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WORDS FITLY SPOKEN IN SCHOOL. 
BY UNCLE FRANK. 
Eds. Rural Nkw-Yorkf.r:—I have been a 
reader of your paper for fourteen years, and no 
Department of it is so interesting to me, as that 
devoted to education, or the management of com¬ 
mon schools. I look upon the common, school 
system as one of the main pillars of our national 
independence; and, consequently, whatever can 
be done by legislation, by writing or reading, to 
improve the system, is an individual and nation¬ 
al benefit. 
A great, deal boa been said and written on the 
best mode of government in schools. It is true, 
that three-fourths of the teachers who fail of 
euceess, get. dismissed, or “ turned out,” as it is 
called, for the. lack of a capacity to govern. A 
large majority, of both sexes, who engage in 
teaching are young both In practice and in 
years; and of course lack that judgment and in¬ 
sight into human nature which is indispensable 
to the successful government of their pupils. 
T have reflected with pain aud saducss, when 
I have seen so many blows given with the fertile 
and raw-hide, and boxes on the ears, when a few 
words, “ fitly spoken,” would have accom¬ 
plished the desired object so much better. Tn a 
long experience of more than a score of years 1 
SWAMPS 
THE AMAZON. 
Jamkh, what is your object in quarreling and moved to the State of New Aork, 1 went to 
lighting so much with the scholars?” Boston on some business, and having some trad- 
“ Never pitch in fust,” said Jim; “if they ingtodo, I stopped at Cam Bridgeport and en- 
have found but very few oases where I thought pitch in, I calkcrlate to give as good as I git.’ 
corporeal punishment was absolutely necessary. “Well, now,’* said I, “if they would not commenced purchasing suen aruciesag i wanieu. i The river is quite deep at the very edge oi .. . « - ." 
Among scores of eases which have come within ‘pitch in,’ as you call it, would you let them While I was busy in this way, T noticed a young the stream, not having those sloping shores the soldiers around camp. He was soon a i e 
mv own experience, I will relate one to provo alone? or, in other words, had you rather fight, man who stood at the desk writing, and who w hieh characterize most streams. It swarms repay the wrowed money, am posses:-,: capi- 
what 1 have stated. or not?” occasionally looked toward me. When I had with alligators through the greater part of its tal ot his own. .‘some days he would make fifty 
In 18*0, while living in Massachusetts, I had “ Rather not,” said he. done my trading und was about to leave, this course . Choice fish are abundant in its waters. Cento and from that to a dollar. He was honest 
taught my winter term through, and a few days “That's good! I am glad to hear you say so, young man stepped around from behind the Delicious turtles, frogs, lizards and water ser- in his trading, and exacted honesty m return, 
after was called upon by a committeeman from Now toll me why you do not try to learn? counter, approached me, called me by name and pen to are plenty. And the forests, whieh bor- If a soldier imposed upon turn he mandated 
a neighboring district to engage me to “ finish Don't you want to get learning?” offered hia hand, I took his hand hut told him tler it , are haunted with bears, panthers, jaguars neither fear nor anger. I remem >er One oeca- 
tered a large dry goods and grocery store, and 
commenced purchasing such articles as I wanted. 
burthen might be employed on this river and its 
tributaries a combined extent of not less than 
10,000 miles, and smaller steamers for at least as 
much more. 
The river to quite deep at the very edge of 
While I was busy in this way, T noticed a young the stream, not having those sloping shores 
man who stood at tho desk writing, and who which characterize most streams. It swarms 
.en flint) Ut tte |§jriwg 
THE BOY SOLDIER. | 
Eds. Rural New-Yokkkh:—I n the summer 
of 1862, while on duty at Oamp Chase, Colum¬ 
bus, Ohio, a little boy came to our company 
quarters. He was alone, and all id out him were 
strangers. ITe had evidently been attracted by 
the novelty of camp scenes, and had left home 
and friends without saying “ good-bye.” By 
his bright, intelligent look he enlisted the sym¬ 
pathy of some of our company who naturally 
took an interest in one so young aud tender. 
His clothes betrayed his poverty, aud in answer 
to questions we soon learned that he was beg¬ 
ging a living from the soldiers who were willing 
to share their rations with hirn. lie exhibited, 
by his manner, no anxiety for his lot; neither 
that abandon which the careless show. He 
manifested no timidity, neither repulsive bold¬ 
ness. A mess in our company asked him to stay 
with them. He looked as though lie would like 
to do so, and his acts and words expressed his 
thanks. In a few days our little protege had at¬ 
tracted considerable notice. He swept tho bar¬ 
racks where he messed, and in other ways ex¬ 
hibited a desire to repay the kindness shown to 
him. We thought his ragged clothes not good 
enough, and soon purchased a neat grey suit, 
which we presented him. ne felt a little proud 
of his present, and he was determined to be and 
do something. The boys loaned him fifty cents 
which he invested in fruit, and then sold it to 
the soldiers around camp. He was soon able to 
repay the borrowed money, and possessed capi- 
oeeasionully looked toward me. When I had with alligators through the greater part of its tal ot his own. Some days he would make fifty 
v . . " ° ° _a O _ 1 . 1 ... B .. . 1 . 1 I..M TT.-v rrfnr U/-.nna 4 - 
done my trading und was about to leave, this course. Choice fish are abundant in its waters, cents and from that to a dollar. He was honest 
. young man stepped around from behind the Delicious turtles, frogs, lizards and water ser- ’ n * 1 '- H leading, and exacted honesty in return. 
a neighboring district to engage me. to “finish 
out,” as be said, “ their school.” 1 asked him 
the reason their teacher left the school. He said 
the scholars had locked him up in the school- 
house. I had known tills district from a boy, 
and 1 knew it liod the reputation of being one 
of the worst schools to manage in W****r Co. 
It was large, and bad many large scholars. I 
had known of their carrying this teacher out of 
the school-house, ducking him in a snow-bank 
and tolling him to go home. My friends advised 
me, liy all means, not to go; but I did not heed 
their advice. I told Mr. Lamb (the committee¬ 
man) I would be there the next Monday. 
“ Don’t care much bout it,” said he. _ I did not know him. 
“ Well, why do you behave so badly in school ? “ You don't know me,” said he, “ but I knew 
I never injured you, and yet, every day, yt>u do you the moment you entered the store. I am 
many things that provokes me very much ; do .Jim BROWN, and went to school to you seven 
you do it on purpose to hurt my feelings?” years ago, in the town of C****n, Wor. Co.” 
“No, sir, I dont; I spose I do it ’cause its Ho then asked mo to go back into tho office. 
nateral.” 
“ Now, James, I will tell you what I want 
you to do. I want you to turn right square 
around, and take an entirely different course. 
Quit fighting entirely. If the boys ‘pitch in,' 
and when we were seated, he said, “ the talk 
you and I bad that night you kept me after 
school, and the advice you gave me, und the in¬ 
terest you manifested in my welfare, saved me 
from ruin; and was the means, through the 
tell them you don't want to fight; and I will blessing of Heaven, of making me what I am. 
see that they let you alone. Leave off all your It was the first time any one had told me T had j 
According to agreement, 1 went to my school 
on Monday. When I entered the school-house, 
not less than seventy scholars were there—as I 
entered, they were all in their seats, and as I 
bowed, they all rose and bowed in return. 
This was the custom in that place at that time. 
The scholars gave me a look that convinced me 
that they meant to know what I was made of. 
I opened tha school by a few remarks, in the 
course of which I told them T had been him! to 
come there aud teach them reading, writing, 
arithmetic, grammar and geography. I said, 
“I consider myself capable of teaching and 
probably understand these branches better than 
you do; and I shall bo glad to give you any aid 
you require. Aud you know, that in order to 
have a good school, we must have order aud 
regulation. You cau, those of you who arc the 
oldest, govern yourselves.” 
school I capers in school, study your lessons and try to any thing good In me. At all the places I had 
get them well, and. instead of Its being an irk¬ 
some task, you will soon find it interesting. 1 
know you have a groat many hail qualities, hut 
you have got souiegqo^l ones." 
He gave me a curious look, and said. “ should 
like to know what there to good about iue?” 
“ I will tell vou. The other day when BrH i- 
lived, and at every school I ettended, I was 
treated like a dog. I oared nothing about get¬ 
ting learning, aud I used to think when I was 
grown up I should probably be an outcast, and 
take to highway robbery; but when you told 
me I was uot all bad, but had some good quali¬ 
ties, I felt a now impulse in my heart which 
never before liad bei n 'aroused. I applied my- 
u am Mfruit was hazing Lynus Cummins, never before had bei n groused l applied my- 
about throwing* his cap m the broofe, .nd vex- >lf to -tour dur,* wTMc.-sf.wlue, at aehool, 
in" him every way lie could devise, you took ‘tid, in tho COUW'lf a few >W, acquired an 
his part, got hi* cap and held Brigham till education sufficient tdjenable me toentera store 
Lynns WftS out of hia reach. Other similar 
act* 1 have seen you perform makes me know 
you are not all had, hut some good.” 
I saw a tear start in liis eye, hut he made no 
answer. AVe now left the house and started for 
home. We walked together forty rods before 
the road turned oft' to the right which led to his 
and other wild animals. 
There is a wonderful phenomenon which 
occurs in this river. It is called by the natives | 
pororoca. More than a hundred years ago it I 
was described by La Condamine as follows: 
“ During three days before the tiew and full 
moons, the period of the highest tides, the sea, 
instead of occupying six hours to reach its 
flood, swells to ito highest limit in one or two 
minutes. The noise of this terrible flood is 
heard live or six miles, and increases as it ap¬ 
proaches. Presently you see a liquid promon¬ 
tory, 12 or 15 feet high, followed bv another and 
another, and sometimes by a fourth. These 
watery mountains spread across the whole chan¬ 
nel. and advance with prodigious rapidity, rend¬ 
ing aud crushing everything in their way. 
immense trees are instantly uprooted by it, 
and sometimes whole tracts of land are swept 
away. No vessel can withstand the fury of 
such a tide, and hence those accustomed to the 
navigation of the river avail themselves of coves 
or voting p’aees where their vessels may be 
sheltered from its violence.” 
as clerk. Aud 1 liave^ continued in the business 
ever since. Last spring i came into this estab¬ 
lishment as a partner with the man whom you 
were just trailing with." 
I bade James Brown good,bye, deeply im- 
SCIENTIFIC GLEANENC-S. has gained such extensive lyitoriety. His former 
home was Newark, Ohio, and his age twelve 
From the proceedings of the Polytechnic year ^ Jini j height four feet and one inch, are 
ssociation of the Americau Institute we ' g ^ 1C papers give them. An account of his 
ither the following items: exploits on the battlefield has already been 
siou when a soldier took some peaches from his 
basket; their return was demanded and refused; 
| but instead of crying, or calling hard names, he 
simply said, “ I will report you. sir’’’ and start¬ 
ed for headquarters, found the captain, told his 
story, and obtained the satisfaction of seeing the 
thief punished and his own loss made good. 
This little fellow never seemed to know what 
fear was. You could not scare him. But this 
almost total absence of fear was not made up by 
impudence or rudeness as in some children. Hto 
many good traits so favorably impressed some of 
our boys that they were thinking of taking him 
home with them when their term of service 
should expire, desiring that some of their pa¬ 
rents should adopt him. In the latter pajt of 
August the most of our company were sent to 
Vicksburg on special duty, and our little friend 
was left behind with the sick and feeble. When 
we returned we were surprised to learn that 
“ourboy” had gone South with some soldiers 
who were returning to their regiments. 
, That was the last jye heard of the little beg¬ 
gar boy till now. when we know him as “our 
youngest soldier!”—'“ little Johnny Clem,”— 
who by liis extreme youth and fearless bravery 
“When you go to meeting yon don't require home, 
any one to tell you how to behave; your own “ Remember whrit I have told you James, 
seusoof propriety and self-respect teaches you and do as I have requested you, and l have no 
this. And it should do tho same at school. But doubt you will be a smart man.” I took him 
I really hope that you will uot dislike me so by the hand and bade him good night, and went 
much that you will feel disposed to carry me home. 
out into a snow-drift, or shut me up in the The next day there was no lighting, and Jim 
school-house; at any rate, I do not entertain got hto lesson better than usual. But I saw it 
any such Ideas.” . wa9 almost impossible for him to leave off his 
i then went around the school, and, as I mischief In school. The second day. w hile the 
wrote down each name, inquired the different boys were out at recess. I heard a noise— laugh- 
branches they meant to pursue. When I had ing, and loud talking. I looked out the window, 
nearly got through this process, I same to a boy and saw six or eight boys around Jim. He was 
about 15 years old, a short, thick-set fellow, backed up against a stone wall, and there they 
and very poorly dressed. 1 asked him what he stood teasing him. In a moment after, lie broke 
* intended to study ? lie reached out toward me loose and ran for the school-house. Ho came 
an old spelling-hook, which was all the answer in. hto face covered with blood. I had hard 
ho gave. I asked him if that was the book he work to master myself so as to appear calm and 
road in. By a nod of the head, he gave me to collected. When the boys were all in. aud 
understand that it was. Having arranged the seated, I turned to Calvin Lamb, a boy whom 
school into classes. I dismissed them for a recess. 1 know to ho truth fill and honest, and asked him 
I mou found that tiff, MIISM be,'. If bo U*1 "*«•«* th. whole affair He »U 
name wa, 1 H. had no parent be had. I then told Mm to tell mo ot he whole 
living, was a town pauper whom one Mr. Butt- tran.,aetion. lie mid JIM and LinH t l.MMias 
11 NOA M li had taken from the poor-houno. lie had been dow n to the epring to d rink. When 
was „„„ ot those unfortunates whom ever, Uiey eamo bark .Jim wm solus to the school¬ 
teacher of uiueli eicporience leu, ooen-a mark house, when the bo,, got him. barkedup again, 
, mu i the wall, and kept striking at him, catching hold 
for everv ono to “shoot at. Every one, large “ ,, ,. , 
and email, thought the, had a perfect rightto ] <>f Ma rent and daring him to strike. Ho did 
give Jim' a - kick and ruff” at an,, and all «"t Kt** hack, but presently broke through 
limes. It is true, ho would light back, which •be™ and rum ns ho del so Aaron (this was 
kept a continual hurrah and fuss a great part of Caltin-s brother) struck him on tho nose, 
recess. In school Jim was one of the worst I was much excited, and my first impulse was 
ouses l ever tound. Learn he would not; ho to draw Aaron out on the floor and give 
was full of all manner or capers to draw the at- him a severe whipping; but I kept my angry 
teution of the scholars and provoke the teacher, passions down, and addressed the hoys in a tone 
I hardly knew what course to Like with him. by which they all kuew I was in earnest: 
When I thought of whipping him, I remem- “ Boys, 1 want you to understand that from 
bered how many Bueh punishments he had re- this time forward you must keep your hands o 
pressed with the truth of the wise man’s words, gather the following items: 
“A word fitly spoken, how good it is!” Upright Boilers. —Mr. J. B. Root stated that 
J am es Brown now commands a company of i ^ f ar as hto own knowledge as an engineer 
Association 
Americau Institute we 
of infantry iu Gen, Gilmore's army, near 
Charleston. 
Middlesex, Tates Co., N. Y., ISA!. 
THE RIVER AMAZON. 
Tins to a wonderful river. The natives call 
it Paranatinga and Gtliena— Europeans call it 
Maranon, or Maranbam, Sollmceuo, Orellana 
and Amazon. Its head waters or sources are in 
the Andes. There are three rivers, each of 
which, rising within one hundred miles of the 
Pacific coast, have been regarded as the main 
widely published. Truly this war developes 
character. It makes some men as timid as boys, 
i extended, upright boilers with upright smoke- an j gives to some of tender years the character- 
tubes were not so liable to explode as those i^ties of mature manhood. E. AY. Stuart. 
lying horizontally. He wished to gather facts Strectsboro, Portage Co., Ohio. 
relating to this point. Other gentlemen cited ---- 
eases of the explosion of upright boilers. If GRATITUDE TO BENEFACTORS. 
there is any difference m favor of or against up- - 
right boilers, the facts should be gathered and Thank every person who does you a favor, 
made public. Remember and speak of those who show you 
Occult Poisons .— According to tho investiga- kindness. Ingratitude is a crime. 1o forget 
tions of Prof. Letiieby, of London, nitro- any good which has ever been done you is a fault 
benzole and aniline, in their free state, are 
powerful narcotic poisons. Their insidious ac¬ 
tion should be thoroughly understood by all 
persons engaged in the manufacture of mauve, 
magenta, and other aniline coloring compounds. 
The fact that nitre-benzole may remain in the 
humau body a long time before manifesting any 
Some have rendered you services so great that 
vou can never repay them. Your parents have, 
and are doing it every day. Probably other 
friends have given you gifts which you are not 
able to return. These you should treasure up in 
your memory, and when you open your heart to 
God, remember them. Every night and morn- 
stream. The names of these three rivers are md Uiat after cxorling it9 fata l effect it ing ask Him. in your prayers, to bless your ben- 
Ucay all, Bent and Tunguragua. Beside these faM>dwnMd as to leave but slight traces of its efactors. Those who have taken the pains to 
there flows into this sreat river li other tiiht senc> ^ s k 0 uM attract the particular attention 
class rivers, and over 200 tributaries. And it is ’ i ..urinal chemist. 
estimated the Amazon and its tributaries drain 
a surface of territory of over 2,500,000 square 
miles. 
The mouth of the Amazon was discovered in 
1500 by Yank/. Pin con. In 1539, Francis 
iI'Orkllan a explored it through its whole i 
course, descending it from near Quito to its j 
mouth. In 1613. a Spanish adventurer had 
visited its upper waters, and gave them his 
name — Maranon. Its length, according to 
Lieut. Herndon, of the U. S. Survey, who 
explored it by direction of our Government in 
1851-2 —its length from Oroya, the source of the ' 
HuaUaga branch to the Para mouth—is 3,944 
miles. At a distance of 2,830 miles from its 
mouth it to 5to) yards wide; 3,326 mile* from the 
sea it to thrcc-l'ourths of a mile wide; 35 miles 
above its mouth it to 10 miles iu width; and at 
its mouth, where a large island divides the cur- 
bered how many such punishments he had re- this time forward you must keep your hands off above its mouth it is 10 miles tu width; and at 
ocived with no good effect; and the same was James Brown. He has told mo he don’t want Us mouth, where a large island divides the cur- 
true of scoldin". I finally concluded I would see to quarrel; and even if he did, l don’t calculate rent, it is 180 miles In width. 
What effect reasoning would have, Mr. Bitr- to have any quarreling at all: and I should The region bordering this great stream is 
ling am e told mo it would be time and labor think you large boys would be ashamed to exceedingly fertile, aud covered with vast for¬ 
spent in vain. It would, he said, be as useless plague, and vex. and strike a boy who has uo eets. Baron Humboldt says;—“ li the name 
a* to undertake to reason with ahorse. How- father, nor brothers, nor any one to befriend of primeval forest can be given to any forest on 
over, the next night, after I had dismissed him. And as for you, Aaron." addressing him, the face of the earth, none can so strictly claim it 
school, I told Jim 1 wanted he should stay a few “ you can take your choice, to make confession as those that fill the connected basin ot the Orinoco 
minutes; I wanted a little talk with him. I to Jim, and ask hto forgiveness, or take a whip- aiul Amazon.” The banks of the Amazon are 
saw he did not like to stay* and as 1 was busy ping. You have heard that when l do punish, elevated above the ordinary height of the river, 
arranging the writing hooks and seeing to the it is felt.” But during the rainy season it overflows its 
fire, 1 heard one of the larger scholars say to Aaron came forward the next day, confessed, banks and covers districts with ito waters, huu- 
liini, “ the master wants to get you alone, and and all went on smoothly to the end of the term, dnxls of miles in extent. The tides perceptibly 
then he will give you an all-fired licking.” I taught that school the two succeeding winters; affect its waters 400 miles from its mouth. 
Jim came to mo aud told me he dhMiot want but Jim was not one of my pupils; he had gone. There are no Tails in it to interrupt navigation 
to slav: but 1 finally persuaded him. AV hen we I knew not whither. ► except near the sources of its head waters. It to 
school, I told Jim 1 wanted he should stay a few 
minutes; I wanted a little talk xvith him. I 
saw he did not like to stay* and as 1 was busy 
arranging the writing books aud seeing to the 
fire, 1 beard one of tha larger scholars say to 
him, “ the mustor wants to g*-'t y° u #lone, and 
then he will give you an all-fired licking.” 
Jim came to mo aud told me tic diAiot want 
to slay; hut 1 finally persuaded him. when we 
were alone, aud the door shut, I said. “ now. 
asthose that fill the connected basin of the Orinoco 
aiul Amazon." The banks of the Amazon are 
elevated above tho ordinary height of the river. 
of the medical jurist and analytical chemist. 
TFInd and Weather.— 8ir John F. AV. IT f.ks- 
chkl says:— If we are ever to make any mate¬ 
rial progress in the prediction of the weather 
beyond *‘ forecasts” of a few hours, or it may be : 
a whole day in advance, it can oulv be by the 
continued study of such of its phases as recur 
periodically, or of such as manifest a periodicity 
of events, as dtotiuct from that of times and 
seasons, with a view to connecting them with 
their efficient physical causes. Of this latter de¬ 
scription we have an example of one, and of its 
successful reduction under the domain of philo¬ 
sophical reasoning, in the law of the rotation of 
the winds- That the winds in their changes, in 
the general way. “follow the sun" —have 
a tendency to veer in the same direction round 
the compass card with the sun's apparent diur¬ 
nal course in the heavens (from east round by 
south, w est, and north in northern hemisphere, 
and reversedly in the southern) iu continual 
succession back to the original point—has been 
surmised from very early times, but until lately, 
rather as a matter of occasional remark, agree¬ 
ing, on the whole, with the general impression 
of casual observers, than as a meteorological 
law of universal applicability. 
As such, however, ir has now taken its place 
But during the rainy season it overflow's ito among ascertained facto, verified by the icgto- 
bauks and covers districts with ito waters, hun- tered movements of the wind-vane at every 
dreds of miles in extent. The tides perceptibly station where continuous observation is made, 
affect its waters 400 miles from its mouth, and connected by the researches of M. Dove 
There are no falls in it to interrupt navigation with that great tact which underlies so many 
except near the sources of ito head waters. It to other phenomena—the rotation of the earth on 
Seven years after, in IS4T> just before I re- 1 asserted that ships of from 1,000 to 2,000 tuns ’ ito axis. 
give good advice are your benefactors. So are 
all those who have labored to instruct you. 
Knowledge is one of the most precious gifts, 
thereto re your teachers are among your best 
benefactors. Be docile to all their instructions. 
Lay up their words in your memory. After 
you cease to be under their care, do not forget 
them. Wherever you meet them, treat them 
with marked respect- “Esteem them very 
highlv in love for their work’s sake.” It to one 
sign of a good child to be beloved by hto in¬ 
structor. And if children remember with re¬ 
gard those who have instructed them, it proves 
that they prize wisdom, and are capable of grat¬ 
itude. 
Attributes of Valor.—T he estimate and 
valor of a man consists in the heart, and in the 
will: there his true honor lies. Valor to stabil¬ 
ity, not of arms and legs but of courage and the 
soul; It does not lie iu the valor of our horse, 
nor our arms, but in ourselves. He that tails 
obstinate in his courage, if hto legs fail him, 
tights upon hto knees.— Montaigne. 
The inspired man becomes great by absorp¬ 
tion in a great design; he is pre-oecupied, and 
trifles, for whieh other men arc bought and 
sold, shine before him as beads of glass with 
which savages are w heedled. 
Discrimination to worth so much, because 
there are uo great gaps between man and man, 
between mind aud mind. There is no virtuous, 
no vicious, no poet, no unpoet; and only dull¬ 
ness lumps one with angels, another with dogs. 
