The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-19
THE IDIOT BOYS SUNBEAM

any Jilcrs, and she need have 10 fears of me-
THE IDIOT BOYS SUNBEAM.
ny CHARLES NJ. M'LAcHLAN.
THERE is, generally, little to interest a boy
at school, and particularly if the school he
situated in the midst ola pleasant country
village, and the time n Summer afternoon,
when the sun is pouring his glowing beams
through the open windows and every breath
OF air is laden with the fragrance it has gath
cred from the gardens which surround the
homely temple of learning. There is little,
we say, to interest boy in the dry routine
of school room duties-either in making bad
limitations ofround hand copies or overcom-
ing the difficulties Of the multiplication table.
such at least appeared 10 be the universal
feeling ofmy fellow schoomutes when, on
such an afternoon, we cast wistiul looks at
the green fields beyond and prepared, as we
had previously arranged, TO present humble
petition to the master to leave Il little earlier
than usual.
On the afternoon in question, was depu-
ted committee of one to present the said
petition, and, with many misgivings, skunk
up to the side ofhis high stool and handed
in the important document. Ifbrevity be the
soul ofeXcelence as we'll MS of wit, our petit
ton must have been unqualifedly good, for
1t contained only the following words:
"lf you please-itis so fine we should like
to leave an hour before the time; and MS in du-
ty bound we will ever pray" &c, &c. We
probably intended 10 say play, and in that
case, doubtless, we should have been much
nearer the truth
Mr. Bray adjusted his spectacles and hav-
ing quickly digestcd the contents oftho petit
ton, cried out in a sharp voice, which was
damper to our hopes:-
"Who desires to leave his studies before
the proper timer"
There was general silence for the space
of a minute, when Bobby Trcmainc rose and
replied, taintly;-
"The sunbeam is on her grave now; may
go?"
Mr. Bray drew forth his pocket handkerchief
and blew his nose violently, and while his lip
trembled with emotion, we just caught the
words:
"Go-my poor boy-go."
Bobby disappeared quickly, and u loud rap
on the desk gave notice that we were about
to know the result ofour request.
There are circumstances under which the
most repusive persons will seem if not beau
titul. at least good looking, and as we looked
at the schoolmaster, who, fixing his feet firm
ly on one ofthe rounds of the stool, rose TO
speak TO us, his whole appearance seemed to
have undergone n change, as though sun
beam had shone upon his heart and given to
its nature much sottness and beauty. The
tone of his voice was tender and musical
his manner kind and paternaI. and with diff
ficulty he prevented the tears from breaking
the boundaries he bad fixed for them.
any boys" he said" 81 will give you the
indulgence you desire this time, and | don't
think you will take advantage of your old
masters kindness, who is moved by the af-
Fiction of one of your schoolmates. The
poor youth who is by this time in his favorite
place. the graveyard, is deeply 10 be pited,
but this you cannot understand; the day will
come, my boys, when you, like him, may
watch for n sunbeam; may it always come
when you watch for it. There, so, be good
and kind to each other"
The simple earnestness ofthe old man was
not lost upon us, but it did not make our
shouts the less energetic as soon as we were
beyond the threshold of the school room.
But his words left an impression upon the
hearts of some ofus, and the youthful mind
REQUIRED again and again to them. They a.
woke an interest for Bobby Tremaine, whom
we regarded therefore as something ola DIFF
ferent mould from ourselves, and in truth he
appeared to be so, with his pale, thin, sharp
features and attenuated form, and large blue
eyes gistening with fitful light, as they mir
rored the wild thoughts that fitted over his
diseased mind. Poor Bobby! his was a
strange and melancholy fnte-a boy of sor-
rows--tbe season of his life had been urnat-
uraIly changed, and Winter had taken the
place of Spring. His existence was the en-
bodment OF a sunbeam, and when it was
darllened life became blank.
At the time TO which we REFER Bobby was
about thirteen years old; two years before
that, he was joyous and happy, and entered
with as much spirit into our sports as the
veriest mad cap among the boys ofthc village.
But all at once we missed him, and the on
ly reply to our inquiries was solemn shake
of the head by our mothers--a mournfuI look
and desire to go and play;' permission
we generally improved so that the mystery
did not trouble us much.
But at length boy of more inquiring mind
than the rest excited our curiosity by inform
ing us that his disappearance was in some
way connected with the death of little Janet
Simmonds. Months passed away, however,
the cold, dreary months of Winter-and
Spring had begun to brighten the face of ma
ture when it it was rumored that Bobby had
returned home. lie did not join us as usual
in our games, and we only occasionally got
glimpse ofhim at the window of his mothers
cottage. We were told that he was i'll and
cautioned not to disturb him. As the Sum-
lner opened he was seen sometimes to leave
the house aud take his way across the fields,
always alone and carefully avoiding the most
frequcnted paths; but us Summer wore away