Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-12

"woN,T ANYTHING WASH 1T oFFw

tulhCd Vut VI oIhoOi, pSSuuoC Ills ldCt CIluuccu
to wear darker hue than his fellows. 1t
reminded me of an incident of my own child
hood.
In the early part of my school-going days,
| spent vacation with my friend, Mary F..
The term in that village not being quite out,
| chose to attend school with my friend, rath-
or that to allow her to leave the class. As
usual in district schools many of the schol-
ars brought lunch, and spent the recess at
the school-room. And gay time they had
in those long summer intermissions. On the
first day that witnessed their merriment,
for even at that early age, my habits of OBJ
servation led me to stand aside and look on,
rather than share the sports of my compan-
ions J the departure of the teacher was the
signal for all kinds of fun and frolic. One
little girl, whom they called Helen, sprang
into the desk, declaring that she twas going
to be school ma'am.' She was bri ght,
laughing, blue-eyed child, her round fair face
perfectly radient with dimples, and as she
stood welding her large ruler, almost as long
as herself and shaking her sunny curls with
mock gravity, she seemed the very personif-
cation of innocence and mirth. But in
some Of her curious efforts to make her schol-
ars "behave," she upset large inkstand which
stood near pile of valuable paintings and
drawings.
20 dcarv she shriekcd, and now there was
no mocking in her tone-'what shall do
Miss White will kill me- for certain
What's the matter |? asked my friend, Ma
ry, who stood outside the door. | told her
what had happened. Come away said she,
II haven't seen anything, and Miss White
won't ask you
So she drew me away, and we did not re-
turn till the bell rang. AS we entered the
school-room, pale faces met us Oh every side.
The teacher was very angry, and vainly
sought the author of the mischief. No one
seemed to know anything about it, Mary
said she, holding up one of the ruined paint
ings, do you know who did this 2
Il have been away all the noontime. she
replied, 'and have just returned
WELL said she, the one who did it had
better own it, for | shall find you out some
time But no one confessed Then turning
suddenly to young and timid girl, she said,
Jane, tell me who split that ink, or I'll whip
you till you do
Jane was frightened. She knew what Miss
Whites whippings were and losing all pres
ence of mind, she stammered out, i saw Bill
ly..trying to clean it up; but guess he did
nj spill it.
Now, Billy was little black boy, who at
tracted my attention the moment | saw him.
His skin was very dark, but his black, shin
ing hair lay smooth over his head, except
where it curled with almost feminine beauty
around high, bold forehead. His large
flashing eyes were black as midni ght, and his
countenance was one Of marked intelligence.
lie was, in truth, noblc-heartcl boy aud
was universally beloved. lie was about Hell
EMS age, and they were great friends and
playmates.
Billy said the teacher, did you spill this
ink p
No, ma am
DO you know who did spill it 2
Yes ma am
who was it 2
i cantfteii.
Her face grew dark with passion.
TN give you whipping that you'll re-
member. Who was it Npok, SIR.
7 Miss White" said the little fellow, as he
looked up in her face, Il can bear the whip
ping, but can't tel WAC split the ink. 1t
was an accident.
Take off your jacket, sir, and step out on
the floor. Wen see how you'll bear whip
ping He obeyed: and taking up Il large
willow rod, she caught his arm, and again
asked him if he would tel who split the ink.
No ma'am,' WAS the firm reply,
| looked at Helen. She was pale and
trembling. thought she was tainting. But
| was mistaken.
Don't strike him. she shreked as she
sprang to the floor, and threw her arms
around his neck Il did it, Miss White but
l. didn't mean to. Twas only playing school,
ma, am
You little black scoundrelr exclaimed
the teacher, as she slightly shook the boy,
why didn't you tell me so at once! Billy
looked up, and O, such IA look as he gave
her! Helen's tears and sobs stopped in an in
slant; and looking tearcssly in her teachers
face, she said
lie is not scoundrel. lie is good
boy.
well, go to your seats said she, and in
future keep out Of my desk Billy did not
Immediately obey. thought he was delib-
Grating whether to 60 to his seat or go out of
the house. But he went to his seat and
dropped his head on the counter. When call
ed to read, he arose with swollen eyes and II
quivering lip. When school was out he
caught his hat and ran. What did it mean
, Crossing a bridge on our way home, Helen
suddenly cried, There's Billy, now Look
ing up the stream, we saw him on his knees
beside the river, washing his face and rub
bling it with sand. He stopped and bent over
to gaze at the reflection in the water, while
the tears rolled down his cheeks. Helen was
soon at his side, when he looked up, and in
tones of grief, exclaimed, 90, Helen, mon't
anything Trash it IF"
Wash what off she asked, Il am sure
there is nothing you needto wash off,
You know said he, she called me lit
tie black'--A sob finished the sentence, and
covering his face with his hands, he wept as
though his heart would break.
The rest of the children now came up, and
touched by his manifestation of wounded feel
ing, undertook to console him by saying they
would like him just as well as though he was
not black. But ali, the black prsjudice that
suppresses the rights of such as he, turns
them out of school, and shuts against them
so many of the ways of life,--'won't anything
wash that out 2 EVA.
Worcester, Dec. 10Th, 1853
| THE FACTS.