RISE EARLY. pointed to the injunction, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." "I learned that," she said, " before I could read."-"Has any one talked to you about being a witness in court here against this man?" inquired the judge. "Yes, sir," she replied. "My mother heard they wanted me to be a witness, and last night she called me to her room and asked me to tell her the ten commandments, and then we kneeled down together, and she prayed that I might understand how wicked it was to bear false witness against my neighbor, and that God would help me, a little child, to tell the truth as it was before Him. And when I came up here with father, she kissed me, and told me to remember the ninth commandment, and that God would hear every word that I said." "Do you believe this?" asked the judge, while a tear glistened in his eye, and his lips quivered with emotion."Yes, sir," said the child, with a voice and manner that showed her conviction of the truth was perfect."God bless you, my child," said the judge; "you have a good mother. This witness is competent," he continued. "Were I on trial for my life, and innocent of the charge against me, I would pray God for such a witness as this. Let her be examined." She told her story with the simplicity of a child, as she was; but there was a directness about it which carried conviction of its truth to every heart. She was rigidly cross-examined. The counsel plied her with infinite and ingenious questionings, but she varied from her first statement in nothing. The truth as spoken by that little child was sublime. Falsehood and perjury had preceded her testimony. The prisoner had intrenched himself in lies, until he deemed himself impregnable. Witnesses had falsified facts in his favor, and villainy had manufactured for him a sham defense. But before her testimony falsehood was scattered like chaff. The little child, for whom a mother had prayed for strength to be given her to speak the truth as it was before God, broke the 155 Up! up!' she says, 'to meet the sun; Your task of yesterday 's undone ; A thousand fresh delights you miss, In dozing at an hour like this; You lengthen out the hours of slumber Beyond what health and nature number; Arise, if you a man would be! From these enfeebling toils be free!' Lie still!' cries Sloth; it is not warm; An hour's more sleep can do no harm; You will have time your work to do, And leisure for amusement too." " Much must be heard on either side, The question fairly to decide; And ere the long debate is o'er, Time and occasion are no more! Would you the joy of victory know, Pause not to parley with the foe: Play not the sluggard and the dunce,Awake! arise! start up at once! PRESENT time is all-important. The poorest day that passes over us is the conflux of two eternities. It is made up of currents that issue from the remotest past, and flow onward into the remotest future. 156 Original. THE TOWN-MEETING AT GRABTOWN. THE TOWN-MEETING AT GRABTOWN, ON BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE. Town-Clerk. The meeting will please come to order. Is it the pleasure of this meeting to nominate a chairman? and whom will they nominate? Squire Grabb is nominated. Is it your pleasure that 'Squire Grabb shall be chairman? It is a vote. Squire G. (taking the chair). Will some one nominate a secretary? Farmer Bright. I move that the TownClerk be secretary of the meeting. Squire G. Is it your pleasure that the Town-Clerk be secretary of this meeting? It is a vote. Gentlemen, the meeting has been called to decide on the site of the new school-house, and on the style and size of the structure. Of course, we must consult economy in this business. And, first, touching the site of the building. An idea has occurred to me by which we may kill two birds with one stone, as the saying is. It has long been a subject of complaint to the people of the upper village that our present hog-pound is too small; that the hogs have no good place to root in; that it is badly exposed for their shelter in winter, and is destitute of trees and shrubs for their comfort in summer. Some people think it is n't a healthy place for hogs. At any rate, the hogs don't seem to like it. They don't thrive there; and some of the upper village people have offered to give the town a nice lot for a hog-pound, if we will move it there. Now, gentlemen, my proposition is to take our present hog-pound for the site of the new school-house, and to accept the offer of the upper village people for the removal of the pound. We shall thus accomplish a double purpose without expense. Lawyer Chatter. I second the proposition of our enlightened chairman. The pound, though unfit for hogs, would be an excellent place for a school. True, it is only twenty feet by twenty; but children can be packed close. True, there is a True, there is a marsh close by, and people on the borders complain of the prevalence of fevers; but our worthy physician, Dr. Pshaw, will tell you that the place is healthy as need be. True, there are no trees near by; so much the better the boys will not be climbing after birds' nests. And so, Mr. Chairman, I hope the proposition to take the hogpound for the site of the school-house will prevail. Mr. Sharp. I am sorry to differ from my friends who have preceded me; but I think we can cut off an angle from the old burial-ground, that will afford a site quite as economical as the hog-pound, and more central. It is a rough, gravelly piece of ground; nothing will grow there; the old tombs in the vicinity are in a ruinous state, and some dainty people refuse to live opposite, because of bad smells. But the children will not mind the smells; or, if they do, they will soon get used to them. I hope, therefore, that the idea of the hogpound will be abandoned, and that a slice will be taken off the old burial-ground for the desired purpose. Mr. Skinflint. Mr. Chairman, I have listened with profound interest to the remarks of the liberal and enlightened speakers who have preceded me. None, sir, can doubt their patriotism; none can throw a suspicion on the purity and loftiness of their motives. I hope my fellow-citizens will believe that I also am actuated by the sincerest devotion to the public good; that in me also the spirit of Seventy-Six burns bright — bright, Mr. Chairman-I say bright. Sir, I am willing to make a sacrifice of my self-interest to promote the public welfare in this matter. Sir, it has been suggested by several enlightened citizens that the town might make a great saving in the matter of a school-house by buying my old stable, and fixing it up with benches and desks. Farmer Bright. The gentleman will excuse me for interrupting him; but I would inquire whether he has not repeatedly said that the old stable was n't fit for his cattle, and that he must build a new one. Mr. Skinflint. Well, sir, it does n't follow that it may not be made into a very THE TOWN-MEETING AT GRABTOWN. 157 respectable school-house. The gentleman | uncongenial enclosure? Sir, I would not did not hear me out. Reluctant as I am, be wanting in deference to any gentleman fellow-citizens, to part with a building en- of this meeting; certainly not to its chairdeared to me by ancestral associations, and man; but when I heard him pleading for many tender ties, yet out of regard to the the hogs and neglecting the children, when rising generation I am willing to sell the I heard him propose the hog-pound as the stable at a sacrifice; and furthermore, in site for the new school-house in order that case the town will give me my price for it, the hogs might have a better place, I could I will make a donation to the town of the not believe that he was serious. What, lot bounding my cow-yard on the south, and sir! a place not fit for hogs fit for your which is just big enough to receive the sta- children and their teachers? (Loud apble. Here, sir, in this charming locality, plause.) with my cow-yard on the south, and my spacious pig-pen on the north, it will be the fault of the rising generation if they do not make rapid progress in their studies. Mr. Easy. I move, Mr. Chairman, that the hog-pound be selected as the site for the new school-house. Mr. Crane. I second the motion. Squire G. You have heard the motion, gentlemen. It is moved and seconded that the hog-pound be the site. Are you ready for the question? Farmer Bright. I'd like to argue the point a little, Mr. Chairman; but I'm a poor speaker, and somehow the right words won't come when I want them. However, here's my son, Jeff, who can talk like a book, boy though he is. He knows just what I think on this matter of the schoolhouse, and if it's agreeable to the meeting he shall speak in my stead. Squire G. I presume there will be no objection. We will hear what Jeff has to say. Jeff. Mr. Chairman and fellow-citizens: I thank you for your permission to speak. The question is one in which the boys are especially interested, and I am happy to represent them, however feebly, on this occasion. Sir, it is no trivial question. It has bearings which must affect the welfare of immortal souls. (Sensation.) Sir, I do not overstate the question. Is it a light matter whether your children are surrounded, in their school hours, by influences that contribute to their happiness and health? Is it a light matter whether they breathe a contaminated air, and pine in a narrow, Squire G. (rapping). Order! order! The speaker will please confine himself to the subject before the meeting, and not indulge in any impertinent remarks. Jeff. Sir, I can conceive of nothing more pertinent than the inquiry whether a place which the very hogs protest against is suitable for a school for human beings. But I see from the faces before me that I need not press my objections further. We may love pork, sir, but we love our children better. (Tumultuous applause.) Squire G. Order, I say! If the young gentleman can not regulate his remarks so as to produce no disorder, he had better stop speaking. Jeff. Certainly, if the audience desire it. (Cries of "No!" "Go on!" "Hit him again! "That's the talk! "Give it to him!" "Children before hogs!" &c.) Jeff. There seems to be a desire, sir, that I should proceed. Allow me to discuss the proposition of the gentleman who wishes us to take up with the fag-end of an old burial-ground for our school-site. The charm by which he would captivate us is the economy of the plan. Sir, the economy which he recommends is the self-same economy that would lead a man to buy tainted beef for his family, because he could get it cheaper than good beef. (Applause and laughter.) Mr. Sharp. Mr. Chairman! Mr. Chairman! Is this in order? Squire G. Silence! No interruption! Jeff. The tainted beef, sir, may lead to a doctor's bill much longer than the butcher's. It may do for hyenas, but not for 158 THE TOWN-MEETING AT GRABTOWN. healthy human appetites. Sir, such penny- bless you for your foresight in setting apart wise, pound-foolish policy is not for us. I I so large a lot at a time when land was come now to the third proposition the cheap, and no public burden was entailed proposition of the free and enlightened cit- by the act! Build a school-house, sir, izen who wants us to buy his old stable and worthy of such a site large, commodious, convert it into a school-house. (Laughter.) well-ventilated. The intelligent emigrant Sir, I bow to the eloquence with which he will say, as he looks on your tasteful and commended the plan to our acceptance; liberal provision for education, "Here will with which he expatiated on the romantic I pitch my tent here, where my children attractions of the locality, with his cow- can have the advantages of a good and yard on one side, and his piggery on the healthy school —a school in which regard other. (Applause.) Sir, I admire as much is had to the training of the body, as well as any man the public spirit, the generosity, as of the mind." And so, sir, you shall the magnanimity, which induced him to find that your real estate will rise in value, propose to make us a free gift of a lot of and that a judicious expenditure is in the land, the acceptance of which by the town end the best economy. I move, sir, that would raise the value of his adjoining lots the ten-acre lot belonging to the town, on ten times the value of his gift. I also ad- Walnut-street, be all appropriated to the mire the self-sacrificing devotion which site of the new school-house and its grounds. leads him to give up, with many tears, his (Applause, and cries of “Question!”) "ancestral" stable, at his own price, now Mr. Easy. I second the motion. that it is no longer fit for four-legged cattle. (Laughter and applause.) Squire G. The first motion in order is, Shall the hog-pound be selected as the site for the new school-house? Those in favor of the motion will say Ay. (“Ay,” from SKINFLINT.) Those opposed to the motion will say No. (Loud and almost unanimous Mr. Skinflint. Mr. Chairman, I call the young man to order! It is shameful, sir, shameful, that such personalities should be permitted! Squire G. The speaker is not out of No.) The Noes have it. Are you ready order. for the second question? (Cries of “QuesMr. Skinflint. I protest, sir, against-tion! Question!") Those in favor of tak(Cries of "Put him out! Trip him ing the ten-acre lot for the new school-house up!" "Skin him!" "Choke him!" will say Ay. (Loud and almost unanimous Punch him!" &.c.) Ay.) Those opposed to the motion will Jeff. Sir, I think we say No. ("No," from SKINFLINT.) The e'tus to the stable plan. Ays have it. it has proved. And now, sir, what shall we do? I will tell you what. Select the best and healthiest ten-acre lot in the town have given a qui- for your school-lot. (Applause, and cries of "Good!" "That's it!") What are a few dollars, sir, compared with the health, the well-being of your children, during the most impressible period of their lives? Let it be a spot combining beauty of prospect and situation with perfect salubrity. Let it be such as to afford a spacious playground and shaded walks, where young and old may delight to ramble. Let every scholar have the privilege of planting a tree on the land. How will your posterity Jeff. I move that this meeting do now adjourn. Squire G. It is moved and seconded that this meeting do now adjourn. Is this your pleasure? (A tumultuous "Ay," during which the meeting breaks up.) With eight or ten dramatis persone (more will be better), this little sketch may be easily represented on a small school-room platform. There should be a table and chairs for the Chairman and Secretary; the rest might either sit or stand. UNDERSTANDING without wealth is like feet without shoes: wealth without understanding is like shoes without feet. THE LEISURE HOUR. The Leisure Hour. THE ECHO.This game consists of a story told by one of the players, interrupted by an echo from the others at the mention of certain agreedon words. These words should be the names of different articles having reference to the subject of the story. For instance, supposing THE ADVENTURES OF A SOLDIER to be fixed on, it will be advisable to select such terms as soldier, regiment, cannon, furlough, and the names of various military accouterments-knapsack, shell-jacket, foragecap, bayonet, sword, uniform, cartridge-box, Each player (with musket, cross-belt, &c. &c. the exception of the story-teller) takes a name from the list. The story is commenced. When the narrator pronounces one of the words agreed on, the player to whom it has been allotted must echo it, subject to the following regulations: — if pronounced only once, he must repeat it twice; if pronounced twice, only once. A general word, such as accouterments, should be reserved to When express a number of objects together. this is pronounced, all the players (except soldier, furlough, and all whose names do not apply to any article forming part of a military outfit) must repeat it at once, subject to the rules of repetition (as to whether once or twice) already given. -SOLDIER Example.-THE CORPORAL'S FURLOUGH. Corporal Sabertash, a brave SOLDIER - (regiment, (soldier!) in the 245th REGIMENT regiment!) having returned from the wars, was allowed a month's FURLOUGH (furlough, furlough). His heart bounded at the prospect of revisiting his native village, and pressing once more to his bosom the being of whom he had never ceased to think, even amidst the roar of the CANNON-CANNON (cannon), and the clash of the SWORDSWORD (sword); he hastily equipped himself in his UNIFORM (uniform, uniform), polished up his MUSKET (musket, musket), and strapped on his KNAPSACK-KNAPSACK (knapsack). Hang your SHELL-JACKET (shell-jacket, FORAGE-CAP shell-jacket) 'I'll leave them behind (forage-cap)," said he. me, and astonish them all by appearing before them in my full ACCOUTERMENTS (accouterments, accouterments)." and FORAGE-CAP ... I He marched on for a few miles, when he made I'm a halt. "No hurry," said he, "now. not with the REGIMENT (regiment, regiment). shall rest a little." So he unstrapped his KNAPSACK — KNAPSACK (knapsack), got rid of the most cumbrous of his ACCOUTERMENTS (accouterments, accouterments), and composed himself to a nap under a shady oak. He was roused by the most piercing cries. With the instinct of a SOLDIER (soldier, soldier), he seized his MUSKET (musket, musket), and marched to the spot whence the cries proceeded, with the speed of a CANNON-CANNON (cannon) - ball. Judge of his horror, when he beheld a young and lovely female, struggling with four masked ruffians, each with a drawn SWORD (sword, sword). They were endeavoring to drag her to a carriage, which stood at a little distance. * Spoken by all together, with the exceptions already mentioned. 159 MUSKET Our brave SOLDIER (soldier, soldier), seeing "For Heaven's sake, sir," she said, "incur him." "That voice!" exclaimed our SOLDIER (soldier, can it be possible?" soldier); 66 The maiden started, looked in his face, and, with a loud scream, fell fainting in his arms. It was Margaret, the object of his early love! "And who, dearest," inquired our SOLDIER — SOLDIER (soldier), after the first rapturous greetings were over, "were the ruffians from whom I rescued you thanks to this good swORD (sword, sword)?" "The three who lie there I know not," an"But the one who has esswered Margaret. caped, and who was their leader, I recognized in spite of his mask. He has long annoyed me with his persecuting addresses, but I refused to become his bride. Could I forget my own true SOLDIER -SOLDIER- - (soldier) ? " "His name- -his rank?" inquired our hero impetuously. "His exact rank I know not, but he is, like yourself, a SOLDIER (soldier, soldier), though in a far higher station." "His name?" repeated the corporal, clutching his MUSKET-MUSKET (musket) fiercely. "Sir Reginald Mandeville!" With a wild cry of despair our hero fell prostrate on the greensward. It was the name of the commanding officer of his REGIMENT (regiment, regiment)! * * * Our ill-fated hero was tried by a court-martial for assaulting his commanding officer, and was condemned to an ignominious death. The gallant SOLDIER (soldier, soldier), who had so often faced the CANNON-CANNON (cannon) of the enemy, fell pierced by the MUSKET (musket, musket) shots of his comrades. The whole REGIMENT — REGIMENT (regiment) attended his funeral. His ACCOUTERMENTS (accouterments, accouterments) were buried with him. And poor Margaret! a weapon surer than the MUSKET (musket, musket), keener than the swORD -SWORD (sword), and more deadly than the BAYONET — BAYONET (bayonet), Despair, pierced her gentle bosom. She died of a broken heart, crushed by the tragic events that marked the untimely close of the corporal's FURLOUGH (furlough, furlough). This touching history will serve as a model for an infinity of others. The object of the narrator should be to impart so much interest to his story as to make his hearers forget to give the echo at the proper time, or not the right number of times |