Year: 1860

States. He was a coarse and ignorant
man, but very energetic, and entirely de-
voted to the acquisition of property. he
had been very poor, and felt that wealth
would be the greatest of all earthly bless
ings. He had never enjoyed any educa-
tional advantages, and was perfectly un-
conscious of the value of a cultivated
mind. His wild and rustic home was
carved out of the wilderness, where he was
surrounded by hardy pioneers, who knew
of no employment but toll.


Rich harvests began to wave upon his
well-tilled and fertile acres. His barns
were filled with plenty; cattle accumulated
in his pastures; his plain but substantial
dwelling was provided with all homely
comforts, and at length he became man
of wealth He had only one child, daugh-
ter, whom he loved with the instructive
love of one who knew nothing of the re-
fnement of affection, but who felt proud of
possessing child to whom he could leave
the fruits of his toilsome life.


One winters evening, as the sleet was
drifting over the bleak plains and the wind
whistling around the windows, two stran-
gers from different directions sought a
nights hospitality beneath the roof of the
old farmer One was young adventurer,
penniless and almost friendless, seeking his
fortune in the boundless West. The other
was an intelligent, middle-aged gentleman
from the East, travelling on business con-
nected with an important speculation in
which he was about to embark.


The large log fire blazed brightly on
the hearth. The hardy old farmer, bless
ed with the vigor which the health of sixty
years confers, sat by his kitchen freside
smoking his pipe, and now and then ex-
changing word with the strangers, neith-
er of whom seemed disposed to sociability.
The farmers wife and rustic daughter sat
in silence, each engaged in an evenings
work


A half hour of perfect silence had elapS-
elk, during which the two strangers were
entirely absorbed with their own thoughts,
when the middle aged gentleman suddenly
reused from his reverie, and turning his eye
to the maiden, inquired:


';Is this your only daughter, my good
friend ?"


EYES," replied the farmer, "sheis my on
ly child"


Indeed p was the reply. ''As you
seem to be blessed with all the comforts of
life, suppose you mean to give her per
feet education ?"


Not l." rejoined the farmer. 81 never
had any education myself, and l don't be-
lieve it would do her any good l mean
to leave her money, so that she will not
have to work as hard as her poor father
and mother have been compelled to do.
Money is the best friend person can have
in such a world as this"


81 think you are wrong there, friend, i"
the gentleman replied. IL also have an
only daughter, and an only child. She is
of about the same age as yours, but mean
to give her as perfect an education as mo-
ney can give and she has the capacity to
receive. A good education is something
which no one but tod can take away from
her."


All relapsed into their former silence;
but there was something in the terseness
of the expression, "a good education is
something which no one but God can take
from her." which struck with peculiar force
the mind of the young man. He repeated
the words again and again; he pondered
their weighty import. They became en-
graved upon his memory in letters never
to be efaced.


The night passed away. The morning
dawned. The cold rays of the winters
sun glistened upon the wide expanse of
snow. After breakfasting in the warm
kitchen of the farmer, The two strangers
separated, each to 80 his own way. They
never met again, but the remark which
had fallen upon the ears of the young man
had awakened thoughts which were never
to be forgotten. "a good education is
something which no one but God can take
from her."


Years with their changes rolled on. The
young man, enterprising and energetic, had
found him home, and group of bright
and happy children were clustered about
his comfortable freside. When he receiv-
ed his frst-born son into his arms, he
said


"This child was given me to educate.
A good education is something which no
ore but God can take from him."


His wife imbibed his spirit, and as one
after another was added to the number of
their happy family they both felt that
their great duty in life was to educate their
children. 1t became the all-absorbing OBJ
iect of their nature and their ambition.
Thirteen children were given to them.
They were all we'll educated-highly edu-
Gated. The sons became prominent men,
bers of the learned professions, swaying
wide influence over thousands. The daugh-
ters became highly accomplished, intellec-
tual ladies, to fill the pest of wives and
mothers, and to inspire their children with
a love Tor knowledge. And what finite
mind can tell where this mighty influence
shall terminate Who can tell to what
uncounted thousands of reused and invig-
grated intellects this one sentiment will
prove to have been the guiding angel2
a