The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-09


most intelligent comment from a western
school teacher, who has been teaching
boys tor twenty years. He says that his
so-called bad boys almost invariably
turned out to be his best boys, best
scholars, and best men, and he never
punished one with the rod His illustra-
tions are very apt. entertaining and in
structlve, fer he is no ordinary teacher,
bat is highly cultured gentleman, and
writes beautiful letter. His letter con-
tanned several pages and was eagerly
persGed. He says l am believer in the
rod, but it has been my lot to have TO
use II mostly, but lightly on mammals
pets-the good boys who never did any
thing wrong. He docs not believe IN
moral turpitUde or total depravity, but
that all natural instincts are good, and
that evil is only an abuse or misuse Of
the GOOD, and he has never seen a human
beir9 who would not at times perform
some kind office fer another, never eX-
pectinG a reward. Once upon a time, the
story goes, little girl was watching a
sculptor as he put the finishing touches
Upon an angel that he had chiselcd from
a block of marble, and she exclaimed:
oh what a beautiful angel you have
made! No" said the sculptor, the
angel was already in the marble. | have
only Clipped away the rough stone that
hid it,
So it Is with every man-there is an
angel there, though too often hidden by
the stony covering. The skilful sculptor
could find it,
This reminds me of an incident that
happened many years ago in Rome while
I lived there. 1t was on Sunday while
great freshet was inundating a portionr
of the town. poor boy, the son of IL
widow, had rowed his little boat out i'll
an eddy TO catch some wood that was
floating down. by some mischance MS
boat was caught by the current and, he
was carried rapidly down the stream.
His mother had seen it all and ran down
the bank screaming for help. Many peo-
pie ran along with her. but could do moth
ing. 1t was near quarter of a mile to
The junction where scores of men and
boys We're wato hing the surging waters.
AS the little boat ncared the bridge pillar
it capsized and the boy disappeared with
the boat. In an instant it came to the
surface again and the boy was seen cling
ing to the chain at it's end. Save that
boy. somebody" said one. "Il give 50
10 save that boy said another. 'I'N give
$40" I'll give $40 said another, but
nobody dared TO venture. The mother
cried in agony. Went somebody save
my boy" Just then a young man was
seen rushing wildly down, throwing off
I his coat and shoes as he came and part
Ing the crowd, he ran down into the va
ter and struck boldly out for the boy. He
got him, and clasping one arm around
his waist swan with the other and laid
him at his mothers feet. lie was limp
and speechless, but alive. Putting on his
shoes and coat the young man walked
quickly away. But he was known to most
of those present. He was barkeeper
and his moral standing was not good,
for he was profane in speech and his
assooiat were the sports and drinking
men of the town. He was under the ban,
but there was an angel in him some
where. He knew the poor widow and
Re knew the boy-and ne scorned to ac-
cept any reward. l have often rumi-
mated over that heroic deed and Won
dered.
My scool teacher friend says that the
one is that the stone is harder to chip
from the former. but gives a finer and
more durable polish when the rough out
side is chiseled away, but the good boys
angel is found in chalk. and soon cruEl-
bles or decays.
Tie tells of Bob, the worst boy ever
taught 1t was far out in western Texas,
and when the school was made UP it was
have fight in less than week. He
was fully appraised that Bob was wicked
and cursed like a sailor and would fight
at The drop OF a hat and drop it himself.
Bob's father was dead and his mother an
invalid and very poor, but Bob loved her
and was kind and good to her and cooked
the breakfast before he went to school,
which was miles away. He always nuT-
ricd homo after school to chop the wood
and bring water and help her with the
supper. The teachers punishment OF his
pupils, when ii had to be given was
keeping them after school and requiring
them to get their lessons. Bob very re
speetfIlly asked TO be allowed TO go
home to wait upon his mother. He be-
haved very well for a week, but his bad
day came and he did not study at ali. He
teacher told him mildly but firmly that
he must stay in until he got his lesson.
lie gave look OF defiance and shut Up
his book My friend says: 1T was one
of the trials of my life I pretended TO
be reading a book, but was only think
ing. In half an hour Bob opened his
book, but saw tears in his eyes. After
while he said, Il can't study now
Please, sir let me go home. It's get
ting dark and mother will be scared.
She's all alone and sick. Please, sir, |
will get this lesson tomorrow and l
won't be bad any more. Well, l was
Just overcome. and 1 took him in my
arms and We wept together. Never did
Bob give me any more trouble and all the
neighLors wondered. / verify believe
that If l had whipped him he would
have been ruined by it, After his moth
er's death he enlisted in the army and
won his straps, and he writes me occa-
sionaily. and always thanks me for the
Kindness 7 chowed him at school, -