The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-04-01

TIE sctoolms'tm's coming -ihe school
@ttn's coming sbouied dozen voices
- fbe saose Of = haf bour's fAiiheal wstch
70 eAleh gilppss Of our new tsscher.
kssrY eye wAs iafned toward Der with
tbe tcrutisiElng glsnoe, for thc children,
as vel - steers. slways form an opinion
cf persou, particularly of their leaob.
sr, q drss sight
Ilsw tan sic h exclaimed Que.
TO, sin't afrAid Of her nor dozen
IKE ber, erIed tie blg boy of The school.
Nor eitbsr, cried the boys little
aiy, could hek her easy snosvh, could
no, zen, Ton'
Yes. ard viii. too, Il she gos. TO touch
me.
ilush' cried one OF The girls, she will
bear you.
BY this ume abe had nearly reached
the door, round which we clustered, and
every eye was 6Ied upon bsr iAos with
en- ssgsr yet bAsbiul gsEs, uncertain, as
yet, Whist verdict to pass npon her.
Good morning, my children, sbe said,
10 the kiudes, voice In be world, while
her face was lighted up With the sweetest
smile Imaginable. This isa beautiful
morning TO commence school is il not7
know | shall love her, whispered a
little pet IN my ear.
We all followed her into The school
room, except Tom Jones aud bis ally !,
who watched un,il the rest were seated,
aud then came In with noisy
gait, aud sort OF daredevil sAucy look, !,
as much as to say, Who cares for you?
Miss Weslcott looked al them kindly,
bat appeared not to notice them further.
Alter short prayer, aud reading a chap
ter in the Bible, she passed round the
room aud made some inquiry OF each one
in regard 10 themselves and studies.
And what is your name2 she asked lay.
ing her hand upon TOMS head, while be
sat with his hands in bic pockets, swing.
ing his body forwards and backwards.
Tom Jones, shouted he, at the top Of
his voice.
How old are You Thomasl she asked.
Jnst as old again as half, answered
Tom, with a sancy laugh.
What do You study, Thomas?
Nothing.
What books have your
None.
Without appearing TO be at all disturbed
by bis replies, Miss Wescott said, am
glad that am to have one or two large
boys In my school; you can be OF great
assistance TO me. Thomas, II you will
stop a few minutes after school this after
noon, we will talk over . little plan |
have formed.
This wAsa mystery to all, and particu.
larly to Tom, who could not comprehend
how be could be useful TO anybody, and
for the frat time 10 bis life be felt as II he
was OF some importance TO the world
He had always been called the bad boy at
school, and he took a sort of pride 10 be-
ing feared by the children, and dreaded
by the teacher.
Miss Westcott at once comprehended his
whole character, and began to shape
plans accordingly. She maintained that
boy, who at twelve years of age made
himself feared among his school fellows,
was capable OF being made something Of.
Heretofore all influences had conspired TO
make him bad, aud perhaps desperate
character; she was determined to trans.
form bis character by bringing opposite
influences to bear upon him; and TO effect
this, she must first gain his confidence,
which would not be done in better way
thap by letting him feel thatshs placed
confidence IN him.
Wheuschool was out, more than half
the scholars fingered aboat the door,
wondering what Miss Wescott had to say
TO Tom Jones. He had often been bid.
den TO remain after school, but it was al
ways 10 receive punishment ora severe
lecture, and mime times out OF ten be
would jump out OF The window before
half the scholars were out OF the room /;
bat II WAS evidently for di ifTerent pur-
pose that be was to remain now, aud no
one wondered what ii could be more than
Tom Jones.
Don't you think, Thomas, that our
school room would be great deal pleas.
snter il we had some evergreeus to hang
arounc il something TO make II cbeerful2
inquired Miss Wescolt,
YeG'm, and ! know where can get
plenty OF them.
Well, Thomas, II you will have soma
bare by eight O'Clock tomorrow morning,
! will be here to help put them up, aud
We will give the children pleasant sur
prise. Here are some books will give
you, Thomas; you may put them In your
drawer; they are what want you to
study.
But can't study geography and his
tory, exclaimed Tom, eonfusedIy, never
did.
That 10 the reason why you think you
cannot, replied Miss Wescoit am quite
sure you can, and you will love them
know.
Nobody ever esred whether | learned
anything or not before, said Tom with
some emotion.