Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-08-17

full, a third had discovered a nest of
little kleptomists; all had constant
trouble on hand; all referred their. diff
culties to the course of study" or those
sour grapes" the parents ate that "set
the children's teeth on edge"
The fault was in the books. AS proof,
the children were hungry for rare and
racy stories; and the teachers clamored
for supplemental reading. A library
must be founded-a reading club estab-
lished.
The bowling storm increases, yet the
prodigious craft moves on, the master
at the helm.
"Fresh Leaves" were scattered among
the lower grades, with Mother Goose
Stories" the Nursery" magazine, and
Baby Land" Then came the wide
Awakes," the Seven Sisters" with
FAIRY Tales" then "Harper's Young
Folks "St. Nicholas" wonder Book"
the tale of "Tangle Wood, and the Scot
tish Chiefs"
Instead of the Evils of War" and
Lament for the Dead" in the grammar
grades they read "Ichabod Crane" and
"Rip Van Winkle." Instead of "Hamlet's
Soliloquy" and Millions Satan" they
took up Katrina. Van Tassel" and
"Eyangeline."
Thus, like Sheridan on the Shenan-
doah, he turned the tide of war; Instead
of running off, the pupils were seen
rushing off to school on doubls-quick to
hear the morning story read. All
thought was now enwrapt, intent to be
on hand for the coming feast. Fen the
pugilists forgot their score when the
other rOughs forsook the ring. Litera-
ture was all play, and helped the other
branches on.
The school was prosperous, the teach
er famous. He was solicited to work in
larger fields, was appointed on COM
mittee to inaugurate an "institate of in
struction," called to preside at the "ed-
ucational congress, invited to speak be-
fore great assemblies, banqueted and
oyated until he sickened of praise and
pageantries. Fresh honers fell each day
upon him; but his duties came thicker
still. Amidst this rush, deep plans we're
laid for other years; he was the bene-
factor to bless and enlighten all man.
kind But in the midst of all his useful
schemes he died. Died, this most sue
cessful teacher, just as he was preparing
to live the more to the Masters glory Dy
leading others into the way of life.
Indulgent friends, my picture know
is sadly incomplete. But all who have
taught can recognize some of the OBJ
jects here brought out. They are not too
highly colored. Indeed, most of the
incidents exist fresh in the experience
of every teacher. The dark back ground
which "chill penury broodeth o'er," re-
pressing the hearts ardent aspiration
after greatness, is only such as mauy of
US teachers have seen, like Eneas in
Dido's pictured temple, "se quoque per-
for surely we were there. In
deed fully three-fourtbs of all the truly
successful teachers had to struggle
through the black night of poverty, and
many would-be noble soul never lived
to see the morning.
But people of refined sensibilities do
not take kindly to sombre sights. They
object to 80 much brown umber, and
cast about for the high-lights that shed
a gladstone glamour DER the scene. Let
them be reminded that the wiser paint
ers employ the darker shades. Nature
sets her brightest bow only upon the
bosom of the darker clouds.
Who is the happier, the man who
lives for pleasure alone, or he who lives
to do his duty? Even so the self-sacri-
ficing student finds in his conscientious
tolls a delight infinitely higher than the
siren of pleasure can give.
Would you never gaze upon the beau
lies of the rainbow for fear of the thun-
ier-bOlt that turks in the black cloud at
is back? Would you never enjoy a sail
upon grand old Ocean because there are
-avening billows sleeping beneath your
Keel? The man who goes out into the
,tOrmiest night sees nature in her grand
sst moods and the soul that is narrowed
)y earth's turmoil and trouble sleeps the
more sweetly when that turmoil is Ger.
But why tell us of the teacher who
lad no home of his own, to whicHhe
could repair; no loved ones to greet him
md solace his care?
1t were pity TO repress the ardor OF
/ promising would-be teacher by turning
IN a panoramic view that does not
.ccord with his preconceived notions Of
the eternal fitness of things" but that
cholar has not been close student in
he great school of life, not to have
earned ere this that there Is constant
going on from the ranks OF
he profession, and that some are ready
or promotion sooner than others. This
ife is but preparatory school; the uni
Yersity is in larger city just over the
,order.
Why, bless youi our lsmented teacher
8 not lost from the SCHOOL, He lives
low In a hundred lives, before in but
me!
"Weep for yourselves and your chill
Iren"-the thoughtful student is never
lone; he is just forming aequaintancesl
rhe man who is in conSonance with
Nature around him is always in the best
# company. The true teacher realizes
he communion and spiritual counsel of
uch master minds as Moses, Newton,
md Paul. Such shades rs Horace Mann
nd LOrin Andrews, the pious Richter,
yho "loved Christ and little children,
luster round mis- path. He may grow
ray but he never can grow old, for his
outh is constantly renewed in the
uoyant spirit of the children around.
Our educator never lived to legislate
Ipon the momentoHs exciting questions q
f the day, but the boys of his class will
II vote right, and so will the girls in q
ew more years. He never swayed the
enate hall with irresistible eloquenee.
ut he has fred the ambition OF the boy
Who will. He never succeeded in amass-
ng wealth for himself, but he has di-
ected his pupils in the sure road to
,pulence and renown. More than they
" use, he by q keener anticipation en-
owed. without house he called his
wn, every door was open to bid him
nter, and every lreside welcomed his
resence. True, he took no wife as
osom companion, but the mothers OF
he most prosperous families in the
and, rejoice to do him reverence, and
mile to hear their prattling babes lisp
he teachers name.