Anecdotes for Boys Part 2

"Not much," he replied; "but in a town twenty or thirty miles distant, there has been a powerful revival. The commencement of it was very extraordinary. The first person that was awakened and brought to repentance, was a poor woman, who lived in a very retired place. She told her friends and neighbors that a stranger was driven into her house by a thunder storm, and talked to her so seriously, that she began, while listening to his discourse to feel concerned about her soul. The gentleman was much affected, when he found she had no Bible; and after he had left the house to go on his journey, returned again, and gave her a dollar to buy one; and charged her to get it soon, and read it diligently. She did so; and it had been the means, as she believed, of her salvation. The neighbors wondered at this; and it was the means of awakening them to a deep concern for the salvation of their souls. As many as thirty or forty are rejoicing in G.o.d their Savior." Mr. M. who had listened to this narrative, with his heart swelling more and more with wonder, grat.i.tude, and joy, could refrain no longer; but with hands and eyes raised to heaven, exclaimed, "My G.o.d, thou hast paid me again!"

When we lend to the Lord, he always pays us with "good measure, pressed down and running over."

_An Indian story_.

In the early settlement of this country a strange Indian arrived at an inn in Litchfield, Connecticut, and asked for something to eat; at the same time saying that, as he had been unsuccessful in hunting, he had nothing to pay. The woman who kept the inn, not only refused his reasonable request, but called him hard names. But a man who sat by, seeing that the Indian was suffering for want of food, told her to give him what he wanted at his expense. When the Indian had finished his supper, he thanked the man, and a.s.sured him that he should be faithfully recompensed, whenever it was in his power.

Some years after this, the man had occasion to go from Litchfield to Albany, where he was taken prisoner by the Indians, and carried to Canada. Some of them proposed that he should be put to death; but an old woman demanded that he should be given to her, that she might adopt him in place of a son, who had been killed in the war. This was done, and he pa.s.sed the winter in her family. The next summer, while he was at work alone in the woods, a strange Indian came and asked him to go to a certain place on a given day, which he agreed to do; though he had some fears that mischief was intended. His fears increased, and his promise was broken. But the Indian came again and renewed the request. The man made another engagement, and kept his word. On reaching the spot, he found the Indian provided with ammunition, two muskets, and two knapsacks. He was ordered to take one of each; which he did, and followed his conductor. In the day time, they shot the game that came in their way, and at night, they kindled a fire and slept by it. But the Indian observed a mysterious silence as to the object of their expedition. After travelling in this manner many days, they came to the top of a mountain, from which they saw a number of houses in the midst of a cultivated country. The Indian asked him if he knew the ground, and he eagerly answered, "_It is Litchfield?_" The Indian then recalled to his mind the scene at the inn, and bidding him farewell, exclaimed, "_I am that Indian!_ Now I pray you go home."

_Example of Disinterested Benevolence._

A traveller in Asia Minor, in a time of distressing drought, found a vase of water under a little shed by the road-side, for the refreshment of the weary traveller. A man in the neighborhood was in the habit of bringing the water from a considerable distance, and filling the vase every morning, and then going to his work. He could have had no motive to do this, but a kind regard to the comfort of weary travellers, for he was never there to receive their thanks, much less their money. This was benevolence.

SECTION IV.--MANNERS.

POLITENESS.

Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, President of New-Jersey College, once gave out _Politeness_, to a division of one of his cla.s.ses, as a subject for composition. The young gentlemen were delighted with it; and when the time came for reading, some of them expatiated upon it largely, learnedly, and politely. After they had all read, they waited for the President to sum up their observations, and then state his own views.

But, he told them, he should only give them a short definition, which they might always remember. "POLITENESS," said he, "IS REAL KINDNESS, KINDLY EXPRESSED." This is the sum and substance of all true politeness; and if my readers will put it in practice, they will be surprised to see how every body will be charmed with their manners.

_Good Breeding_.

Ga.s.sendi was a youth of such extraordinary abilities and attainments as to command universal admiration; but in his manners he was generally silent, never ostentatiously obtruding upon others his own knowledge. He was never in a hurry to give his opinion before he knew that of the persons who were conversing with him. He was never fond of displaying himself.

I knew a young man whose behavior was directly the opposite of Ga.s.sendi's: a _compound of ignorance_, _self-conceit_, _and impudence_.

He was forward to talk in all companies. His opinion, on all subjects, was _cheap_--a gift that went a-begging. He could tell the farmer how to till the soil; the mechanic how to use his tools; the merchant, how to make his gains; the doctor, how to cure his patient; the minister, how to preach; and the cook, how to bake her bread. He wanted only a _pair of long ears_ to complete his character.

SECTION V.--OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.

A BLACK BOY

Some boys are mean enough to ridicule others for natural defects, for which they are not to blame; and it is a very common thing to consider the color of the skin as a mark of inferiority. But even if it were so, it would be no ground of reproach, for it is the color which G.o.d gave.

Mr. Southey, the poet, relates that, when he was a small boy, there was a black boy in the neighborhood, who was called _Jim d.i.c.k_. Southey and a number of his play fellows, as they were collected together one evening at their sports, began to torment the poor black boy, calling him "_n.i.g.g.e.r_," "_blackamoor_," and other nicknames. The poor fellow was very much grieved, and soon left them. Soon after, these boy's had an appointment to go a skating, and on that day Southey broke his skates.

After all his rude treatment of poor Jim, he was mean enough to go and ask him to lend his skates. "O yes, John," Jim replied, "you may have them and welcome." When he went to return them, he found Jim sitting in the kitchen reading his Bible. As Southey handed d.i.c.k his skates, the latter looked at him with tears in his eyes, and said, "John, don't ever call me blackamoor again," and immediately left the room. Southey burst into tears, and from that time resolved never again to abuse a poor black--a resolution which I hope every one of my readers will make and never break. But, if you will follow the example of this poor colored boy, and return good for evil, you will always find it the best retaliation you can make for an injury.

_The converted soldier._

A soldier in the East Indies, a stout, lion-looking, lion-hearted man, had been a noted prizefighter, and a terror to those who knew him. With one blow he could level a strong man to the ground. That man sauntered into the mission chapel, heard the gospel, and was alarmed. He returned again and again, and at last, light broke in upon his mind, and he became a new creature. The change in his character was marked and decided. The lion was changed into a lamb. Two months afterwards, in the mess-room, some of those who had been afraid of him before began to ridicule him. One of them said, "I'll put it to the test whether he is a Christian or not;" and taking a basin of hot soup, he threw it into his bosom. The whole company gazed in breathless silence, expecting that the lion would start up, and murder him on the spot. But after he had torn open his waistcoat, and wiped his scalded breast, he calmly turned round and said, "This is what I must expect: If I become a Christian, I must suffer persecution." His comrades were filled with astonishment. This was overcoming evil with good. If the reader will follow this man's example, he will save himself a world of difficulty.

_The forgiving school boy._

In a school in Ireland, one boy struck another; and when he was about to be punished, the injured boy earnestly begged for his pardon. The master inquired why he wished to prevent so deserved a punishment; to which he replied, that he had read in the New-Testament that Jesus Christ said we should forgive our enemies; "and I forgive him, and beg he may not be punished for my sake."

SECTION VI.--USE OF THE TONGUE.

ADVANTAGES OF SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

It is a great advantage to any one to have the confidence of others, so far that his word will always be taken for the exact truth. This confidence is to be acquired only by always speaking the truth; and especially, by adhering so closely to the fact that people will not only believe that we mean to speak the truth, but that they will feel confident that we have neither mistaken the facts, nor added any coloring, nor kept back any thing, to make it appear different from the reality. The following story shows how great an advantage one may derive from having this confidence in his strict veracity established:

_Petrarch_, the celebrated Italian poet, by his strict regard for truth, secured the unbounded confidence of Cardinal Colonna, in whose family he resided. A violent quarrel broke out among the Cardinal's numerous family of servants, which ended in a fight. The Cardinal, in order to investigate the affair, and punish the offenders, a.s.sembled all his people and put them under oath to tell the whole truth. Everyone took the oath, not excepting the bishop of Luna, the Cardinal's own brother.

Petrarch, in his turn, presented himself, but the Cardinal closed the book, saying, "As to you, Petrarch, your word is sufficient." Our readers will perceive how great an advantage it will be to them to have always such a strict regard to the exact truth, that their word will be considered as good as an oath.

_Remember the bright side._

When Peter the Great heard any one speaking ill of another, he would inquire, "Is there not a _fair side_, also, to the character of the person of whom you are speaking? Come, tell me what _good_ qualities you have remarked about him." If, in speaking of others, we should look always at the _fair side_, and see what good things we can say of them, it would make us feel better towards them; it would be doing them a service instead of an injury; it would tend to make _peace_, rather than foment strife.

SECTION VII.--PUNCTUALITY.

EXAMPLE OF WASHINGTON.

When Washington appointed the hour of twelve to meet Congress, he never failed to be pa.s.sing the door of the hall while the clock was striking twelve. His dinner hour was four o'clock. If his guests were not there at the time, he never waited for them. New members of Congress, who were invited to dine with him, would frequently come in when dinner was half over; and he would say to them, "Gentlemen, we are punctual here. My cook never asks whether the company has arrived, but whether the hour has." In 1799, when on a visit to Boston, he appointed eight o'clock in the morning as the hour when he would set out for Salem. While the Old South clock was striking eight, he was mounting his horse. The company of cavalry, who had volunteered to escort him, was parading in Tremont street, and did not overtake him till he had reached Charles River Bridge. On their arrival, the General said, "Major, I thought you had been too long in my family not to know when it was eight o'clock."

_Samuel Wesley, Esq._

Samuel Wesley, Esq., was one of the greatest musicians of his age. His musical powers were developed while he was a child, and excited the greatest admiration. But he was as great a lover of regular habits as of song. No company or persuasion could keep him up beyond his regular time for going to bed. For this reason, he could seldom be persuaded to go to a concert in the night. The moment the clock struck eight, away ran Samuel, in the midst of his most favorite amus.e.m.e.nt. Once he rose up from the first part of the _Messiah_, saying, "Come, mamma, let us go home, or I shan't be in bed by eight." When some friends talked of carrying him to the queen, and his father asked him if he was willing to go, he replied, "Yes, with all my heart; but I won't stay beyond eight."

This was a wise resolution; for children are sadly injured, by being kept up late at night.

_Five minutes too late._

The following amusing sketch, though perhaps fict.i.tious, gives a pretty faithful picture of many a man's life:

"When a child, I was scolded for being too late at school; when a boy, I was cuffed and kicked for being too late at my work; and when a man, I was turned away for being behind my time on a particular occasion when my services were wanted.

"My uncle Jonathan was well to do in the world, and as his nephews were his nearest relations, we had reason to expect that his property would come among us. He had, however, one peculiarity, which effectually shut his door against me. He never was five minutes too late in an appointment in his life, and thought most contemptuously of those who were. I really believe that I was a bit of a favorite with him until my unfortunate failing justly offended him.

"He had occasion to go a journey, and I was directed to be with him at seven in the morning, to carry his portmanteau to the coach. Alas! I was "Five minutes too late," and he had left the house.

"Knowing his particularity, I hurried after him, and running till I could scarcely stand, arrived at one end of the street just in time to see the coach go off with my uncle at the other. Dearly did I pay for being "Five minutes too late."

"My Uncle did not return for a month, and certainly showed more forbearance toward me than he was ever known to do on a similar occasion; for in a letter he stated, that if I could be punctual, he should wish me to meet him on his return, to take charge of his portmanteau, and thereby make some amends for my misconduct. Off I set, but knowing that coaches frequently arrive a quarter of an hour after their set time, I thought a minute or two could be of no consequence.

The coach unfortunately, was "horridly exact," and once more I was after my time, just "Five minutes too late."

"My Uncle Jonathan never forgave me, fully believing that I had done it on purpose to get rid of the trouble of carrying his portmanteau. Years rolled away, and I was not so much as permitted to enter the door of my Uncle Jonathan.

"Time, however, heals many a sore, and while it ruffles many a smooth brow, smooths many a ruffled temper. My Uncle Jonathan so far relented, that when about to make his will, he sent to me to call upon him exactly at ten o'clock. Determined to be in time, I set off, allowing myself some minutes to spare and pulling out my watch at the door, found that for once in my life I had kept my appointment to the second. The servant, to my surprise, told me, that my Uncle Jonathan had ordered the door to be shut in my face for being behind my time. It was then I found out my watch was too slow, and that I was exactly "Five minutes too late."

"Had I been earlier on that occasion I might have been provided for, but now I am a poor man, and a poor man I am likely to remain. However, good may arise from my giving this short account of my foolish habit, as it may possibly convince some of the value of punctuality, and dispose them to avoid the manifold evils of being "Five minutes too late.""

Few young persons are sensible of the importance of punctuality, because they are not aware of the value of time. But time is money; and to rob a man of his time, by obliging him to wait beyond the appointed hour to meet your engagement with him, is equivalent to robbing him of so much money as he could have earned in the lost time. The _habit_ of punctuality must be acquired early. Be punctual in the family and school, and you will be a punctual man.

SECTION VIII.--CONTENTION.

DANGER OF CONTENTION.