Dorothea Lynde Dix

“ He neglected to provide for his wife and child, and at home did nothing but quarrel, and vent the ill humour he acquired abroad; and miserable to relate, in less than a year his wife became as useless and sinful as he. Their once quiet home was now the scene of perpetual strife and discord; mutual dislike succeeded to mutual reproach, and the unfortunate little John had the example of both parents to initiate him in those early lessons of vice;—and deeply have the seeds of [11_69] corruption been sown in his young heart. ”

“ We knew that John was prepared to die, and we could not feel regret that he had been indulged in pursuing that course of life for which he had such a decided preference. We rejoiced that the lessons of piety which it had been [33_91] our happiness to impart, had taken root and produced the fruits of righteousness. ”

“ That night John attended prayers with more earnestness, and repeated his own lesson with more seriousness, than had been remarked for a long time. He went on day by day making himself more useful and active about the house, and at school doing his best to get forward in his learning. ”

“ These two sailors liked especially to vex and teaze John, or as they called him, “pious Jack.” Their taunts produced no other effect on the boy, except to make him more serious and forbearing.
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“After a time, they became ashamed of their folly in attempting to provoke one who always returned them good for evil, and who was ready at all hours to oblige them. These men became affected, rough as they were, by the influence of this young cabin boy. He persuaded them, after a time, to hear him read some tracts as they sat unemployed, as they often were for some hours together. ”

“ He discovered some ingenuity in mending locks and [25_83] hinges, and other little things, which in a house, are often getting out of order. Every room was looked into; if perchance a nail might be loosened, the putty falling from a pane of glass or a button off—in truth, there was nothing of this sort which escaped his care.
The week soon passed away,—his sea clothes were all made, and sent on board the vessel. John went to take leave of his faithful teacher, Mr. Brown, who gave him several good books and his blessing at parting. ”

“ I gave him short lessons daily, in the form of advice and counsel, and was happy to find him become attracted by the Bible lessons, which James read after the day’s work was ended. At prayers, too, he had learnt to fix his mind on what was passing, and it seemed he took great pleasure when the morning hymn was sung.
It was now time that he should learn [17_75] to read, and I thought a school would be the best place for him. There lived in our neighbourhood a worthy man who kept several boys of this class, a few hours daily ”

“ Not much, he replied, they made me do a little at the Almshouse, but my task was more than the other boys, and so I would not [15_73] do any thing if I could help it, and ran away whenever I could get a chance.
“But are you not willing, if I give you clothes, and food, and a comfortable bed to sleep on, to bring the bark and wood to make my fire of in the parlour, and sometimes go of errands for me?”
“I will, perhaps, if you do not beat me for every thing.”
“I hope you will behave well, and then you will not need punishment. You can do nothing till your frozen foot is healed ”

“ In them the text of scripture was reversed;—‘Good communication had reformed their manners,’—and they became the most valuable hands on board.
“While off the coast we encountered a heavy gale, and then John’s religion was put to the most certain test: for some hours we expected the ship would go to pieces; the night was dark and terrific; we were in danger of being driven on the shoals, and losing life with the cargo.
“We all knew that a moment might end our lives. John was fearless ”

“ With pure Religion’s lamp, so shalt thou blessings find.’”
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, “An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;” and also to an act entitled “An act supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ”