The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bobbin Boy, by William M. Thayer

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Title: The Bobbin Boy
or, How Nat Got His learning

Author: William M. Thayer

Release Date: November 20, 2006 [EBook #19875]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE

BOBBIN BOY;

OR,

HOW NAT GOT HIS LEARNING.

AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUTH.

BY

WILLIAM M. THAYER,

AUTHOR OF "THE POOR BOY AND MERCHANT PRINCE," "THE POOR GIRL
AND TRUE WOMAN," "FROM POOR-HOUSE TO PULPIT,"
"TALES FROM THE BIBLE," ETC., ETC.

BOSTON:
J. E. TILTON AND COMPANY.
1862.

Entered according to Act of Congress; in the year 1860, by
J. E. TILTON AND COMPANY,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Massachusetts.

University Press, Cambridge:
Printed by Welch, Bigelow, and Company.

PREFACE.

The design of this volume is to show the young how "odd moments" and
small opportunities may be used in the acquisition of knowledge. The
hero of the tale--NAT--is a living character, whose actual
boyhood and youth are here delineated--an unusual example of energy,
industry, perseverance, application, and enthusiasm in prosecuting a
life purpose.

The conclusion of the story will convince the reader, that the group of
characters which surround Nat are not creations of the fancy, and that
each is the bearer of one or more important lessons to the young. While
some of them forcibly illustrate the consequences of idleness,
disobedience, tippling, and kindred vices, in youth, others are bright
examples of the manly virtues, that always command respect, and achieve
success.

W. M. T.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A GOOD BEGINNING.

The patch of squashes--counting chickens before they are
hatched--ifs--ducks, and the bright side--explanation--hopeful
Nat--Nathaniel Bowditch--Sir Humphrey Davy--Buxton--benefit
of hopefulness--the squashes coming up--Frank Martin--"all
play and no work"--Ben Drake--sce