The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-04-24

Was God be kind to the noble boy
Who is somebody's con and pride and Joy"
Author Unknown.
THE NEW SCH00LMA'AM.
"The echoolma' am's coming-the scool
ma'am's coming" shouted dozen voices
at the close ola half hours faithful
watch to catch glimpse of our new
teacher. Every eye was turned toward
her with the most scrutinizlng glance
for the children as we'll as others, al
ways form an opinion ola person, par
ticularly of their teacher. at first sight.
"How tall she ISL" exclaimed one.
"Ho, amt afraid of her, nor a dozen
like her." cried the big boy of the
school.
"Nor either" cried the big boys lit
tie ally. II could lick her easy enough
couldn't you Tom?''
eyes, and will too, if she goes to
touch me-"
"Hushr' cried one of the girls "she
will hear YOU"
BY this time she had nearly reached
the door, round which we cluSte red,
every eye was fixed upon her face with
an eager yet bashful gaze, uncertain, as
yet, what verdict to pass upon her.
"Good morning, children" she said,
in the kindest voice in the world, while
her face was lighted by the sweetest
smile imaginable. This is beautiful
morning to commence school, is it not?"
II know shall love her." whispered
little pet in my ear.
We all followed her into the school,
room, except Tom Jones and his ally,
who watched until the rest were seated,
and then came in with staggering,
noisy gait, and a sort of daredevil saucy
look, as much as to say, "Who cares for
you?"
Miss Westcott looked at them kindly,
but appeared not to notice them further.
ter in the Bible she pas ed round the roc n
and made some inquiry of each one in
regard to themselves and their studies.
"And what is your manner" she asked,
laying her hand upon Toms head,
while he sat with his hands in his peck
cts, swinging his body backwards and
forwards.
tom JONES'" shouted he at the top of
| his voice.
Chow old are you, Thomas" she
| asked.
"Just as old agin as half" answered
Tom, with saucy laugh.
"What do you study, Thomas"
Nothing"
"None."
Without appearing to be at all disturb
ed by his replies, Miss Wescutt said, II
! am glad that am TO have one or two
large boys in my school; you can he of
great assistance to me. Thomas, If You
! will stop few moments after sch n,l
this afternoon, we will talk OYER little
rlan l have formed"
This was mystery to all, and particu-
tarly to Tom, who could not comprehend
| COW he could be useful to any body, and
for the first time in his life he felt AZ If
| he Was OF some Importance in the world.
He had always been called the "bau
boy" at school, and he took sort of
! pride in being feared bv the children,
and dreaded by the teacher.
| Miss Wescott at once comprehended
his whole character, and began to shape
her 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 influence
| had cOnspired to make him bad, and
perhaps desperate character; she Was
determined to transform his character
by bringing an opposite influence to
work upon Linn; and to effect this, she
| must first gain his confidence, which
could not be done in a better way than
by letting him feel that she placed con-
tdence in him.
When sch >ol was out, more than half
the scholars fingered about the door.
wor dering what Miss Wescott had to
say Tom Jones. He had often been
hidden to remain after school, but it was
always to receive punishment or Sc
we're lecture, and nine times out Of ten
fore halt the school were out OF the
roonI; but it was evidently for q differ
ent urpose that he was to remain now,
and no one wondered what it could be
more than Tom Jones.
Don't you think, Thomas, that our
school.room would be great deal pleas
anter if we had seine evergreens to hang
around it; something to make it cheer
ful?" inquired Miss Wescott,
,"Yes'm, and | know where I can get
plenty of the,n.''
"Well, Thomas. if you will have some
here by eight O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing, will be here to help you put them
up, and We will give the children a
pleasant surprise. 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, confused, IL new.
er did"
''That is the reason why you think
you cannot" replied Miss Wescott. Il
am sure you can, and you will love them,
l know"
"Nobody ever cared whether learned
anything or not before" said Tom, with
some emotion.
"Well, care, said Miss Wescott, with
earnestness; you are capable of becom-
ing great and good man; you are now
forming your character for life, and it
depends upon yourselfwha you become
The poorest boy in the country has an
equal chance with the WeaItiliest. and
his circumstances are more favorable for
becoming eminent, for he learns to de.
pend upon himself. will assist you all
| can in your studies, Thomas, and I
know you will succeed; remember that
l am y99r friend and come to me in
Tom Jones had not been brought up:
he had come up, because he had been
born into the world and could not helm
it: but az for any mental or moral train.
ing, he was a. ignorant of it as 4 wild
bramble of . pruning knife. His father
was IN Incorporate, bad man. and his
mother totally inefficient woman. At
home he received nothing but blows.
and abroad nothing but abuse. His bad
passions were therefore an
excited and fostered, and bis good ones