The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-17

in a peculiar but by no means lowly
niche of its own in English literature.
Mrs. Merton, who, attracted by the
shrieks of the maid. had come charging
at the head of battalion of servants to
the rescue of her darling, was properly
hysterical and properly grateful to the
young hero who had rescued her boy.
Harry was taken to the house and made
much of as young hero-which sur
prised him. Word was sent to Farmer
Sanford of the whereabouts of his son
and the boy was kept to dinner, at which
he was as much surprised and puzzled at
the things he saw as he had been at be-
ing made a hero for doing a very ordi-
nary act. Observing that Harry gazed
with interest upon a silver cup out of
which Tommy was drinking, Mrs. Merton
said to her sons 'preserver': Would
you not like to have that fine cup to
drink out Of? 1 am sure Tommy will
give 1t to you" Yes, that I will,' said
Tommy. But Harry replied: Thank you,
with all my heart, but I will not de-
prive you of it, for I have a much finer
one at home" 'How7" exclaimed Mrs.
Merton. Does your father eat and drink
out of silver? " II do not know. madam,
how you call this" said Harry, 'but at
home we drink out of long things made
Of horns such as the cattle wear on
their heads" 1.-THE child is a simp1eton!"
cried Mrs. Merton why are they bet
ter than theseT Because" said Har-
ry, they never make us uneasy" I'm
easyl" exclaimed the lady. Yes, madam,
for I noticed just now that when that
man let fall something made out of the
same stuff as that cup you were ready
to drop and reproved him sharply" 1t
was fact that during the dinner a serv-
ing man had let fail a large piece of
plate and Mrs. Merton had rated him
soundly.
When Harry had returned to his ia
theirs farm Mrs. Merton declared that
he was the most curious child she had
ever seen, while Mr.. Merton thought he
saw a means. through the farmers lad,
of putting into execution some of his
plans for the reformation of Tommys
system of education. The clergyman of
the parish was Mr.. Barlow, a man of
well-balanced mind, learned but not Pc
dantic, and admirably fitted for the edu-
cation of youth. 1t was he who had in
structed young Sanford in the elements
Of learning and had guided his mind into
those channels in which 1t had so de-
veloped as to cause Mr.. Merton to say
after the departure of Harry, in reply
to remark of his wife. that there was
"a great difference between the son of
farmer and the son Of a gentleman:
that he, in this instance doubted If the
difference was in favor of the latter. So.
finally, 1t was arranged, In spite of the
lamentations and protestations of Mrs.
Merton, that Harry and Tommy should
go to live with Mr.. Barlow as his pu-
pills. Mr.. Merton had some difficulty in
getting Farmer Sandford's consent to this
plan, but got 1t when he frankly ex-
planned to him why he wanted his son
to have the companionship of Harry and
the instruction and influence of Mr.. Bar
low constantly with him. Mr.. Merton
was a sensible man, though a rich one.
and his sentiments with regard to life
can be seen from the following discourse
which he delivered to his wife upon the
occasion of young Tommys departure:
Nothing can be more easily acquired
than those external manners and that
superficial address upon which too many
of the higher classes pride themselves as
thelr greatest or even as their only ac-
complishment Nay, so easily are they
picked up that we often see them descend
with the cast-off clothes to maids and
Wallets, between whom and their masters
and mistresses there is frequently little
other difference than what results from
the former wearing soiled clothes and
heaithler countenances. Indeed, the real
seat Of all superiority of manners must
be placed In the mind; dignified senti-
ments. superior courage, accompanied
with genuine and universal courtesy. are
always necessary to constitute the real
gentleman. Where these are wanting It
is an absurdity to think they can be sup
Piled by an affected tone of voice. par
ticular grimaces or extravagant and IN
natural modes of dress, which, far from
being the real test of gentility, have In
general no other origin than the caprices
OF BARRIERS, tailors, actors, opera dancers.
milliners. hddlers and French servants"
The education of Tommy and Harry I'M
der the roof and the guidance of the good
rector proceeded as might have been ex-
pected. Tommy, seeing that he was far
behind his friend in learning, struggled
earnestly to catch up with him. Harry's
sentiments with regard to life were a
stimulus to him and he soon forgot that
he was "a gentleman" and became only
healthy boy, fond of out-o-door work,
considerable of all with whom he was
brought into contact, kind to dumb beasts,
thoughtful, .studious, respectful and
manly.
This Transformation was not effected in
a day or a week. 1t took a long, long
time to transform the petted and spoiled
child into a strong-hearted and manly
boy. Many a time did the effect of
the old training come over him and in
cline him to revolt against the influences
which surrounded him. Many time did
his experience of the actualities Of life
get him into trouble, even when he was
trying his best, as he thought, to carry
out the precepts of Mr.. Barlow and fol-
low the example of Harry. But he was
assisted by the natural good nature, the
natural common sense and the natural
desire for the good which had been born
in him and which even the mistakes of
his early bringing up had not entirely
eradicated. He had been caught to be
saved just In the nick Of time.
One of Mr.. Barlow's favorite methods
of forming the minds of his pupils and
of imparting instruction at tho same time
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