The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-15

Bill Nye Draws a Lesson from tho
School Reader.

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. 1t seems TO me. Is so sranspar~
emit SO easy TO understand, that am
not surprised To learn that the rising
generation shows signs OF lawnesness.
Boys today do not nse the respect
full language and large, luxuriant
words that they did when Mr. Nc
Guffey used 10 stand around and re-
port their conversation for his justly
celebrated school reader IL Is disa-
greeable 10 think OF. but IL Is none tho
less true. and for one l think We
should face the facts
ask the careful student OF school
literature 10 compare the following
selection. which l have written myself
with great care, and arranged with
special re .erence 10 the matter OF
choice and difficult words. with tho
hippant and commonplace terms used
la the average school book OF to-day:
One day as George Pillgarlic was 90
Ing 70 his tasks, and while passing
through the wood. he spied a tall man
approaching In an opposite direction
along the highway.
''Ahr' thought George. In very
low, mellow tone OF voice. whom have
we hereP"
Good morning, my fine fellow"
exclaimed the stranger. pleasantly.
do you reside In this localityP"
'Indeed do, "retorted George. cheer
fully, dofiing his cap. I'm yonder cot
tagc, near the glen. my widowed moth
err and her thirteen children dwell with
me-
..And Is your father deadP" ex-
claimed the man. with rising inflec-
ton.
Extremely sou murmured the lad,
''and oh, sir. that is why my poor
mother Is n widow
'And how did your papa de?" asked
the man, AS he thoughtfully stood on
the other foot while.
ALAS, sir" said George, rs
large, hot tear stole down his pulo
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 founder
ed Mt the same time. No one knew Of
the loss OF the ship and that the crew
was drowned until the next spring,
and then IL was too late"
'And what Is your age. my fine fol.
lowp quoth the stranger.
III live till next October said tho
boy In declamatory tone OF voice
suitable for Second Reader. IL will
be years OF age"
'And who provides for your mother
and her large family OF children?"
queried the man.
'Indeed do. sir" replied 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
livelihoodg' exclaimed the man, I'm
slowly measured and grammatical
words
by digging wells. kind SIR" re-
piled George, picking up tired and
rs he spoke and strosing IL on tho
back; II have good education. and
so am able 10 dig wells as well as a
man. i do this day-times and take In
washing mt night In this way | am
enabled barely 10 maintain our family.
in precarious manner; but oh. sir.
should my other sisters marry. fear
that some OF my brothers-in-law would
have 20 suffer"
"And do you not fear the deadly
ire-dampP" asked the stranger In an
earnest tone.
Not by damp sight answered
George with low gurgling laugh,
for he was great wag.
"You are indeed brave lad" OK
claimed the stranger as no repressed
n smile. "And do you not at times
become very weary and wish for other
ways OF passing your time?n
Indeed do. SIR" said the lad II
would faln run and romp and be gay
! like other boys. but | must engage In
constant manual exercise or we would
have no bread 10 eat and have not
seen n pie since papa persisted ia tho
moist and moaning sea. -
'And what IL | were TO toll you that
your papa did not perish Mt sea but
was saved from n humid gravoPn ask
ed the stranger In pleasing tones.
"Ah. sir exclaimed George. In n
| genteel manner. again dotflng his cap.
Il am too polite To tell you what 1
would say. and besides. sir. you are
much larger than | am"
"But my brave lad, said the man
IN low, musical tones. do you not
know me. GeorgieP Oh. Georgolr
IL must say" replied George. that
you have the advantage OF me. Whilst
i may have met you before, I cannot
nj this moment place you. sir"
my son! oh, my SOM murmurcd
the man, nj the same time taking n