Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-22
The Little Wilson Boy.

4 Ht lhttNC NllSOu DUls
There were two or three reasons why
did not wish him placed in my Sunday
school class. First had six boys already
in my weekly care, from the age, of six to
eight years, and the six irreprsssible, ir.
responsible. lively little beings, about as
easily controlled as so many little monkeys
would be, and not much moro easily.
Then heard from one OF the teachers in
the infant department, what n case that
little Wilson boy was, frequently arresting
the exercises with his mischievous pranks !;
and besides all this, there were smaller
classes in which there seemed to be far
more room for him than in mine.
But here was the overtaxed superintend-
ent standing before me, asking, in an al
most imploring tone, If l couldn't take
lust one boy MORE" and l understood at
once was not the first teacher to whom
he had made application that day in behalf
of "thc little Wilson boy"
Then on seeing the child my heart re-
Tented. His clothes were old and ill-fttng
and his mat of golden curls in their rich
abundance hung over and almost into his
lovely blue eyes. Another of Christ's poor
little ones, ] thought, and he was admit.
ted.
He behaved pretty we'll that Sunday,
although once when my back was turned,
some sly piece Of mischief caused smile
TO circulate rather freely, ] somehow felt
ut my expense.
Sometimes the dimples in his checks
would cease their play for moment or
two, while told little story with Just
enough wholesome excitement in it to catch
his attention, while l illustrated some i'm.
portant point in the lesson, and at such
times the child was really beautiful. The
great blue eyes were almost heavenly in
their expression, and the mat of golden
hair rippled and fell in cunning circiets
about the temple, cheek and brow. fused
at such times to vaguely imagine how
sweet he would be were he my boy, ap-
parclcd like other we'll dressed boys, and
trained and pruued in q Christian home
and then was so sorry for him because
he was mothorless, but, alas the next
moment the squirming of some child at
his side would attest to the accuracy with
which he could insert pin point or direct
sly pinch, right in the midst Of my ex-
citing little illustration too!
One Sunday the lessen was about Christi g
love for little children, and for brief periods
the child would seem to pay something
like attention. | spoke of how parents
love their children, and how Sunday school
teachers loved their scholars-good schol-
ars-yes, and the naughty ones, too; but
here was interrupted by the little Wilson
boy. who asked wondoringly:
Say, teacher, do you love us when we
are naughty ?'
replied that certainly did, and went
on to tell how Christ, although grieved by
the naughtiness Of little children, loved
them still, and wanted to forgive and make
them better. | really thought l was im-
pressing him fer once, for his great eyes
were fixed intently on my face, and he
was bending towards me in an eager atti-
tude-with one hand in his pocket was
Just thinking what nice lesson he was
learning, when all at once | heard an
ominous little rattle, and the next moment
he suddenly ierked Il little tin box from
his pocket, asking with n jubtlant smile:
! "Teacher, do you want to see my fish
hooks P'
Oh dear. it Wds discouraging TO see the
whole seven of them all at once scrambl
ing and pulling to see the contents of the
| little tin box. OF course my stern protest
caused its speedy disappearance, and after
tho school was ended. talked long ant
kindly with the child who so strongly tried
yet attracted me. | remember perfectly
that during my task he interrupted me tC
know if didn't love ,mackerel, and ad
mitted certainly that did, and knew boy,
must like the sport of catching them, but
urged the little fellow to lay aside all such
considerations, and try to be good while
in the Sunday school class, and he sait
brightly on parting:
"Good.by, teacher; I'll be awful good
next Sunday"
Next Sunday Dear child
On Wednesday the "Auntie" sent fol
mo 10 come as soon as could to see her
that was all the boy said that brought the
message, perhaps she thought would moi
wish to so if knew more. But on enter.
ing her lowly homo, saw it all at q
glance.
There on the low bed lay "the little vii
son boy" all too quiet at last.
The mat of shining curs still shaded the
snowy forehead, and clustered about the
pulseless temples; the rare little circlets
laid as ever about tho babyish checks. ant
on one a dimple showed plainIy-but the
blue eyes were closed.
ue was drowned.
BY the side of the bed carelessly thrown
on small table, was string of fish
mackerel-and still clutched in one hant
was familiar object, at sight of which
the rushing tears blinded my eyes com
pletely. 1t was the littlo tin box.
Groups of boys stood around the room
and the 'Auntie'-I was glad now there
was no mother to gaze on the scene-the
not unkindly 'Auntie' fastened to explain
with quick gesture towards the fish:
"IIe catchcd them for you, ma'am; he
said as how you liked them, and he was
goin' to fetch thom to you himself, to
night"
It was Just as well that at that moment
| was totally unable to reply, for one o
thu boys standing by was eager to tell hi
story, SO he began excitedly:
yes m, and he wasn't quite dead oithe
when we took him out, for he said in
funny, weak-like voice-you 500 he wa
almost gone-'Teacher said that Chris
would forgive little boys. oven naught,
boys. and teacher knows!' and then b,
smiled little," the boy added.
Well, it was years ago, but from tha
time 10 this, ] never have shown rsluctanc
nj rncoiVinp one more child into INV clase