The herald., 1895-05-14


enco inflicted singularly flamboyant
namo upon modest and unoifcndng
youth in Ohio even at Paddy's Run. The
first thing knew after it became evident
to me that was living in tho country was
that n boy ought to know how to loayn
his lessons we'll" My mother not only
insisted that children should be educated;
she took it into her head and heart about
as soon as l could stand with my chin
over her knoo that sho would SEQ ut how
early period in Il young mans life hc
could bo taught to renI If he had q sym
pathetic teacher and many lessons in
day Sho did not wait when sho resolved
to make this experiment for toy alphabet
or oven spelling book. Tho Hamilton
Telegraph caino weekly, frcighted with
what tho people thought was tho news.
presume it was, but it was n different
thing from what thcy call news nowadays,
and tho head Of the sheet was in fine,
largo, plain Roman letters. My training
began on that head. This is all hcarsay to
mo- for when 1 can remember anything
about reading l could read rather better
than l cnn now.-that is, with moro facil-
ity. But l contend that l did not get quito
as much out Of tho words then as l DO
now, Whatever progress l mado in the
first lessons, my mother was encouraged.
Tho young man know tho alphabet right
away, found all about tho Hamilton Toiu-
graph, SO far as it contained largo capital
letters then got 'onto" littlo combina-
tions of letters and began to pronounce
them. The secret of my education was
kept by my mother and my aunt for somo
timo, and then was gradually broken to
my father and grandfather, but they did
not think it was IL good thing, said tho in
FAINT phenomenon would surely weary of
tho task, and then would bo stupid for
years, if not forever. But dear mother,
whose faith and hope and lovo and charity
and devotion wcrc nbuunding, said tho
pupil did not get tired. 1t was just his
play" and hu wanted to say about 20
lessons day for the fun thorc was in find
ing out things" That is tho way it hap
pcned that | could read when Il baby, and
why tho ncighhorhood was ransaakcd for
books when l was mature youth of 10,
with grand passion for ancient L!-tury.
The first day attended school there
was IL scene. / was under years old and
had third reader under my arm 1t WAS
the iirst day CT tho term ANA thu teacher
was an Intelligent young man, with IA
slight Welsh accent. Heading was lny
specially, but knew nothing about it any
more than II young squirrel knows Of bark
ing, or IL young rooster vi cr5"ins L bad
not been taught vanity, and IL did not o.
cur to mo that all tho boys and girls
couln Z read did not know but all thu
mothers Administered tho Hamilton Teiu-
graph and played school with their iitilu
boys, and had great fun in reading to
them aud hearing them read. found out
tho first day at school that somo Of tho
boys larger than l could not read and was
nsionishcd rnu t1;aAar Of tho school,
duly and dutifaiiy styled Tho master,
inspected the cqnipmcnto of the scholars
buys ana girls about 40 i'll number,
few more girls than boys. WAS sitting
un IA bcnc. whose legs Wuru longer than
mino, when tho master sl,iud my big
book" and ho ordered mo up, us it We're,
and obcyru without the least onibarrass
mont IL was carry in the day, and had
not asccrtnincd that there was any way of
administering lessons save with kindness.
| had no misgivings whatever My pri-
vato understanding With my mother was
that it was high time | should study
grammar, but / had not any misgiving at
ull what grammar incaht. ~ lilciong sor-
row was just lurking on my path, and
mothcr's sweet cu.lidcnce was that
would become an accomplished ETaNllna-
rian rs rcallily as l hau become Il facilu
reader.
What book is thatg' said tho master
as | noproachcd in chubby confluence. 1t
is my reading book" l answered. Tho
look | got ut tho moment was one of
doubt, and il hurt II little. Tho teacher
upcned the book and glanced at it, saying,
DO YOU read tnis." Yes, sir - Let
mo hear you rc;Iu that, " whirlny over tho
leaves and pointing to IL lesson that began
about half way down tho right hand page
| am sorry not to remember what it was
that tho lesson contained, IL fact that goes
to show was not we'll grounded III this
subject matter, but l know that it started
half way down tho right hand page. |
began to read. There was no trouble
about it. Tho words ull told mo just what
they were and had only to rccitc them.
l was 4-y car old photograph. Tho teach
er stared, and tho scholars stared, and l
read right on. There was nothing tho
mutter with mo. nothing unusual happen
ing, savo the fact that was at school and
called up to read n lesson-somothing l
was In the habit Of doing. But tho teacher
said Stop" lie added. Como here, chill
drcn. Iwant you all to hear this little
hoy rrn1 and I wnnt YOU TO take pattern