Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-26

SlChneSS. lie WAS employed by inc wear
and inspected every house and looked
after lis inmates, once II month. BY the
enforcement Of sanitary measures, and the
prompt treatment of incipient disease, he
was able to reduce the death rate nearly
twenty per cent, and the sick roll much
more than that.
Evening schools were started for the
youth who were employed in the mill, and
vacation classes formed in three or four
easy trades and arts. for those who might
otherwise have been led into various
courses through the open door of idlencss.
This plan succeeded so well that one of
the deserted tenement houses was reno
vated and converted into school of
trades. where the boys and girls had their
choice of instruction and practice in metal
and woodworking. type setting and prin!
ing. machine sewing and stitching of all
kinds, and dozen other occupations by
means of which they could begin at once
10 earn livelihood. Mr.. Fletcher found
time TO visit this school nearly every day.
in the working season, to encourage The
dull learners and advise and advance the
bright ones.
The plan isn't perfect" he said to the
superintendent, after Il years trial. but
It's better than nothing. Our boys and
girls don't know 80 many things MS the
sharp-wtted classes | saw in the grammar
ind high schools last week, but what they
do know is worth more. They have found
out what they can do best and are learning
TO do it. And what they do know the
world will give them living for doing
VI hinh ic thnp e, ~.
citys graduates Keep it up. Find square
holes for the square pegs, and round holes
for the round ones, and make 'cm fit.
There's n good deal to boys-and to men,
100. for that matter-besides their brains
School the mass of them until they are
fifteen, and their heads will take care of
themselves, in this country. Let Us give
their eyes and hands and muscles IL chance.
here in Milltown."
None Of these schemes succeeded of
themselves Very few plans that amount
TO anything do. There is man or IL
woman back of pretty much everything in
this world that moves on. They also cost
some money; but no more than other men
spend on their pride or their pleasures, or
pile on top of their already superfluous
millions.
But they cost thought and labor and
money. they returned ii all II hundredfold.
There is no slinting in the repayment OF
Heaven for good deeds done to men.
" Pressed down and running over is the
Scripture measure And 50 Harold Fletvh.
er found it.
He had been denied the sweetest of all
felicity; a happy home-lile with the WON
an of his heart No soft touch of II . rose
/ leaf palm on his Cheek or sound OF
cooling laughter from the babe upon his
knee revealed to him the joy of father.
hood, Brother or sister he had none. His
father had been to him no more than Il
guardian, and his molher-pity for those
who know such lack had died so early
that mostly he forgot what she was like
But though missing SO much of happiness
he found the compensatons of which life
is so full 10 those who know what living
is.
1t was well with the young millionaire
He had learned the lesson of service
taught plainest of all but most ignored o
any in the highest law: Bear ye ont
anothers burdens Without kindrcy
after the flesh, he bad caught the sublime
Significance of those all inclusive words o
the Master of right living, when, "Iookina
round upon them who sat about him, he
said Behold my mother, my brethren, anc
my sislers!'
A rich man, Harold Fletcher counted
Iirst among his luXuries the luxury of 90
ing good, and found his best pleasure il
Witnessing the improved condition, the
growth in virtue and knowledge, the con
tentment and gratitude of the hundreds h,
had be(riended. A reformcr, lie did no
waste his thought upon theories nor hi,
breath in bugle blowing. A phianthro
psf, he organized no new machine clAri
lies, but helped men directly to help them
selves the men nearest to him, whose
wants he knew. a Christian. he did no
leave too much TO the re-adiustmcnts 0
Il future Heaven. but did what he could t,
give men and women better chance ant
happier conditions here and now. In
word, he applied the golden rule.not simp
ly to keep himself from cheating in injur
ing his ncighbors. but to the actual gov
ernment of his life.
Must tn" world wait for remote ant
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS reign Of ;
thousand years before IN air castle lik,
the MiIIennal Mill can have founda
tions put under it GOlden Ruie.