The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-05-23
NYE's SCHOOL BOOK.

/ literature with the old McGuffy brand,
80 well known, thirty years ago. To.
day our juvenile literature, it seems to
4 me, is so transparent and SO easy to un.
| derstand that | am not surprised Ia
learn that the rising generation shows
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 think we should face the facts.
ask the careful student of school
literature to compare the following se-
lection, which 1 have written myself
with great care, and arranged with
special reference to the matter Of choice
and difficult words. with the ilippant
and commonplace terms used in the
average school book of to-day. !,
TRUE MERIT REWARDED.
sOne day as George Oswald was go
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 de-" retorted George, cheer
lily, dropping his cap. sin yonder cot
tage. near the glen, my widowed moth
er and her thirteen children dwell with
me-"
"And is your father deada" exclaimed
the man, with rising infection.
Extremely So" murmured the lad,
''and, oh, sir, that is why my poor
mother is widow
"And how did your papa die?" asked
the man. as he thoughtfully stood on
the other foot awhile.
"Alas, sir.'' said George, as a large,
hot tear stole down his pale cheek anu
fell with loud report on the warty sur
face of his bare foot, che was lost at sea
in a bitter gale. The good ship foun-
dcred two years ago last Chrstmastide,
and father was foundcred at the same
time. No one knew of the loss 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 fel-
low?" quoth the stranger.
IF live until next October" said
the boy, in deramutory tone of voice
suitable for Second Reader, II will be
seven years of age"
"And who provides for your mother
and her large family Of children?"
queried the man.
''lndeed, do, sir, replied George,
in shrill tone. II toll, oh, 30 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 assiduously than
heretofore"
And 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. 81
have a good education, and 80 am en-,
| abled to dig wells as well as man,
night. In this way l am enabled to
barely maintain our family in a preoa-
rious manner; but, oh, sir, should my
other sisters marry, fear that some OF
my brothcrs-in-law would have to suf.
fer
''And DO you not fear the deadly fire.
damp?' asked the stranger in an earn
est tone.
Not BY q damp sight answered
George. with low gurgling laugh, for
he was Il 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 timc?"
''Jndeed l do. sir said the lad. Il
would fain run and romp and be gay
like other boys. but must cngag. ii
constant manual exercise, or we will
have no bread TO cat, 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 4 hurried grave?' asked
the stranger in pleasing tones.
''Ah, sir exclaimed George, in Il
gcntecl manner, again doifing his cap.
Il am too polite TO tell you what
would say, and beside, sir, you are
much larger than l am" ;"
''But, my brave iad." said the man in
low musical tones, do you not know
me- George. Oh, Gcorgcr'
Il must say" replied George, "that
sou have the advantage of me. Whilst
may have met you before. cannot a,
This moment place you, Sir"
MY son! oh, my son!' murmured
The man, at the same time taking
ixrgc 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
several miles through the billows, and
at last, utterly exhausted, gave up all
hope of life. Suddenly bright idea
came to me and walked out Of the sea
and rested myself
"And now my brave boy" exclaimed
the man with great glec. "sec what
have brought for YOU 1t was but the
work of a moment to unclasp from a
shawl strap, which he held in his hand,
and presented to Georges astonishcd
gaze. a large forty-cent watcrme on.
which he had brought with him from
the Orient.
,"Ah," said George. '.this is indeed a
glad surprise. Albeit, how can l ever
repay you?n-BW Nye, IN Boston Globe.
SOMERS-To the wife of H. W. somers on Sat.