The Portland daily press., 1891-08-27
OUR BOYS.
Apron-strings.

lawn A@u1 POI AoubS L OoptCsI
81 promised my mother / would be home
at six o'clock"
"But what harm will an hour more do?"
SIT will make my mother worry. and /
shall break my word"
Before I'D be tied to woman's apron
strings"
my mother doesn't wear aprons" said
the first speaker, with laugh. Except in
the kitchen sometimes, and don't know as
/ ever noticed any strings"
you know what mean. Can't you stay
and see the game finished.
81 could stay, but will not. made
promise to my mother, aud am going to
keep it,"
"Good boy" said hoarse voice just back
of the two boas.
They turned to see an old man poorly clad
and very feeble.
abraham Lincoln once told young
man" the stranger resumed, ITO cut the ae-
quaintance of every person who talked
slightingly of his mothers apron-strings, and
it is very safe thing to do. as know from
experience. 1t was just such talk that
ashamed not to do as other boys did, and
when they made fun of mother laughed
tOo-Go forgive mel There came time
when 1t was too late"-and now there were
tears in the old eyes-"when would gladly
have been made prisoner, tied by these
same apron-strings, ia a dark room with
bread and water for my fare. Always keep
| your engagement with your mother. Never
disappoint her If yon can possibly help 1t,
and when advised to cut loose from her
| apron-strings, cut the adviser, and take
tighter clutch of the apron strings This
| will bring joy and long life to your mother,
| the best friend you have in the world, and
will insure you noble future, Tor IL Is I'M
possible for good son to be bad man.
1t was an excellent sign that both boys
listened attentively, and both said !" Thank
you at the conclusion OF the strangers
lecture, and they left the backgrounds to-
gether. silent and thoughtful At last the
apron strings critic remarked, with deep
drawn sigh.
THAT old man has made me goose flesh
all over"
"Ob, Dick" said his companion. ".just
think what lovely mothers we have both
ayes and if anything were to happen to
them, and we hadn't done right You'll
never hear apron strings out OF my mouth
again"
Books Children Read In the Seventh
Century.
As might be supposed. the earliest book
that Is assigned to the child is the Latin
grammar. Boys Latin grammars for several
centuries were meretext books compiled from
the larger works of Donatus and Priscian.
and they were commonly known by the name
of donates" or "Donets," term which oc-
ours in "Piers Plowman." The word gram
mar. on the contrary, was used more in con-
nection with Latin studies generally, and
science, as well as even magical power, was
sometimes spoken OF as grammarye. Avery
commonly used school book In m0nasteries
seems to have been the "C0ns0lations OF Phi
losophy" Gin the original, Of coursel, by Boe-
THUS, Of which at least a fragment would
most probably be found even in the most
meagre convent library"
The earliest book in existence witt en- ex-
pressy for boys is here stated to be Aid
helms "De Septenario, de Metris, Enigrnat-
lbus, &C Pedum Regulis," which probably APP
peared about the end OF the seventeenth GEN.
fury. great part of II consists of dialogues
between teacher and pupil, in the style which
was still popular In the first half of the pres
ent century, and may be found in snch works
as Mrs. Markhsm's History. The Venerable
Bede is also claimed as writer for the
young. A lesson book fer children is attrib-
nted to Alcuin, and 1t contains questions on
arithmetic which are said to be found even
in some current school books. Here is a
specimen of them: IAN old man met child.
Good day, my sop,' says he; may you live
as long as you have lived, and as much more,
and thrice as nue. as all this, and IL God
gives you one year In addition to the others
you will be Just century DID, What was
the lads age?" e. 3.
The first book given to his people In EGG
llSn Dy AHIeu Tue Great was the ARRAY
mentioned "Consoistions of Philosophy" to
which he added "The Universal History of
Oreosius," a very favorte book in monastery
schools. In the tenth century, Elfric, ''the
grammarap," wrote ''Colloquy," intended
as a reading book to help boys TO speak Latin.
1t consists Of conversations about everyday
life. In one place boy is made to say that
he is too young to eat meat but that he was
not too young to drink beer, as he says that
he drinks ale, ''if he can get it." In the same
century appeared book ON astronomy for
for children, as well as a map, now preserved
In the British Museum, 'less incorrect and
having fewer fabulous countries than some
made later"