Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-30
THE GRAMMATICAL BOY.
Rili Nye Draws a Lesson from the
School Reader.


prevailing style OF anecdote and
school literature with the old Me-
Guifey brand. SO wel-known thirty
years ago. To-day our juvenile liter.
allure, 1t seem, To me. is so transpar-
ent, 80 easy TO underst nd, that | am
not surprised to learn that the rising
generation shows signs of lawnesness.
Boys to-day do not use the respect
full nguage and large. luxuriant
words that they did when Mr.. Nc
Guffey 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
j ask the careful student OF school
liter ture TO compare the following
selection. which have written myself
with great care, and arranged with
special re erehce To the matter of
choice and difficult words, with the
hippant Ind commonplace terms used
in the average school BOOK of to-day:
One day US George Pillgarlic was go
ing to his tasks, and while passing
through the wood, he spied IA tall man
approaching in an opposite direction
along the highway.
"Ahr thought George, in very
low. mellow tone OF voice, whom have
we here?"
Good morning. my fine fellow. ]"
exclaimed the stranger, pleasantly.
''Do you reside in this localityp"
"lndeed do. "retorted George. cheer
fully, do,ting his cap I'm yondcr cot
tage, near the glen, my widowed moth
err and her thirteen children dwell with
me-"
: And is your father dcad?" ex-
claimed the man, with a rising inAec-
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. ns he thought ully stood Oh
the other foot "a while.
"Alds sir said George, as a
large, hot tear stole down his p 10
cheek aud fell with loud report on
the warty surface of his bare foot, "he
was lost at sea in u bitter gale. The
good ship foundered two years 20
ed at the same time. No one knew Of
the loss OF the ship and that the crew
was drowned until the next spring,
aud then it was too late"
"And what is your age. my fine fell.
lowg quoth the stranger.
If l live till next October" said the
boy In decamatory tone OF voice
suitable for Second Reader, 81 win
be 9 years Of age"
'And who provides for your mother
and her large family OF children?''
queried the man.
Indeed | do. sir;" replied George
in a shrill tone. IL toll, oh, so hard,
sir. tor 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 obt in
u livelihood?" exclaimed the man, in
slowly measured and grammatical
words.
"By digging wells. kind SIR" re-
piled George, picking up IA tired and
rs he spoke and stroking it on the
back; IL have good education. and
so am able TO dig wells as we'll as a
man. do this day-times and take in
washing ut night In this way | am
enabled barely to maintain our family
in Il 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 II damp sight" answered
George. with low gurgling laugh,
for he was great way.
"You are indeed "a brave lad" ex-
claimed the stranger, as he repressed
n smile. "And DO you not AZ times
become very weary and wish for other
ways OF passing your timer"
"lndeed | do. SIR" said the lad ~
would fain run and ro,np AMI be gay
like other boys. but | must engage in
constant IN tnuIl exercise or we would
h We no bread TO eat and have not
seen pie since papa persisted in the
moist aud mo ming sea-"
"And what if were to tell yor that
your papa did not perish at sea. but
W s saved from humid grave?" ask
ed the stran ger in pleasing tones.
"Ah, SIR" exclaimed George, in a
genteel IN inner. again dO.fin his cap,
Il am too polite to tell you what
would say. and besides. sir. you are
much larger than | am"
"But, my brave lal," said the man
In low. musical tones. do you no,
, know me. Georgia? Oh, George!"
Il must say" replied George. "that
you have the advantage OF me. Whilst
may have met you before, I canno,
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 lis
valise and showing it to the lad. "Do
you not recognize your parent on your
fathers side? When our good shir
vert TO the bottom. all persisted save
, me. swan several miles through
the pillows, aud at last. utterly OK.
, hausted. gave up all hope OF life.
Suddenly stepped on something hard.
, 1t was the United States" BILL NYE.
Poets Idea OF Labor.
The French Academy gives prize