Year: 1870

THE following is one of several prize
essays from boys and girls, published in
Or Young Folks for July. 1t is by Alfred
d. Churchill, aged fifteen:


In choosing Boys to write upon, l feel
| that have an unpopular subject but as
ain boy myself, it is one that L have
some interest in. In the first place, do
not think boys ever have justice done
them they are never SO pretty as girls,
consequently they are not wanted in the
parlor; they are not considered as bright
at school, and I will admit that girls are
generally ahead in spelling, writing,
grammar and composition, especially in
writing stories and articles for Orr Young
Folks, but in arithmetic, both mental
and w.itten, and history, especially Of
wars and copquests, the boys are far ahead.
Bows from thirteen to seventeen are much
more bashful and diffident than girls OF
the same age the girls begin to wear long
dresses and waterfalls, and then they
think and speak so much quicker than
boys that boys knowing just as much.
and often more, make poor show beside
them.


Girls can thump on piano sll day
without annoyance to any one; but let
boy drum little on the table, and he is
requested to go out of doors; if he wants
pe0ple to hear how well he can whistle
Captain Jenks," he is told it is not gen.
tlemanly to whistle in the house; and If
he attempts to dance double shuttle on
the carpet, he is advised to adjourn to the
barn-as if he cared to do any of these
things without an audience If he is
noisy, natural boy, he does not seem to be
wanted anywhere if he is a quiet, nice
little boy, and likes to sit by the fire, and
read and draw, and hear his grandma tell
stories, and perhaps help little about the
cooking, every time he goes out the other
boys will sing out, Girl-boy! Girl
boy" and pin rags on his coat


When we were babies in dresses, with
our hair in long curls, We were as pretty
as the girls, and pctted and praised, and
mad our pictures taken every two weeks
I am often shown one of myself taken
when I was two years old, always with
the remark "Could any one believe you
ever looked as well as that?'


AS soon as we are shaken into a pair of
pants, have our hair cut off, and get our
| first boots, then the trials of boyhood be-
gin, and we are of more real importance
| in orr 0aon eyes than ever again.


The first day at school for little boy
that has reigncd king at home is an event
never to be forgotten.


remember very well being dressed in
my best, with cap that had tassel on 1t,
and thinking how nice | looked, and eX
Hpecting to make a favorable impression by
| my grandeur. When l came near the
school house, after walking mile, a mum.
Der of the boys came out TO meet me, and
the first thing l knew my pretty cap was
suatched off and thrown over the fence
into a plowed field. | climbed the fence
with great difficulty, picked 1t up and put
it on, but no sooner had gained the road
than over it went again. When l got II
the second time | was considerably dis
couraged, but | did not dare to cry, as
they would have called me baby but
there was very large lump in my throat,
and then to make up for their bad con
duct they told me Ia be man before my
mother.


When the teacher came she was very
kind TO me and | telt some better, but
| still 7 found myself of small consequence.
went home at night rather tired, and
was asked if | had been "little man = L
| said, 81 dunno"


The next thing that [ remember that
gave me great delight was my first sus-


penders. took off my coat and sat on


The gate post, where passers-by could see
me, and when any one came along whis-
tied away and looked as unconscious as


possible; but no one noticed me at all,


and l soon retired in disgust.


School is the place, alter all, for boys


to find out what they are worth; II they


are bright and can contribute anything TO


the general sport or fun, they are always


sought after; no matter what dress and
position may do for them when they get


older, as boys and with boys they stand


on their real merits; if they fail of getting


proper respect and attention, the fault is


in themselves. The brightest scholars


are often from the families of the poor


and uneducated, but they are always


looked up to by those that cannot learn


easily.


Another great disadvantage the boys OF


these days have to contend with is the


tendency to drive ahead. They don't


lave time to be boys. | have often


thought it would have been fun to have


lived before the flood; then boy stayed


a boy q hundred years or so, and twenty


years on the multpllcation-table would


not have been considered waste OF time


Well, suppose there is no help for 1t


and | shall soon swing cane and par'
my hair in the middle.