Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-08-19
Death in a SehooI-RaOlR:
a Es:tcf--DY w, W.

i bell Oh Il teacher S desk OF a village
school one morning, when the studies
Of the early part Of the day were
about half completed. 1t was well
understood that this was a command
for silence and attention; and wheu
these had been obtained the master
spoke. He was d low thick-set man,
and his name was LRgare.
Boys, said he, Il have had a COM
plant entered, that last night some
Of you were stealing fruit from MI.
Nichols garden. ] rather think ]
know the thief. Tim Barker, step
up here, sin" q
The enc to whom he spoke came
forward. lie was a slight, ftir-lool-
ing boy of about II, and his face
had Il laughing, good-h -humored ext
pressi or, which even. the charge now
preferred against him, and the stern
tone and threatening lock Of the
teacher had not entirely dissipated.
The 6 Puntenance Of the boy, howey-
-er, va S too hnearthly fair for health;
it bad, Notwithstanding its tleshy,
cheerful look, a singular cast, as il
some inward disease, and that a fear
lnI one, was seated within. As the
STRIPPING stood before that place Of
judgInent-that place so often made
the Scene of heartless and coarse
brutality, Of timid innocence CON
fused helpless childhood outraged,
and denth feelings crushed Lugare
tlookell on him with a frown which
plainly told he felt in no very pleas
ant mood. Happily, worthier and
more philosophical system is proving
! to md n that schools can be better
goyern ned than by bushes, and tears,
and sfghs. We are waxing toward
/ that Gonsummation when one Of the
oll-Els shi9ncd schoolmasters, with his
cowhide, his heavy birch rod, and
his many ingenious methods of child
tortpfeMill begazed gponas 4 ascorned
memdnto Of an ignorillt, cruel and
exploded doctrine
'NViere you by Mr.. Nichols garden
/ fence. last night?' said Lugare.
yes answered the boy, I was.'
/, well, sir, | m glad to find you SO
r6adywith your confession. And so
you thought you could do a little
robbihs, and enjoy yourself ina mnn-
ner you ought TO be ashamed to own,
without beisg punished did you?'
4 have not been robbihg, replied
the boy quickly. Ills face suffused,
whether with resentment or fright, it
was difficult to tell. And | didn't
DO anytli ling last night that / IN
asiiauled to dwn'
NO ilnpuE Eloncel' exclaimed the
teacher, passfonately, 4s he grasped
long heavy rattan; 'giFe me none Of
your Sharp speeches, or I'll thrash
you till you beg like a dog
The Youngsters face paied alittle;
his lip quiv cred, but he did not
speak. IL
| tAp1 may sir eontint,ed Iuoara
as the outward signs of wrath disap-
fpeared from his features what were
you about th e garden for2 Perhaps
you only received the plumber, and
had an accom mplice to do the more
dangerous part Of the job?'
Il went that way because it's on
my road home. | was. there again
afterwards 10 meet an acquaintance;
and and. But ! didInot so into
the garden, nor take away anything
from it / would net steal--harlly
to save myself from starving.
You had b etter have stuck to that
last evening. You were seen, Tim
Barker, to come from under Mr.
Nichols garden fence ID little after
nine o'clock, with a bag full Of some
thing or other over Your shoulders
The bag had every appearance Of
being filled with fruit, and this morn
ing the melon beds are found to have
been completely cleared Now, sir,
what was there in that bag?'
Like fire itself glowed the face Of
the detected lad. lie spoke not a
word. All the school had their eyes
directed at him. The perspiration
ran dowa his white forehead like rain
drops. ait -. -
Speak sir exclaimed Lugare,
with a loud strike of his ratan on
theadesk. ef fI8 g IS = st
Thesboy7 locked as If he would
faint. Batthe unmerciful teacher,