amarn
m
VOLUME I.
OXFOliU, N. 0., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1875.
NUMBER 5L
THE GKATEFUE IIOBSE.
BY E. MULLER. •
AVlien old Jim first made ac
quaintance Tvitb Sam Wood, lie
had a very bad opinion of stable-
boys in general, and of Bob
Haw'kins in particular. Bob bad
been stable-boy before Sam, and
before him bad been three or
four others, all bad boys, who
had given the old horse a dislike
to the sight of a boy, and soured
liis temper entirely.
Bob used to think it really de
lightful to pinch Jim’s ears and
under-lip, or to tickle him, r^hich
annoyed Jim exceedingl}', and
taught him to snap at people’s
fingers. Bob used to put pepper
in Jim’s salt and oats, to make
him sneeze. He knew of a cer
tain little sound, something like
a very young puppy wdiining,
that made Jim almost wild with
anger and fear. Why he was so
afraid, no one could find out, but
Bob used to hide behind the hay,
and just as Jim reached up to
take a bite from the rack. Bob
would make this sound. Then
poor Jim would start and snort,
and would not touch the hay
again.
These, and a hundred other
mean and cruel tricks. Bob play
ed off against old Jim. His mas
ter knew' nothing of it, but w'on-
dered how the horse’s temper
came to be so bad, of late. Do
you not think it w’as a very small
and mean thing, for Bob to tease
the poor old horse that could not
coniiilain, or tell his master why
his temper had been spoiled?
Burelv this must grieve our lov
ing Father in heaven, “whose
tender mercies are over all His
works.”
But, one day, Bob’s master
found him out, and he tvas turned
away in disgrace.
You can think how cross this
daily w'orrv had made old Jim ;
so that wlien Sam Wood came,
ho looked on him only as another
tormentor, whom he had best bite
and kick as often as there tvas a
chance.
The first time Sam came to the,
stable, he brought a nice piece of
bread in his hand; but when he
held it out to Jim, the horse laid
back his ears, and showed his
teeth, as if to say, “Look out.
I’ll bite you.” Sam stood quite
still, with his hand stretched out,
till Jim thought he might as well
look at the thing, whatever it
was. He was careful about sniff
ing at it, poor old fellow, for he
had burnt his nose with pepper,
fi-om Bob’s hand; but his curiosi
ty was great, and at last he touch
ed the bread with his lips.
“Grood old boy 1” said Sam, in
a kind, friendly voice. Jim hard
ly believed his ears. He looked
carefully at this strange boy, and
then, making up his mind to risk
a peppering, he took the bread
in his mouth. It tasted very
good, and presently Jim found
Sam smoothing his neck, and
gently rubbing the back of his
ears, in a way the old horse par
ticularly liked, but which no one
but his master ever treated him
to.
From that time, a firm friCTd-
ship grew up between the "boy
and horse.
At first, Jim could not help be
ing distrustful; but, by and by,
he ceased to lay back his ears,
and curl his lip, whenever a hand
was laid on him. He no longer
started at any strange sound in
the barn, and he whined with de
light when he heard Sam’s cheery
voice. Sam never came to har
ness him for work without bring
ing a bit of bread or sugar, or an
apple, or even a handful of salt,
to make him welcome, and Jim
tried to show his grateful feeling
in every way a horse could.
One cold morning, Sam took
him, as usual, to the pond for a
drink, but found the pond frozen
over. Sam tried to stamp a hole
in the ice with his boot, but could
not, for the ice Avas too thick.
Jim, old fellow, this looks bad
for your freakfast, doesn’t it I”
said Sam. “I guess I shall have
to go to the house for a pick-axe.
What a bother 1”
Sam said the last Avords in a
complaining tone, for he did not
want the long Avalk up to the
house. I do not say that Jim
understood the Avords, thougli he
is a very' knowing old horse, but
he looked at Sam inquiringly', and
then began to paAv at the ice Avith
his iron shod hoof
“Good boy !” said Sara. “Dig
a hole if y'ou can, but I don’t be-
lieA'e y'Ou Avill.”
Noav Avhat did the Avise old
horse do, Avhen he found he did
not crack the ice ? He Avalked
upon the pond, turned around,
and began paAving at the edge of
the pond, Avhere the ice Avas thin
nest, and soon made a hole large
enough to drink from. I do not
knoAV how' he knew the ice on the
edge of the pond aa'CS thinnest,
unless he had tried it before, and
kneAv bv the sound—animals’ ears
are very' sensitive.
Sara patted and praised him
for being a “bright boy,” and Jim
seemed quite proud, for he frisk
ed about, and really flung up his
heels like a playful colt.
But the best thing Jim did,
really' shoAved his love for Sam,
and his oaaua good sense as a horse,
besides. One spring day', Sam
had taken him doAvn to the vil
lage, to be shod. It Avas just fish
ing season, and SamsaAV a number
of boys standing at the edge of
the mill-dam, fishing. So, Avhile
.Jim Avas at tlie blacksmith’s shop,
standing on three legs, Avith the
other leg doubled up and h.amraer-
ed at by the blacksmith, ^ Sam
AA’cnt across the road, and joined
the boy's.
By and by, the smith finished
all dun’s feet, and, going to the
door, shouted for Sam to ' come
and take his horse home.
Sam shouted back, “Come,
Jim ! You come here and Avait a
minute,”
So Jim came across the road,
to the edge of the river, and see-
i]ig Sam standing on the mill-
dam, Avith the other boys, he
thought he might improve the
time by nibbling the grass at the
roadside till Sam should come to
him.
He had not grazed many min
utes before there was a great
splash in the Avater and a shout
of fear from the boy's on the dam.
Jim looked up, but not under
standing the shout, he went on
eating grass,, till he heard, bam s
“Jim, Jim, come
A'oice, cryAiig,
here ! Come 1
Jim looked again, and saAV
Sam’s head sinking into the Ava-
ter. He did not Avait to be called
tAvice, but scrambled doAvn the
steep bank into the Avater, and
SAvam out to Sam.
lie Avas just in time. The Ava
ter in the mill-dam Avas quite
deep enough to drown a boy', and
Sam, Avho AA'asno SAvimmer, AA’ould
certainly have droAvned, if the
horse had not come to him. Sam,
rising to the surface for the last
time, felt Jim’s nose upon him,
and grasping his mane Avith both
hands, Avas quickly dragged to
shore.
He had lost his footing on the
slippery boards of the dam, and
so had gone into the Avater, head
first. He Avas badly' frightened,
y'Ou may' imagine,, and A'ery grate
ful to the horse that saved him.
If Jim had been ’.veil treated
before that day, y’ou may' be sure
he Avas better cared for than ever,
after it; for Sara did not tire of
shoAving his gratitude in every'
possible Avay for his bravery' and
affection. So old Jim had the
best of food and the lightest of
Avork, and altogether led as de
lightful a life as an old horse
could desire to lead.
Now, do you suppose, if Sam
had teased and vexed Jim, and
made him hate him, that the
horse Avould have gone into the
water at his call ? No, I am sure
he would not; but, knowing Sam
had never called him without
some good reason, he did not
wait a moment, and so saved his
friend’s life.
WEW.IESK OKPMAK-ASl'l.tJM,
NE’WAESJI, K. J.
Some tAventy'-scven y'eaas ago,
a little friendless orphan-girl fell
from a fruit-tree and broke her leg.
Already an miAvelcome inmate in
the family with Avhom she had
found a shelter, tliis additional
affliction rendered her an unbear
able burden. Sb.e Avas about to
be sent to the almshouse, Avlieii a
kind neighbor opened her home
and heart and let the little sufferer
in, and Avith a mother’s tenderness
nursed I'.er back to health.
This circumstance was knoAvn
and discussed, and the necessity
of establishing an orphan-asylum
for the benefit of friendless or-
plian-cliildren Avas pressed upon
the minds of the people. Preliin-
inarv meetings Avere called, an
association fonned, a building-
hired, and the NeAvark Orphan-
Asylum, the first institution of
the kind in the State, and it not
a State-institution, Avas formally'
opened Avith appropriate religious
services.
A charter Avas obtained, and
a board of trustees, comprising
thirty' ladies, chosen form .the
Episcopal, Presby'terian, Baptist,
Methodist,- Reform and Congre
gational churches of this city. Of
those ladies, ten are still remain
ing in the board.
The asylum opened wi-tli eight
children ; but, as its fame became
noised abroad, its numbers in
creased, and in a few ye-ars they
Avere compelled to look forAvard
to an enlargement of their bor
ders.
Appeals were, made, to Avliich
the people of Newark responded,
and a lot Avas purcliased for 87,-
000, and a building commenced
in September, 185G ; and in Sep
tember, 1857, the house was com
pleted Avitliout a dollar of indebt
edness, the expense of the house
and grounds being 832,000,
The original design of the
building is incomplete. It Avas
intended to be finished Avitli cor
responding AA'ings, but the funds
not being sufficient, and one Aviiig
only' being needed for the conven
ience of thefamily, the trustees con
cluded to defer the erection of the
other Aviiig until the treasury'
should be replenished for that
purpose. In 18G5 a legacy' Avas
left for this express design, with
the condition that it should be
used Avithin ten years, and it is
nOAV hoped that the accumulated
interest Avitli the principal, Avill en
able the trustees to complete the
remaining Aving Avitliout appeal
ing to the generosity of its
friends.
They are endeavoring to es
tablish a perniiuiont fund, to be
so invested that it Avill help them
to meet their annual expenses
and to provide for unseen exigen
ces, for Avhich their present sub
scriptions are jAiadequate,
They have now $5,000 or
more; lAUt, as the institution has
from the beginning until the pres
ent depend on the contributions
and donations of its friends to
meet its daily wants, it is neces
sary sometimes to draw upon this
small fund to meet deficiences.
The success of this institution
stimulated others, and auxiliaries
sprang up in Orange, I’aterson,
Broomfield, MorrislOAvn, Belle
ville, Plainfield, and New Brims-
Avick. Tliese all Avorkod cordial
ly and lieartily Avith the ])!irent-
iiistitutiou for several years, Avhon
Patterson and Orange, having so
large a number of cliildrou to
})rovide for, AA-ithdroAV and form
ed associations of tbeir OAvn, and
are both |)ro3ecutiiig their Avork
Avitli vigor and success.
It has aBvays been the aim to
surround the little ones AA'ith such
home-influences as shall supply',
as far as possible, the natural
child-longing for sympathy and
love, Avhile maintaining a firm
yet gentle discipline, and to
make such i)rovision for their
physical, intellectual, and spirit-'
ual natures that if rightly improv
ed they may go out into the
AYorld p'rejiared to take their pla
ces as good citizens roiuly to Avork
in the Master’s service.
Strict attention lias always
been paid to their physical neces
sities—personal cloiiliness, fresh
air, plain Avholesonie food, and
manual exercise besng deemed
essential to their highest Avell-be-
Wily 1 lYiife Sciioulmai-Eiis.
Yes I do bate cliildren
primary schools. 1 have
my
in
O'
A 2>’»mcQ8BC Fm'ce bbi ©bbc S5>15C.
i'ailier. "Why is it, my son, that when you
dro]) yoiu' bread auu butter it is always ou the
biittew-d side f
Zeh. 1 duu’t know ; it ought not to, oiiglit
it ? The strongest side ougnt to be up ; and
this is the strongest butter 1 b.ave ever seen.
1'. Hush upj it-’s sonic of your aunt’s
cdiuniiug.
Z. Dal she churn it, tlie great lazy thing ?•
id What, your aunt?
Z, No, tliis butter. To make tlie old lady
clmru it, it’s strong enough to churn itself.-
id Hush, Zeb j I’ve eat nuieli worse in the
most aristocratic houses.
Z. Well, iKRtjde of raidc ought to eat it.
J\ Why people of rank t
Z. 'Cause it’s rank butter,
id You varmint, you, what makes yiuv
talk so smart i
Z. ’Cause the butter has laken the skin off
my tongue.-
caus'
to, though my dislike occiu-rtv
rather later in life than usual!-,
happens. I Avill tell y'ou why.
and then you Avoiit wonder at nr
deep-rooted dislike; You see
AA'lieii I lived in Salerii 1 used t'
meet nearly every morning tlw
SAveetest young schoolmai-m in al,
Yankee laud, and tliat ain’t say
ing a little. She Iiad such bright
black oj-es, splendid complexion,
chori-y lips, and Avore sticli killing
hats, jterched on masses of dark
broAvn hair, that I fell dead in
love Avith her on sight. How I
Used to Avatch for her eA'ery morn
ing as I Avalked through Blubber
HolloAV on my Avay to the train.
1 could detect her blocks away in
her gray Avafei-pro'of with the cat
erpillar fringe on it. You see I
am minute in my description, old
boy, for the impressio)i made on
mo Avas by no means light. Of
course I Avas Avild for an intro- '
duction ; finally it came. I made
my best boAV, and she—Avell she
just blushed divinely. You may
bo sure I laid myself out to da
the agreeable and went to cliurcb-
es, etc., like a dutiful cavalier.
TIjen I Avould stop at the school
as it Avas closing, and see my
charmer home; Once, oh ! fatal
day I reached the schoolhouse
some ten minutes before the clos
ing exercises, and Avatebed Avith
iucreasingadmii-ation her patience
in teaching the little wretches.
Five minutes of two and tlie sweet
voice gave the order “Put away
your books; fold your arms.”
“Noav James, come forward and
I Avill punish you.” Poor little
Jim, he set up an aAvfi.l hoAvl,
and moved my pity to such an
extent that 1 interceded for him
and Avent so far as to offer to take
his punislimeiit myself in order ta
save his youthful hide. Alas ! I
fancied that tlie schoolmarni was
as spooney as myself, and my
self-love and innate vanity told
me she Avould but tap my palm
Avith her taper lingers. IVell, my
mediator3' efforts Avere successful.-
Tlie sacrifice Avas accepted. James
Avas remanded to his seat, and Jf
poor fool, took his place. The
cliildren sat Avith Avide, o])en eyes,-
Avatchiiig tliis,. to them, wonder-'
fill action on my part. Theu
came the order, “'l ake down youV
(1 blushed and put mj' hands on
my suspender fastenings) feet'
from 011 top of that desk, 3'ou
Millie^ 'i’uba.” Then turning to
me my fair enslaver remarked,
“Hold out 5-0111- hand, sir.” I
l^eld it out, and heard a AA-histling,
in the air, and felt, oh 5’es, felt ar
band of red hot lire from the tips
of Illy fingers to m}' AvrisI, as a
strap some four feet long and tAvo-
inches Avide left its niark on my
dexter fin. The laughter of theso
imps and their teacher rang im
my ears as I tore out of that
sclioolhoiiso, and held a piece of
ice in n!5' llaining hand, while
Avitli the other raised to heaven I
SAvo.fe eternal enmity to sehool-
inarms and priniar}' schools.
All editor Avas draAvn into mat
rimony “b}' the skillful manner
in Avhicli a pretty girl handled a
broom.” After the marriage the'
muiuier in which she handled tli®
broom Avas not so pleasant.