Our Barefoot Boys

Mr. Matthew ArnoUl was greatly struck, says The Iioston Herald, by the democratie governinent of our reading-roouis, when in Boston. He entered a reaiÜDg-room oue day, and saw a smn.ll. ■ barefooted nows-boy sitting in one of the best chaira, enjoying liim. self to tlie utmost Tho great essayist was amazed, and asked, "Do you le' barefooted boys in this reading-room ? You would never see such a sight as that in Europe. I do not believe Hiere is a reading-room in aü Europe, in whiehtliai boy, dreased as ho is, could enter." Then Mr. Arnold went over to the boy, engaged liim in conversation, and found that he was reading the "Life ol Washington," and that he was a yoimg gentleman of decidedly anti-Britisfa tendencíes, and, for his age, remarkably informad. Mr. Arnold remained talking with j the youjigster for some time, and. us liE carne away he said: "I do not tbink 1 have been so impressed with anrthing else that I have seen, since arriving in this country, as I am uow, with meet ing this barefooted boy in this readingroom. "What a tribute to democratie intitutions it is, to say that, instead o 6ending that boy out to wahder alone in the strecls, they permit hini to oonie in here, and excite his youthful Imagination by reaiüng such books as the 'Liít of Washington'! "The reading of that one book nía change the whole coursn of that boy' life, and niay be the means of makinj: him a useful, honorable, worthy c'tii zen of this great country, J t is. 1 tel ! you, asight that inipresses a Earowat! ' not aecustmoed to your democralii ways."