Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-09-11
by Masser & Eisely.


"You had better have stuck to that last evening.
You were seer, Tim Barker, to come from under
Mr. Nichols's garden fence, little after nine O..
clock, with bag full of something or other over
your shoulders. The bag had every appearance of
being filled with fruit, and this morning the melon
beds are found 10 have been completely cleared.
Now, sir, what there in that bag 7"
| Like fire itself glowed the face of the detected
lad. He spoke not word All the school had
their eyes directed at him. The perspra,ion ran
down his white forehead like rain drops.
"Speak, sir !" exclaimed Lugare with loud
strike of his rattan on the desk.
The boy looked as if he would faint. But the
unmerciful teacher, confident of having brought to
light criminal and exulting in the idea Of the
we're chasiisemen, he should now be justified in in
flictng, kept working himself up to still greater
and greater degree of passion. In the meantime,
the boy seemed hardly to know what to do with him.
self. His tongue cleavei to the roof of his mouth
Either he was very much frightened, or he was ac-
tually unwell.
Speak, l say" again thunjered Lugore, and
head in very sgniiicap, manner.
II hardly can, sir" said the poor fellow fsin,ly.
| His voice was husky and thick. "I will tell you
some-some other time. Please 10 let me 60 to
my seat-I ant we'll"
"Oh yes, that's very likely" and MI Lugare
bulged out his nose and cheeks with contempt"
"Do you think to make me believe your lies
I've found you out, sir, plainly enough and am
satisfied that you precious little william
there is in the State. But will postpone settling
with you for an hour yet. I shall call you up a.
gain and if you don't tell the whole truth then,
I will give you something thatll make you remem-
Der Mr.. Ncholoss melons for many month to
come-go to your seat"
Glad enough of the ungrscious permission, and
answering not sound, the child crept tremblingly
as if he in dieam than in real life and laying
his arms on his desk, bowed down his face between
them. The pupils turned to their accustomed stu,
dies, for during the reign Of Lugae in the village
school, they had been used so to scenes Of violence
and severe chastsemen,, that such things made but
little interruption in the tenor of their way.
"Now while the intervening hour is passing.
we will clear up the mystery of the Lag, and OF
young Barker being under the garden fence on the
proceeding night. The boys mother was a WI
dow, and they both had to live in the very narrow.
es, limits His father had died when he was siA
years old, and little Tim was left sickly emacia.
ted infant, whom one expected 10 live Ian,
months. To the surprise of all, however the poo
child kept alive, and seemed tr recover his health
, as he certainly did his sl7a and good looks Th,
was owing to the kid Offices of an eminent ply 81
c'an' who had country sea, in the neighborhood
and who LAD been interested in the widows it'll
9 iam'y, Tim, the physician said, might possbl,
Jutsrow his disease, but every thing was uncer
? | tain,
;, 1t was mysterious and haflng malady; ant
il would not be wonderful if he should in some mo
q ment of apparent health be suddenly taken away
;, The poor widow was at first in continual state
ID uneasiness but several years had now passed, an
D. none of the impending evils had fallen upon III
u boys head. His mother seemed to feel confden
h that he would live, and be help and honor to he
4 old age, and the two struggled on together Tutua
m y happy in each other, and enduring much povert
T. and discomfort without rePnng, each for the other
re sake.
,e Tins pleasant disposition had made him man
il friends in the village, and among the rest youn
Is farmer, named Jones, who with his elder broth
81 worked large farm on shares. Jones very ir
c. quenly made Tim present Of bag of potatoes
corn, or some garden vegetables, which he to-
IS, from his stock but as his partner was a pa
simonious, high tempered man, aud had often sa
that Tim idle fellow, and ought not to
th helped because he did no, work. Jones general
lid made his gifts in such manner that no one kne
Ter any thing sbou, them except himself aud the graf
IN. full Objects of his kindness 1t nj ght he, too ii
the widow was 10th to have il understood by I
ck. neighbors that she received food from any one
nj. there is often an excusable pride in people of
! condition. which made them shrink from being c,
to sidcred as objects Of charity" Us they would fr,
the severest pains. On the night in question: r
'as had been told that Jones would send them bag
m potatoes, and the place at which they, were TO
I'll waiting for him was fixed at Mr.. Nicholss gsrl
fence. Il was this bag that Tim had been 81
iiv- staggering under, and which caused the unucky
10 be accused aud convicted by his teacher q
'ut- thief. That teacher one little htted Tor
lies. important and responsible Office. Hasy TO dec
laps and nhexibly severe, he the terror OF the
om> world he ruled despotlcally. Punishment
y" seemed TO dellgh, in. Knowing little Of Il