could teach school
again, how different would be my
course; for from my review of the
4 years that have gone have learned
some things of which | was ignorant
when 1 first assumed the rod and
staff OF the pedagogue.
Different children have diffsren,
capacities. Many q quick witted
sharp minded boy has borne away
the prize of scholarship wno has no
studied half so hard as has the ,pool
fellow who gained no medal. al