The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-06-25
NYE's SCHOOL BOOK.

signs OF lawlessneSs.
Boys to-day do not use the respectful
language and large, luxuriant words
that they did when Mr.. McGuffy used
to stand around and report their con-
versations for his Justly celebrated
school reader. 1t is disagreeable to
think of, but it is none the less true, and
for one l think we should face the facts.
| ask the careful student of school
literature to compare the following Sc
lection, which | have written myself
with great care, and arranged with
special reference TO the matter of choice
and difficult words, with the hippant
and commonplace terms used in the
average school book of to-day.
TRUE MERIT REWARDED
One day rs George Oswald was 90
ing to his tasks, and while passing
through the wood he spied tall man
approaching in an opposite direction
along the highway.
"Ah!" thought George in low, mel
low tone of voice. ''whOm have we
herep"
"Good morning, my fine fellow" cx-
claimed the stranger, pleasantly. do
you reside in this locality?'
Indeed do" retorted George, cheer
ily, dropping his cap. 'In yonder cot
tage, near the glen, my widowed moth
er and her thirteen children dwell with
me-"
"And is your father dead?" exclaimed
the man, with a rising infection.
Extremely So" murmured the lad,
"and, oh, sir, that is why my poor
mother is widow"
"And how did your papa dieP" asked
the man, Us he thoughtfully stood on
the other foot awhile.
"Alas, sir" said George, Us q large,
hot tear stole down his pale cheek and
fell with loud report on the warty sur
face of his bare foot, she was lost at sea
in bitter gale. The good ship foun-
dered two years ago last Christmastide,
aSd father was foundered at the same
time No one knew of the koss of the
ship and that the crew were drowned
until the next spring, and it was then
too late"
''And what is your age, my fine fell
lowp" quoth the stranger.
IF live until next October" said
the boy, in Il declamatory tone of voice
SulIdUlc lOI IL OcCOul lbctttlcI, Will uC
seven years of age. y
"And who provides for your mother
and her large family of childrenP"
gueried the man.
"Indeed, do, SIR" replied George,
in n shrill tone. Il toll, oh, SO hard,
sir, for we are very, very poor, and since
my elder sister, Ann, was married and
brought her husband home to live with
us l have to toll more assiduously than
heretofore"
land by what means do you obtain a
LIVELIHOOD" exclaimed the man, in
slowly measured and grammatical
words.
''By digging wells, kind sir" replied
George, picking up tired ant as he
spoke and stroking it on the back. IL
have u good education, and SO | am en-
abled to dig wells as well as man.
do this daytimes and take in washing at
night In this way am enabled to
barely maintain our family in a preca-
rious manner; but, oh, sir, should my
other sisters marry, fear that some of
my brothers-in-law would have to suf-
fer"
land do you not fear the deadly fire
Damp" asked the stranger in an earn
est tone.
mot by damp sight" answered
George, with low gurgling laugh, for
he was u great wag.
"You are indeed Il brave laG," ex-
claimed the stranger, as he repressed a
smile. "And do you not at times be-
come very weary and wish for other
WAYS of passing your timer"
''Indeed do, SIR" said the lad. 81
would fain run and romp and be gay
like other boys, but must engage in
constant manual exercise, or we will
have no bread to eat, and l have not
seen pie since papa persisted in the
moist and moaning sea-"
'And what if were to tell you that
your papa did not perish at sea, but
was saved from n hurried graveP" asked
the stranger in pleasing tones.
"Ah, sir" exclaimed George, in
genteel manner, again dofling his cap,
II am too polite to tell you what
would say, and beside, sir, you are
much larger than | am"
"But, my brave lad" said the man in
low musical tones, do you not know
me, George Oh, George!''
II must say" replied George, ''that
you have the advantage of me. Whilst
/ may have met you before, cannot at
this moment place you, sir"
"My son! oh, my son!' murmured
the man, at the same time taking a
large strawberry mark out of his valise
and showing it to the lad. ':Do you not
recognize your parent on your fathers
sidep When our good ship went to the
bottom, all persisted save me- l swan
several miles through the pillows, and
at last, utterly exhausted, gave up all
hope of life. Suddenly n bright idea
came to me and walked out of the sea
and rested myself.
"And now my brave boy" exclaimed
the man with great glee, ''see what 1
have brought for YOU" II was but the
work of u moment to unclasp from q
shawl strap, which he held in his hand,
and presented to Georges astonished
gaze, large forty-cent watermelon,