312 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[October, 
FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL 
(.Engraved for the American Agriculturist.) 
The Editor with his Young Readers 
About tlic Picture. 
Several things in the interesting engraving above 
will cause a smile, and there are also many items 
to think about. The center of attraction is the in¬ 
nocent looking little fellow who has just made his 
first appearance in the school-room, and who is un¬ 
dergoing one of the severest trials of early life. 
Ilis neat dress, the careful manner in which his col¬ 
lar is put on, and his neck handkerchief tied, and his 
general appearance, show him to be a mother’s pet. 
Poor fellow! he has been accustomed only to 
pleasant words and approving smiles, and-lie is ut¬ 
terly bewildered by his rude reception. But this 
experience, however painful, may make him more 
manly, by teaching him to rely upon himself, and 
not merely on the favor of those around him ; and 
as lie learns this lesson he will not be easily teased, 
and then others will seldom try to annoy him. He 
will soon find that out, for you sec he docs not cry, 
but bears the infliction well. 
What a contrast between the faces of his tor¬ 
mentors and that of the meek little stranger. The 
tallest of the group looks bright and intelligent, 
but idle and reckless. Very likely he had been 
placed in the middle of the room, with the “dunce 
cap” on his head on account of sonic misbehavior. 
The one on the right appears like a hard-hearted 
boy who enjoys pain in others. The remainder 
of the group seem intent on having sport without 
thinking what the effect may be. 
Observe the sympathizing looks of the boys who 
stand in order on the line where they were when 
the teacher was called out. How true it is that 
good qualities usually grow in clusters: those boys 
are attentive to their lessons, and possessed of kind 
and generous feelings. There are many other 
points in the picture that we might refer to, hut 
you will take more pleasure in yourselves finding 
and commenting upon them. Study each face, 
and try to read the characters of the different boys. 
Slow a Boy I’a id l'or the Agriculturist. 
A lad living in Northampton Co., Pa., (whose 
father had left the farm for other business), was 
very anxious to continue the Agriculturist. His 
mother suggested a plan which he followed, and 
we give the result in his own words....“ I picked 
up all the bits of iron, brass, screws, nails, etc., 
that I could find, and now I have just taken them 
to the foundry, and received §1.00—one dollar of 
which I here enclose for the next volume of the 
Agriculturist. I tried to get some new subscribers, 
but the people here are old-fashioned farmers, and 
you can’t beat ideas into them, so here comes my 
lonesome name after many discouragements_” 
We predict that that boy will make a successful 
man, .for such perseverance can scarcely fail in 
whatever line it is directed. Every one may not 
have the facili ties for obtaining subscription money 
in the same way as this lad did, but almost every 
boy can do it in some way, and quite likely with 
less difficulty. 
TIac 64 Know liow.” 
An old negro who had been employed to butcher 
a calf, demanded a dollar for his services. “ Why, 
you rascal,” said the employer, “it’s too much al¬ 
together, it did not take you half a day.” “Yes, 
yes, massa,” replied the negro, “me charge fifty 
cents for de work, and fifty cents for de know how." 
The amount was paid forthwith. The negro was 
right; the “ know how" is just what is wanted in 
every business, and it will always command a good 
price. Whatever trade or occupation you may be 
taught, keep in mind that everything learned about 
it will be valuable. We have a friend who many 
years ago was employed as clerk in a wholesale 
cloth store. He knew little of the business when 
he commenced, but he at once procured and read 
all the books he could find relating to the manu¬ 
facture and sale of cloth, so that in a few months 
he was better informed on the subject than most 
other salesmen in the establishment. This made 
his services more valuable, and he was -rapidly ad¬ 
vanced, until now he stands at the head of one of 
the first firms in this City. He had the “ know 
how" and could command success. 
A Ihuscious Pcacii—A Noble Boy. 
Few of our readers will ever forget the interest¬ 
ing item we published last December, entitled 
“ Bite Bigger, Billy.” It has gone the rounds of 
the entire press of the country, though it has long 
since ceased to be credited to its true source. We 
have seen it already in several foreign journals, and 
we trust it has been and will be the means of in¬ 
spiring higher impulses in many a boy’s heart. 
Here is another somewhat similar incident, that 
occurred under our own observation as wo chanced 
to stand at our door a few days since: 
A man was carrying some peaches past the 
Agriculturist office. They were contained in bas¬ 
kets, covered with cloth, and slung over his 
shoulder, making a pretty heavy load. By some 
means one of the covers became loosened, and 
quite a number of the tempting looking peach¬ 
es rolled down upon the side-walk, and the man 
went on without perceiving the loss. A poorly 
dressed little boy, about ten years old, who was 
