Town Report on Lincoln 1871-1890, Part 9

Author: Lincoln (Mass.)
Publication date: 1871
Publisher: Lincoln (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 718


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1871-1890 > Part 9


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ALSO, THE


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


For the School Year 1879-80.


BOSTON : TOLMAN & WHITE, PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET. 1880.


WARRANT.


-


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.


MIDDLESEX, SS.


To FRANCIS C. BROWN, Constable of the Town of Lincoln,


in said County,


GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Lincoln, duly qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, On MONDAY, the first day of March next, at one o'clock, P. M., to act on the following articles, viz. :


ART. 1. To choose a Moderator.


ART. 2. To act on the reports of the Town Officers, and the Committee chosen to examine the Treasurer's accounts, and to choose an Examining Committee for the ensuing year.


ART. 3. To choose Town Officers for the ensuing year.


ART. 4. To act on the revision of the Jury Box.


ART. 5. To determine the manner of collecting Taxes the en- suing year.


ART. 6. To determine the manner of repairing the Highways and Bridges of the town the ensuing year.


ART. 7. To make provision for the support of the Poor, from and after the first day of April next.


ART. 8. To see if the Town will enlarge, alter or repair the Town Hall, and build a belfry and place the bell therein.


ART. 9. To see if the Town will abate the taxes of certain persons assessed in the years 1875 and 1877, a list of which will be submitted by the Assessors.


ART. 10. To see if the Town will purchase a new hearse.


ART. 11. To act upon the report of the Committee, chosen in November last, to report upon an alteration of the road on the southerly side of the Common.


ART. 12. To make such grants and appropriations of money as the Town shall judge necessary for the support of Schools ; for the support of the Poor ; for the repair of Highways and Bridges ; for


4


Burial Grounds ; for the Public Library ; for the payment of Town Debts, and the interest thereon ; and for other necessary and con- tingent expenses and charges.


ART. 13. To see if the Town will make an alteration in the road leading from the Railroad Station towards Wayland, near the house of Mr. J. R. Farnsworth.


And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting copies thereof at each of the Post Offices, and at the meeting-house of the First Parish, eight days before the time of meeting, and making seasonable return hereof, with your doings to the Town Clerk.


Dated at Lincoln, the fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty.


WILLIAM F. WHEELER, Selectmen SAMUEL HARTWELL, of


AMOS P. SHERMAN, Lincoln.


SELECTMEN'S REPORT.


The Selectmen, according to custom, herewith submit a report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the town for the municipal year. We think it shows a pretty economical expenditure of money, very much in keeping with the action of the town at the last annual meeting, and a comfortable balance in the treasury, one-half of which might be applied to a reduction of the town debt ; or, if the town prefer, to a further reduction of the rate of taxation for the coming year.


The only exception to economy in expenditures, and the only one requiring any explanation at our hands, is the suit of Mr. Howard Snelling vs. the Town.


It will be recollected that the town, at the last March meeting, did not seem to know what to do with it, and turned it over to the Selectmen with full powers. We knew at the outset that it was like everything connected with the Water Works, an elephant, and a dead one at that, and we were as much at a loss to know what to do with it as the town. There is a wise saying, "When you do not know what to do-do nothing." The former committees of the town were wise men, and obeyed the precept,-we did worse, we went to a lawyer. He advised us to see Mr. Somerby. Mr. Somerby received us graciously, took the papers and case into consideration ; subsequently he gave us a long interview, went over the case in all its bearings, pronounced the defence good, took a retainer, and said he would try the case. Before it came to trial two things, very unfortunate for us, happened. Mr. Snelling was killed, and Mr. Somerby died, but the case survived, so we had to get another lawyer. He, too, pronounced the defence good and strong, and the case came to trial in October. Our lawyers did well, but the one on the other side was too much for them ; young and handsome, able and eloquent, a widower too, he went into it in gallant style, and did his best; when he depicted the hard- heartedness of town officers, and touched upon the wrongs of the widow and fatherless, one might almost see the tears fall and hear


6


the children crying for bread, and the bewildered jurymen, what could they do? Jurymen have a reputation of being very much like the lawyers, soft on the widows and hard on the towns, and how can they discern the sharp lines of law and equity with eyes suffused with sympathetic tears? They did just as other juries do, decided the town must pay. Our counsel promptly filed a bill of exceptions, and told us they had no doubt that if the plaintiffs got ten such verdicts against the town the court would set them all aside, but we hesitated for two reasons, verdicts are expensive things-all the more costly when you don't get them than when you do ; then the widow might pine away and the children starve while waiting for the verdict, and then an amount of obloquy would be heaped on our heads greater than all the waters of Sandy Pond could ever wash away ; the situation was appalling, and we yielded and paid over the money. We hope the widow and children got it, but we confess to a lurking skepticism, we have considered the probability of a fraction being turned over to Mr. Snelling's creditors, and have graver doubts. We have heard it suggested that, possibly, it might be found in that hole in the ground it was first used to force water into, or in the pockets of the witnesses who testified so bravely at the trial, but we banish the thought. Precisely where money does go after it gets into the pockets of the lawyers is not easy to say ; we have heard it hinted that sometimes they keep it themselves. Our private opinion is that in this case, the ends of justice were just as well answered if they did.


WILLIAM F. WHEELER, Selectmen SAMUEL HARTWELL, of


AMOS P. SHERMAN, Lincoln.


7


Taxes assessed in 1879, Deduct County Tax,


$7,420 44


339 51


Amount to be paid Town Treasurer, received,


7,080 93


5,142 49


Uncollected taxes of 1879,


1,938 44


" 1878,


986 25


66


" 1877, 438 53


66 66 " 1875, 545 16


Amount of uncollected taxes,


$3,908 38


VALUATION OF THE TOWN, MAY 1ST, 1879.


Personal Estate, $193,749 00


Real Estate,


567,259 00


$761,008 00


DEBT OF THE TOWN.


Lincoln Water Bonds, due Dec. 1, 1894, interest


6 per cent. semi-annually, $30,000 00


TREASURER'S REPORT.


The Receipts into and Payments from the Treasury from Feb. 1, 1879, to Feb. 1, 1880, have been as follows : -


Balance in the Treasury Feb. 1, 1879 ...


$2,110 43


Paid Selectmen's orders.


. $7,279 07


Received of County Treasurer, Dog Tax refunded,


142 30


State Treasurer, for Bank Tax recalled ..


3 34


of State Treasurer, for expense of send-


ing Henry Cripps and family to Maine ..


24 05


Balance in the Treasury ...


5,013 15


of State Treasurer, on account of Cor- poration Tax of 1878.


44


of State Treasurer, for Corporation Tax of 1879


379 39


of State Treasurer, for National Bank Tax.


762 24


of State Treasurer, for Reimbursement of State Aid.


48 00


of State Treasurer, income of Massachu- setts School Fund .... ..


214 56


Interest of Grammar School Fund ....


65 54


" Periodical Fund ..


6 00


for use of Town Hall ..


9 25


for School Books sold ..


152 19


of Geo. H. Smith, balance due for ser- vice pipes laid ...


1 20


of Cyrus Smith, for service pipes laid ... for rent of Sandy Pond ...


31 04


20 00


of J. L. Chapin, on account of Taxes of 1875. .


8 71


of J. D. Sherman, on account of Taxes of 1877 ..


1,093 95


of Francis Smith, on account of Taxes of 1878 .. .


2,282 39


of Francis Smith, on account of Taxes of 1879 ..


5,142 49


of E. A. Fay, for service pipes laid ......


36 39


$12,530 56


E. & O. E.


$12,530 56


WILLIAM F. WHEELER, Treasurer.


8


·


" State Tax for 1879 ..


235 00


$7,517 41


EXPENDITURES.


FOR SCHOOLS. RECEIPTS.


Town Grant,


$1,700 00


Income Mass. School Fund,


214 56


Grammar 66


65 54


Received for school books sold,


152 19


-


$2,132 29


PAYMENTS.


CENTRE SCHOOL.


R. P. Williams, teaching High School,


twenty-three weeks, at $16.50, $379 50


F. B. Sherburn, teaching High School, eleven weeks, at $15.00, 165 00


Keziah Howes, teaching Primary School, twenty weeks, at $8.50,


170.00


Keziah Howes, teaching Primary School, eleven weeks, at $7.00,


77 00


J. R. Hartwell, six tons coal, 66 one cord wood,


5 75


Mrs. Delhanty, washing school-house,


6 00


J. S. Murray, whitening entries,


6 97


N. F. Cousins, shelves in High School,


1 25


J. L. Chapin, care of Centre school-house, 66 ink, crayons, pails and repairs,


6 05


John Lahay, sawing wood, 2 00


L. Thompson, Jr., stove for High School, 34 00


66 stove pipe for " 7 50


$939 02


NORTH SCHOOL.


Carrie B. Chapin, teaching twenty-two weeks, at $8.50,


$187 00


Carrie B. Chapin, teaching eleven weeks, at $7.00, 77 00


J. R. Hartwell, five cords wood,


30 00


John Dee, care of school-house, one year,


15 00


Charles A. Cripps, for repairs,


3 45


James B. Wood, stick of timber,


81


Samuel Hartwell, lumber,


50


hitching bars, 5 00


James L. Chapin, broom and crayons,


65


L. Thompson, Jr., for stove,


13 00


$332 41


33 00


45 00


10


EAST SCHOOL.


Emma A. Farnsworth, teaching twenty-two weeks, at $8.50,


$187 00


Emma A. Farnsworth, teaching eleven weeks, at $7.00,


77 00


Mary Dempsey, care of school-house,


8 00


Ellen 66


2 00


Mrs. Dougherty, cleaning school-room,


1 00


Francis C. Brown, three cords wood,


20 50


Emma A. Farnsworth, pail and basin,


28


J. L. Chapin, ink, crayons, &c.,


2 50


$298 28


SOUTH SCHOOL.


Sadie S. Baker, teaching twenty-three weeks, at $12.00,


$276 00


Sadie S. Baker, teaching eleven weeks, at $10.00,


110 00


Geo. M. Baker, chair and lock,


1 00


66 66 washing room,


2 50


66


seventeen ft. of wood,


11 00


M. L. Hatch, stove pipe,


3 50


A. S. Loudan, repairs in 1876,


3 05


Geo. P. Haynes, five cords wood,


25 00


Joseph Miner, care of school-house,


10 00


Willie Ryan,


4 00


Mrs. Kenna, cleaning school-room,


4 00


Jas. Farrar, two and one-half cords wood in 1878, 12 50


$462 55


GENERAL SCHOOL ACCOUNT.


Knight, Adams & Co., school books, &c., $160 04


A. C. Stockin, 66 66 20 90


J. L. Hammett, globe, 4 00


4 50


N. E. School Furnishing Co., erasers,


J. S. Murray, making and repairing black- boards in school-houses, 53 39


$246 48


$2,275 09


Expenditure above appropriation,


$142 80


11


LIBRARY.


RECEIPTS.


Dog tax,


$142 30


Interest of periodical fund,


6 00


$148 30


PAYMENT.


Library Committee, $148 30


SUPPORT OF POOR.


RECEIPTS.


Town grant,


$1,100 00


Received of the State for expenses in send-


ing Henry Cripps' family to Maine, 24 05


$1,124 05


PAYMENTS.


D. H. Sherman, for the support of the poor from Jan. 1, 1879, to Jan. 1, 1880, $1,000


Worcester Lunatic Hospital, for support of Patrick Kenna from Jan. 1 to March 31, 1879, 63 28


Expense in sending Cripps' family to Maine, 25 05


$1,088 33


Unexpended balance,


$35 72


STATE AID.


RECEIPTS.


Received from the State,


$48 00


PAYMENT.


Alithea Parker,


$36 00


HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.


RECEIPTS.


Town grant,


$1,000 00


PAYMENTS.


A: S. Brooks, breaking roads in Dist. No. 1, $4 80


highway work 66


1, 72 97


Geo. Nelson, breaking roads 66 2, 5 77


highway work


2, 58 15


Sam'l Hartwell, breaking roads


2, 5 28


12


Sam'l Hartwell, highway work, Dist. No. 2, $8 78 66 66 supporting bank wall near


Tanyard brook, 8 62


A. P. Sherman, highway work in Dist. No. 3, 60 34 Order of S. H. Pierce, highway work in Dist. No. 4, 90 00


W. F. Wheeler, highway work in Dist. No. 4, 39 00


L. W. Weston, gravel “64,


3 30


Francis Smith, breaking roads 66 66 4,


4 00


J. L. Chapin, 66 66 4,


7 76


W. C. Brown, for gravel 5, 66 breaking roads 66 5,


5, 1 00


7 80


M. Dempsey,


1 44


66 66 widening road near Wm. Fos- ter's, 30 24


66


railing near new Cemetery, 8 54


M. Dougherty, breaking roads in Dist. No. 6, 10 98


Chas. H. Whitney, highway work in Dist. No. 6, 31 25


P. Conway, breaking roads in Dist. No. 7, 18 48


J. R. Hartwell, 66


7,


7 50


66 highway work 66 66 7,


4 00


M. Kennedy, 11 04


2 05


J. E. Baker, breaking roads in Dist. No. 8, 10 05


N. F. Cousins, highway work 8,


5 00


66 breaking roads 66 " 4, 2 00


Executor of H. Snelling, breaking roads in


Dist. No. 8, 3 00


66 66 highway work in


Dist. No. 8, 61 00


66


66 66


for gravel in Dist. No. 8, 13 20


D. H. Sherman, breaking roads in Dist. No. 9, 9 50


highway work 9, 81 60


C. P. Farnsworth, breaking roads " " 10,


15 24 James Farrar, 66 66 " 10, 6 75


highway work 66


" 10. 89 00


N. F. Cousins, repairs on Lee's bridge, 2 00


$869 45


$130 55


Unexpended balance,


highway work 65 "' 5, 68 02


66 66 7, L. W. Weston, gravel,


13


CEMETERY.


RECEIPTS.


Appropriation, $50 00


PAYMENTS.


Geo. F. Bemis, mowing grass and trimming hedge, J. L. Chapin, mowing grass,


$4 00


1 00


$5 00


Unexpended balance,


$45 00


INTEREST ACCOUNT.


RECEIPTS.


Town grant,


$1,800 00


Interest on water bonds,


$1,800 00


MISCELLANEOUS.


RECEIPTS.


Town grant,


$1,000 00


PAYMENTS.


Willard T. Farrar, one corpse preserver, $14 50


Tolman & White, printing 300 copies Select-


men's and School Committee's reports,


29 75


Do., printing 500 tax blils for 1878,


3 00


Do., printing 500 tax bills for 1879,


3 00


Do., printing notices of registration,


1 00


Francis C. Brown, services as constable,


5 00


Samuel Farrar, services as constable in 1878 and 1879, 7 00


Thomas Groom & Co., tax book,


1 50


S. H. Martin, damage to sleigh,


10 00


Gussie M. Pierce, for reward,


70 00


Geo. W. Brown, 66 66


10 00


John Glennon, 66


10 00


James Shirlock, 66


10 00


Fitchburg Railroad Co., transporting ten tons broken coal May 17, 1876, 14 00


G. A. Somerby, as retainer in the suit of H. Snelling vs. Town, 100 00


W. N. Mason, services in suit of H. Snelling vs. Town, 50 00


PAYMENTS.


14


D. S. and G. F. Richardson, services in suit of H. Snelling vs. Town, $50 00


Samuel Hoar, plaintiff's attorney, judgment in suit of H. Snelling vs. Town, 218 50


Geo. Flint, posts and poles for railing near new Cemetery, 8 32


E. B. Barnes, returning ten deaths, 2 50


Samuel Hartwell, for cash paid for materials for fence for gravel pit, 37 40


Samuel Hartwell, for building fence,


16 53


J. L. Chapin, services as town clerk,


66


recording 15 births,


66


1 marriage,


15


66 66


66 17 deaths,


5 95


66 66 care of town hall,


8 00


66 66 postage and expressage, 2 74


66


setting glass at town hall, 1 50


66


66 oil and chimney for town hall, 49


C. H. Walcott, services in case of Common- wealth vs. Thomas Cone,


10 00


W. F. Wheeler, services as selectman,


25 00


66 66 66 " assessor,


66 66


66


" overseer of poor,


20 00


66 66


66


" treasurer,


40 00


66 66


66 " on school committee, 25 00


66 66


for attending court four days, 12 00


66 66


66 cash paid for postage, 1 50


66 " stationery, 1 88


" expressage, 3 95


J. L. Chapin, for attending court as witness, 3 00


L. W. Weston,


66


66


3 00


Paul Harris, 66


3 00


G. M. Baker, 66 66 66


3 00


Samuel Hartwell, services as selectman,


40 00


66 66 66 " assessor,


35 00


66 66 66 " overseer of poor, 15 00


66


66 for attending court at Cam-


bridge,


2 00


Samuel Hartwell, expense on account of suit of H. Snelling vs. Town, 5 00


66


for stationery, 24


A. P. Sherman, services as selectman, 25 00


66 66


66 " assessor, 20 00


66


66 " overseer of poor, 5 00


$1,056 90


Expenditure above appropriation, $56 90


66 66 66


66


66 66 66


40 00


20 00


7 50


15


RECAPITULATION.


For Schools,


$2,275 09


66 Library,


148 30


66 Support of Poor,


1,088 33


66 Cemetery,


5 00


66 Highways and Bridges,


869 45


66


Interest on Town Debts,


1,800 00


66 Miscellaneous Expenses,


1,056 90


66 State Aid,


36 00


$7,279 07


REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE,


FOR 1879.


Statistics of Lincoln Public Library, for year ending 1879.


No. of volumes in Library,


2,481


No. of volumes added during the year (including Public Documents, and ten volumes of Plymouth Colony Records, and six volumes of Records of Massachusetts,) 95 Registration of borrowers, 196


No. of books delivered January,


66


66


February,


60


60


March,


66


April,


183


66


May,


156


June,


111


66


·


66


July,


128


66


66


August,


142


66


66


September,


120


66


66


October,


122


66


66


November,


157


66


66


December,


189


Total delivery of books,


1,793


162


178


145


16


TREASURER'S REPORT.


Receipts.


Town appropriation-dog tax,


$142 30


Balance from 1878,


9 54


Interest of periodical fund,


6 00


Fines, and sale of catalogues,


10 85


$168 69


Expenditures.


Librarian, .


$60 00


Estes & Lauriat, for books,


55 33


Periodicals,


12 40


Binding thirty-seven books,


11 95


J. R. Hartwell, one ton coal, 66 66 half cord wood,


5 50


3 00


H. Flagg, sawing wood,


1 50


Mrs. Dougherty, cleaning library,


1 60


J. L. Chapin, kerosene and sweeping brush,


3 51


Making fires,


6 00


Sundries,


2 65


$163 44


Total received,


$168 69


Total expended,


163 44


Unexpended balance,


$5 25


M. L. PIERCE, Treasurer.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


OF THE


TOWN OF LINCOLN,


FOR THE


SCHOOL YEAR 1879-80.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.


In obedience to the laws of the Commonwealth, the School Committee submit a Report of the condition of the schools. So far as methods or results are concerned, we might dismiss the subject with the remark that a second reading of the report of last year would as correctly describe the methods pursued, and convey as correct information of the results attained, as anything we can write.


The schools have kept on in the even tenor of their way, with fewer ripples of discord, and less friction in the working of the machinery, than in the former year. But we do not intend to convey the idea that the schools are perfect, or incapable of great improvement. But the statutes require a detailed report, and we pro- ceed in order, beginning, as pupils are taught in defining the boundaries of States and kingdoms, with the


NORTH SCHOOL.


MISS CARRIE B. CHAPIN,-Teacher.


Spring Term,-Whole number of pupils, 19; aver- age attendance, 135; length of term, 10 weeks.


Fall Term,-Whole number, 21; average attend- ance, 16; length of term, 11 weeks.


Winter Term,-Whole number, 25; average attend- ance, 10 weeks, 19.


4


This school has remained under the able and judicious management of Miss Chapin, and at their visits the Com- mittee have always found it in excellent order. At their last visit the Committee found the teacher laboring under some depression of spirits, for which we could discover no adequate cause, and which we were inclined to attribute to the depressing influence of the East wind, or some other invisible agency; perhaps that of having the same, or a greater amount, of hard work to perform for reduced pay ; possibly the parents, not having been afflicted with a poor school for many years, have become insensible to the value of her services. If so, the expe- rience of the evils of a change of teachers might restore them to a higher appreciation of her services.


EAST SCHOOL.


Teachers,-MISS E. A. FARNSWORTH, MISS LIZZIE G. CHAPIN.


Spring Term,-Whole number of pupils, 19; average attendance, length of term,


Fall Term,-Whole number, 19 ; average attendance, 15.4; length of term, 11 weeks.


Winter Term,-Whole number, 23; average attend- ance, 9 weeks, 12.


This school remained under the care of Miss Farns- worth until the close of the Fall term, when she resigned her situation to assume the duties of that station, which every young lady is permitted to have honorable ambi- tion of attaining, and of which we have been told that those who have successfully filled the position of teacher are usually best fitted to adorn. We think Miss Farns- worth will prove no exception to the rule.


5


The school was then placed in charge of Miss Chapin, partly because we prefer to employ the daughters of our own town, and partly because if they become suc- cessful teachers we shall be more likely to retain their services for a series of years, and avoid the evil of a frequent change of teachers. It was unfortunate for Miss Chapin that she commenced her labors at the beginning of the Winter term, when the attendance is largest and the duties are more difficult and perplex- ing. Had she commenced at the beginning of either of the other terms, she would have had a smaller school, and her chances of succeeding been better. As it is, she has succeeded in fulfilling the reasonable expecta- tions of the Committee ; and if the parents will accord her that kindness and consideration which we may justly claim for her youth and inexperience, we have confi- dence that she will in due time fill the place with usefulness and honor.


SOUTH SCHOOL.


Teacher, -MISS SARAH S. BAKER.


Spring Term, 10 weeks .- Whole number of pupils, 36; average attendance, 30}.


Fall Term, 13 weeks .- Whole number, 41; average attendance, 3526.


Winter Term .- Whole number, 41; average attend- ance, 3724.


This school, under the guidance of Miss Baker, has been constantly improving, and she has continued to perform the duties of her position with energy and honor, and the high hopes and expectations of the Committee and her friends have been realized. Her


6


pupils nearly equal in number those of the North and East schools combined, and the character of the pupils is less homogeneous ; for while there is a large number of bright and intelligent children, there are some whose early training was not the best, whose outward sur- roundings and associations are not favorable to habits of order and quiet study, and whose homes are un- cheered and unadorned by the Christian graces of cleanliness and Godliness. These things are not men- tioned in a spirit of reproach to any one, but they are factors which. enter largely into the account in esti- mating the difficulties and successes of the teacher.


CENTRE SCHOOLS.


Primary School .- MISS KEZIAH HOWES, Teacher.


Spring Term, 10 weeks. - Whole number, 27; aver- age attendance, 22.


Fall Term, 11 weeks .- Whole number, 29; average attendance, 27.


Winter Term .- Whole number, 29; average attend- ance, for 10 weeks, 24.


In Miss Howes' school the scholars change - nothing else. Her first class, long the pride of the school, has gone up, and her school is for a time shorn of its glory. In other things it is much the same. In reading, spell- ing, and mental arithmetic, her classes continue to excel. In trying to discover the secret of her uniform success, we think we have found it the maxim of Mr. Emerson, " the day is always his who works with calm serenity, and to great ends." The vocabulary has been exhausted in praise of her school, her methods and faithfulness, and we have been looking for something to


7


find fault with, to vary the monotony, and we have found it. We are malicious enough to inform the public that the writing books in her school are not in as good order as they should be.


HIGH SCHOOL.


Teachers. - MR. R. P. WILLIAMS, MR. F. B. SHER- BURNE.


Spring Term, 10 weeks. - Whole number, 28; aver- age attendance, 21.


Fall Term, 11 weeks .- Whole number, 27; average attendance, 255.


Winter Term. - Whole number, 33, average attend- ance, 11 weeks, 31.


Our report for last year closed before Mr. Williams had finished his second term, with the regret that the necessity of closing the report before the examination of the schools, prevented our speaking as understand- ingly as we otherwise might of the result of the Winter's work; and it seems but fair to put on record now, that the examination of the Winter schools realized the hopes and expectations of the Committee, those of Mr. Williams and Miss Baker being particularly gratifying. Mr. Williams continued his labors during the Spring term, keeping alive an interest in school and study, gaining a large place in the affections of his pupils, and proving himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. His long walks, and talks with his scholars while roaming the fields and woods, seeking for speci- mens, greatly endeared him to them, and doubtless the intercourse was improving and elevating. There is no estimating the influence which a mind stored with


8


knowledge, and interested in the welfare of young people, exerts on those around him. Mr. Williams owes his success to his untiring industry and his con- secration to his work - untiring industry and unsullied character are the forces by which the world is most wisely guided and governed - the only means by which young men can gain earthly distinction and honor while ascending to the sublime heights of wisdom and virtue, where souls are crowned or canonized.


At the close of the Spring term, Mr. Williams obtained a more remunerative position in a neighboring town, and we parted with him with regret-not that we found any difficulty in finding one to take his place. On the contrary, a troop came - some fresh from the halls of learning, and others with the added claim of experience gained in other fields of service, and the difficulty was in making a selection. An interview with four of the young gentlemen did not much lessen the difficulty, but awoke a feeling of regret that we had not four positions to give. Necessitated to a choice, the lot fell on Mr. Sherburne, who had graduated at Dartmouth with high honor, and brought abundant testimonials of successful experience, and we have no reason to regret our action. The work which Mr. Williams so successfully begun, has been carried on with the same spirit and energy, and with like satis- factory results, the only drawbacks being those which necessarily result from a change of teachers, when much time is lost in gaining a knowledge of the pupils - their dispositions, characters, and attainments. In some respects Mr. Sherburne's methods are better than those of his predecessor, being more flexible and better adapted to a school like ours, where a portion of the




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