News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-01-30
THE GRANT NAUTICAL BOY.
Bill Nye Draws a Lesson from the

School Reader
Sometimes a sad, homesick feeling
comes over me, when l compare the
prevailing style of anecdote and
school literature with the old Nc
Guffey brand, so well-known thirty
years ago. To-day our juvenile liter
allure, it seems to me, is so transpar-
ent, so easy to understand, that | am
not surprised to learn that the rising
generation shows signs of lawnesness.
Boys to-day do not use the respect
full language and large, luxuriant
words that they did when Mr. Nc
Gutfey used to stand around and re-
| port their conversation for his Justly
celebrated school reader. 1t is disa-
greeable to think of. but it is none the
less true, and for one | think we
should face the facts.
ask the careful student of school
literature to compare the following
selection. which have written myself
with great care, and arranged with
| special re .erence to the matter of
choice and difficult words, with the
hlppant and commonplace terms used
In the average school book of to-day:
One day as George Pillgarlic was go
ing to his tasks, and while passing
through the wood, he spied tall man
approaching in an opposite direction
along the highway.
"Ahn' thought George, in a very
| low, mellow tone of voice, whom have
We here?"
Good morning, my fine fellow"
exclaimed the stranger, pleasantly.
''Do you reside in this locality?n
''IndeedI do, "retorted George, cheer
fully, doffing his cap. I'm yonder cot
tage, near the glen, my widowed moth
err and her thirteen children dwell with
me-"
'And is your father dead?" ex-
claimed the man, with rising infec-
ton.
Extremely so,'' murmured the lad,
land oh, sir, that is why my poor
mother is a widow"
''And how did your papa die?" asked
the man, as he thoughtfully stood on
the other foot a while.
.'Alds, 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, she
was lost at sea in bitter gale. The
good ship foundered two years ago
ed 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"
'tAnd what is your age, my fine fell.
low?" quoth the stranger
IF live till next October" said the
boy in declamatory tone of voice
suitable for a Second Reader, 81 will
be 9 years of age"
'And who provides for your mother
and her large family of children?"
queried the man.
Indeed I do, sir" renlied George
in shrill tone. II toll, oh, so hard,
sir, for we are very, very poor, and
since my elder sister, Ann, was mar
ried and brought her husband home to
live with US, have to toll more assid-
uously than heretofore"
"And by what means do YOU obtain
ivelihoodp' exclaimed the man. in
slowly measured and grammatical
words.
by digging wells, kind SIR" re-
piled George, picking up a tired and
as he spoke and stroking it on the
back; II have a good education, and
so am able to dig wells as well as
man. l do this day-times and take in
washing at night. In this way / am
enabled barely to maintain our family
in a precarious 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 IA damp sight, answered
George, with a low gurgling laugh,
for he was a great wag.
You are indeed a brave lad, - ex-
claimed the stranger, as he repressed
a 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 II
would fain run and romp and be gay
like other boys, but / must engage in
constant manual exercise or we would
have no bread to eat, and have not
seen pie since papa persisted in the
moist and moaning sea-
''And what if l were to tell you that
your papa did not perish at sea, but
was saved from humid grave?' ask
ed the stranger in pleasing tones.
''Ah, SIR" exclaimed George, in a
genteel manner, again doffing his cap,
Il am too polite to tell you what |
would say. and besides. sir you are
much larger than l am"
:But, my brave lad" said the man
in low, musical tones, do you not
know me, Georgia? Oh, Georgem
Il must say" replied George, that
you have the advantage of me. Whilst |
L may have met you before. L cannot
at this moment place you. sir'
MY son! oh, my SOM" 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 side? When our good ship
went to the bottom, all persisted save |
me. l swan several miles through
the pillows. aud at last utterly ex-
hausted. gave up all hope of life.
Suddenly stepped on something hard.
It was the United States" BILL NYE.