Year: 1859

yduals but this difference is not ALWAYS so
real as many seem to imagine. More pco-
pie live in ignorance, and sink into their
graves unknown, from the lack of will and
purpose, united with unfaltcring pcrsever
ance that makes really great men and the
thousands who move along through life in
indclence and ignorance, protesting admi-
ration for genius, and wondering why they
were not blessed with some of these extra.
ordinary powers Of mind, have only their
own carclessness and ncrtness to blame.


have the story Of life in my mind
which is to the point, and will relate i, as
l know it, simply conccaling the rca!
names Of those concerned, for reasons
which will be apparent to the reader.


Some five and thirty years ago was
the preceptor of the academy in p.
1t was an excellent institution, and we had
scholars iron all parts Of the county. One
evening AS sat i'll my room alone, heard
q light rap at the door, and babe the APP.
Plicant 10 enter. The door was opened,
and saw boy poorly clad, holding his
cap in his hand. The season wa, carly
winter, and, as the cool air came in through
the open door way, told the boy to come
in andshut the door. may have spoken
:. rather abruptly, for l supposed the fellow
only had some ordinary crr;.ndsto coinnu-
nca!e, and | wanted my time TO mvse!f.-
He gazed at me Il moment with u half
frightened look and then closed the door,
but he closed it between linn and me and
heard him hurr.ing away. | arose and
went ito the hall, but he was gone; so
returned to my books, antl in II little while
the incident passed from my mind.


Two or three days afterwards saw the
same boy cross tie street, and ! asked Il
man, who stood y my side if lie knew
him.


'Who-tllat fellow?' said he, with a
sort of contemptuous, plying tinge in his
tone, at the same time pointing 10 the
boy.


Yes I replied. DO you know him 2


why that is Hugh Moran. lie lives at
the poor house.


No. interposcd third party, who stood
at my elbow. Mr.. Amos Fisher has
taken him, and shouldn't wonder if he
made pretty good boy


Is he an orphan p asked.


eRather worse than that said my infor-
mant.


soon learned that the lad was one OF
those poor unfortunatcs, whose birth had
been clouded by shame, and who had
hence been mark for the cold finger of
scorn. His mother had sought the aims
house in her ruin and degradation, and
there she had died. Her boy had lived
there until very recently, when Mr.. Fisher,
kind upright farmer, had taken him, and
given him home in his own family. l
became interested in the little fellow at
once, and resolved to find out, on the first
favorable opportunity, what had been his
object in calling upon me. 1t seemed evil
dent enough that he had come upon his
own account, for had he been sent by lis
guardian, he would not have gone away as
he did.


Not many days after this l met the boy
upon the sidewalk. 1t was in the morning,
and l was going to the academy, but l
stopped and spoke with him. 1 asked him
if he was not the one who came to my room
few evenings before. lie seemed lit
tie frightened, as though fearful that lie had
done something wrong, but spoke kindly
to him, and managed to re.assurc him.


'Yes he said. Il come, but did not
dare to stop and disturb YOU


'What did you come for Z! l asked.


Again lie hesitated, but finally learned
from him that he come with the hope that
1 could help him to learn something. I
asked him if he wished 10 learn, and, for
the first time, lie answered me quickly and
eagerly in the affirmative. told him to
come to my room that evening and would
talk with him. lie promised to come, and
we separated.


About seven o'clock Hugh made his ap.
pearance at my door, and this time lie en-
tered and took seat. lie was fine look.
ing boy; with fair face, an intelligent
countenance, and a keen, full eye. very
soon made him feel that would be his
friend, and ere he had been with Inc many
minutes he bad so far overcome his diff
dence that he could speak without trou.
bic.


Il have never been a bad boy, SIR he
said, when l asked him to tell me what
had induced him to seek me; I" but have
been unfortunate. 1t wasn't my fault, sir
and I never could help it. wasn't born
so happy as other children are. n sin
which others did came upon me with its
painful consequences, and it has bowed me
down in shame and sorrow" ="