Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-12-01

I-X u
kind wiahas and PLEASANT i6sk&
after . while tie guests vert
too, and the family we're alone
That evening MEs Hazlstt tos )
boys 70 task for their misdeza
At first they seemed 20 res k
matter in the iighk 81 = eoo
then grew sullen. But -
leave them il that need II ~
ner waa earnest, ret kind: and
she gfas through Nth her
their faces had heightened to gravity,
and they really seemed convinced that
their actions had been wrong.
The discovery that their education
had been sadly neglected was not long
hidden from her keen mind.
The farmer assured her they would
not 90 to school-their very igno-
rance was their greatest shame now.
Her course was promptly decided.
The eldest could read tolerably.-
First, she coaxed him to read little
scraps Of news to her from the village
paper. while she sewed in evenings.
Mike and Pug amused themselves.
ere-while. by plying Puss with .
broken spur-but grew drowsy. Even
Jim yawned over the locals. But
short sketches were introduced after
an evening or two, and their interest
in quiet pursuits gradually awakened.
After . awhile she discovered she
was growing somewhat rusty in gram
mar. Indeed, she feared ahe was for
getting what little arithmetic she had
learned, and was sadly at Q loss in
geography.
The farmer did not see that it made
any difference if she had. Secretly,
he thought grammar would not help
make the butter, and geography poor
aid for housekeeper.
But he wisely let his wife have her
own way, without interference, since
she permitted him to doze in his great
chair during the exercises.
For she needed strong. young eyes
to help her; besides, she must keep
busy fingers at her sewing.
She was very stupid too-the boys
would have to read'a lesson to her
several times, before she could repeat
it and then she would blunder, and
have to be laughed at and corrected.
This would have proved dull work 10
our yoang savages, but for these same
blunders. - !.
But she amused them, and IEsn
they grew interested, and before the
winter was ended, the evening lessons
were looked forward to eagerly; for
they began study in earnest, and oi
their own accord.
She had been acquiring gradually
q great influence over them, and a
hint now, and word then, which had
all the force and yet was not q com
mand, had brought their manners up
to civilized standpoint.
The winter had been close and cold;
and these evenings with their books
had kept them at home.
Their presence at spelling schools
was much missed by the clique whose
leaders in mischief they avowedly
were.
But spring found them much 20.
bered down, and conscious of having
an aim in life. xa
Mrs. Hazlett was not a fair-weath-
er Christian, by any means. But
she had stayed at home from church
for months, ostensibly, that part oi
the time the roads were almost i'm.
passable; really, that she dared moi
leave the boys to their own devices
her work 10 their reformation but in.
complete, neither did she wish to take
them with her till she was more sure
Of their behavior.
But one pleasant morning in April
Mrs. Hazlett signifed her desire tC
60 to the village to church.
The farmer started. He liked hi
Sunday nap, but Jim, Mike and Puf
ran to the barn and gave the horse
extra care. This church-going hac
been held up as a treat for some time
They knew of the neat, new suitl
hanging in the closet, to be donnec
for the first time this morning.
No one knew better the curse o
false pride than this wise woman
But she also knew it was quite neces.
sary to instil moderate spice Of van.
ity in the minds Of these lads, trust.
ing her own good sense to guide anc
direct.
So, in due time, the carriage wa.
brought to the door. and the farmer
his wife and little ones, seated care.
fully, the boys taking the first seat
that they might drive.
The villagers stared half amazed
These manly lads looking so hand.
some and neat, and who behaved q.
decorously, were scarcely to be recog
nized as the same young renegades
who were wont, Of old, to be in the
middle Of every melee.
Dick and Ned Carlyle, their whiIon
intimates, who lurked outside ths
church door. stared in wonder, too
they dared not expect support from
these boys who noticed them only
with a cool nod.
After that they were never missed
from the family pew. Farmer Haz'
lett was fam to defer his Sunday mar
till after dinner.
Under Mrs. Hazlett's tutelage, they
mastered one study after another, till
first Jim. and year later Mike and
Benny, no longer Pug. were declar.
cd ready for college. where they &C.
quilted themselves with great credit
And proud woman : Mrs. Haz.
lett to-day. Proud Of the noble fal.