The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-07-17
IHs GRAMMATICAL BOY.


Riii Nye shows tho Difference Between ,
the Old and tho New style.
Sometimes sad, homesick feeling comes
over me, when ! compare the prevailing F,
style of anecdote and school literature with
the old McGufey brand, SO well known thirty ,
years ago. Today our Juvenile literature, it
seems to me, is 80 transparent, so easy to un-
derstand, that am not surprised to learn
that the rising generation shows signs Of law
lessness
Boys today do not use the respectful lam
guage and large, lnxuriant words that they
did when Mr.. McGuifey used TO stand around
and report their conversation for his justly
celebrated school reader. II is disagreeahle
to think Of, but 1t is none the less true, aud
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 ar
ranged with special reference 10 the matter
Of choice and difficult words, with the fiippant
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 tall man approaching in an oppo-
site direction along the highway.
"Ahlr thought George, in low, mellow
( tone Of voice, "wnom have we herer
"Good morning, my fine fellow" exclaimed
the stranger, pleasantly. DO you reside in
| this localityf
"Indeed do.r retorted George, cheerfully,
4 dofting hiscap. "ln yonder cottage, near the
4 glen, my widowed mother and her thirteen
( children dwell with me-"
.'And is your father deadfn exclaimed the
man with rising infection.
Extremely So" murmured the lad, land
oh, sir, that is why my poor mother is a
widow"
"And how did your papa der asked the
man, as he tboughtfully stood on the other
foot while.
"Alas, sir" said George, as large, hot tear
stole down his pale cheek and fell with a 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 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 1t was too late,
'.And what is your age, my fine fellowF
auoth the stranger.
III live till next October said the boy
In a declamatory tone Of voice suitable for
a second reader, n will be years Of age"
"And who provides for your mother and
her large family Of childrenF" queried the
. man.
Indeed do, sir,r replied George In ashrill
I, tone. ~ 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
!. lhoodF exclaimed the man, in slowly meas
ured and grammatical words.
: "By digging wells, kind SIR replied
: George, picking up u tired ant as he SPOKE
Z and stroking it Oh the back, Il have goot
education, and 80 am able to dig wells Al
: well as man. | do this day times and TAX
in washing at night. In this way am en-
abled barely to maintain our family In pre-
. carious manner; but, oh, sir, should my othe
4 sisters marry, fear that someof my brothers
Z in-law would have TO suffer"
: !, "And do you not fear the deadly fir
dampr' asked the stranger in an earnest tone
!, mot by damp sight" answered George
!, with low gurgling laugh, for be was grea
i wag.
"You are indeed brave lad" exclaime'
!, the stranger, as he repressed smile. "Ant
= do you not at times become very weary an
i wib for other ways Of passing your timer
!. Indeed do sir" said tie lad II woul
= fain run and roup and be gay like other boys
= but must engage in constant manual exer
= else or we will have no bread 10 eat, and
n have not seen pie since papa persisted in th
moist aud moaning sea.
"And what II ! we're to tell you that you
papa did not PEI, at sea, but was saved fror
If a humid gravel asked the stranger in pleas
le Ing tones
t "Ah, sir" exclaimed George, In q gentet
~ manner, again doiling his cap. II am to
- polite TO tell you what would say, aud be
i sides, sir you are much larger than am."
n "But, my brave lad" said the man in low
a musical tones do you not know me, George
d Oh, George~
II II must say" replied George, shat yo
d have the advantage Of me- Whilst | ma
~ have met you before. cannot at this me
a ment place you, sir.
g "My sonl oh, my sonm mmmured the mar
is at the same time taking large strawberr
At mark out Of bis valiSe and showing it to til
ie lad "Do you not recognize your parent Q
10 your fathers sidcl When our good ship wen
e, to the bottom, all perished save me- swan
10 several miles through the pillows, and at las
a utterly exhausted, gave up all hope Of lif'
m Suddenly stepped on something hard.
was the United States n--BIll Nye In Detro