Thomas County cat., 1890-01-16
THE GRAMMATICAL BOY.

THE GRAMMATICAL BOY.
BIN Nye Shows the Difference Between
the Old and the New Style.
Sometimes sad, homesick feeling comes
over me, when I compare the prevailing
style Of anecdote and school literature with
the old McGuffey brand, so well known thirty
years ago. Today our Juvenile literature, it
seems to me, is SO transparent, 50 easy to un-
derstand, that am not surprised to learn
that the rising generation shows signs of law
lsssuess
guage and large, luxuriant words that they
did when Mr.. McGuney used to stand around
and report their conversation for his justly
celebrated school reader. It is disagreeabls
to think Of, but it is none the less true, and
for one think we should face the facts
l ask the careful student of school literature
to compare the following selection, which /
have written myself with great care, and ar
ranged with -pecial reference to the matter
of choice and difficult words, with the fippant
and common place terms used in the average
school book Of today:
One day as George Pillgarlic was going to
his task, and while passing through the wood,
he spied a tall man approaching IN an oppo-
site direction along the highway.
"Ah!" thought George, in a low, mellow
tone of voice, whom have we heref"
GOOD morning, my fine fellow" exclaimed
the stranger, pleasantly. do you reside in
this localityr
"Indeed do" retorted George, cheerfully,
dofing hiscap. I'm yonder cottage, near the
glen, my widowed mother and her thirteen
children dwell with me-"
"And is your father deadr exclaimed the
man with a rising infection
Extremely so" murmured the lad, land
oh, sir, that is why my poor mother is a
widow"
"And how did your papa diea" asked the
man, he thoughtfully stood on the other
foot a while.
"Alas, SIR" said George, as a large, hot tear
stole down his pale cheek and fell with loud
report on the warty surface of his bare foot,
"he was lost at sea in bitter gale. The good
ship foundered two years ago last Christmas,
and father was foundered at the same time
No one knew of the loss of the ship and that
the crew was drowned until the next spring.
and then it was too late"
"And what is your age, my fine fellowF
Quoth the stranger
'If l live till next October" said the boy
in declamatorv tone of voice suitable for
a second reader, II will be 9 years of age"
sand who provides for your mother and
her large family of childrenr' queried the
man.
Indeed do, sir" replied George in a shrill
tone. II 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 | have to toll more as
siduouSly than heretofore"
"And by what means do you obtain live
ihood!" exclaimed the man, in slowly meas
ured and grammatical words.
'By digging wells. kind SIR" replied
George, picking up tired ant as he spoke
and stroking it Oh the back; II have a good
education, and so l am able to dig wells as
we'll as a man. do this day times and take
in washing at night. In this way am en-
abled barely to maintain our family in pre-
carious manner; but, oh, sir, should my other
sisters marry, fear that some of my brothers
in-law would have to suffer"
"And do you not fear the deadly fire
damp" asked the stranger in an earnest tone.
mot by damp sight," answered George,
with a low gurgling laugh, for he was great
wag.
"You are indeed brave lad" exclaimed
the stranger, as he repressed smile. And
do you not at times become very weary and
wish for other ways of passing your time!"
Indeed do, sir" said the lad 81 would
fain run and romp and be gay like other boys,
but must engage in constant manual eXer-
else or we will have no bread to eat, and l
have not seen pie since papa perished 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
a humid gravel" asked the stranger in pleas
ing tones.
"Ah, sir" exclaimed George, in a genteel
manner, again dofIing his cap, ~ am too
polite to tell you what would say, and be-
sides, sir, you are much larger than l am"
"But, my brave lad" said the man in low,
musical tones, "do you not know me, George!
Oh, Georger'
II must say" replied George, that you
have the advantage of me- Whilst l may
have met you before, cannot at this mo-
ment place you, Sir"
"My son! oh, my son!' murmured the man,
ut the same time taking large strawberry
mark out of his valise and showing 1t to the
lad. ''Do you not recognize your parent on
your fathers sidel When our good ship went |
to the bottom, all perished save me. | swan
severa! miles through the pillows, and at last, |
utterly exhausted, gave up all hope of life. |
Suddenly stepped on something hard. 1t
was the United States. Bill Nye in Detroit |
Free Press