Eastern times., 1856-02-28

every appearance of being filled with fruit, and
this morning the melon beds are found to have
been completely cleared Now, sir, what was
there in that bag1'
Like fire itself glowed the cheeks of the de-
tected lad. He spoke not word. All the
school had their eyes directed at him. The
perspiration 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 though he would faint
but the unmerciful teacher, confident Of having
brought TO light criminal, and exulting ia the
severe chastisement he should now be justified
IN lnfiicting, kept working himself up 10 a still
greater degree Of passion. 10 the meantime
the child seemed hardly TO know what to do
with himself. His tongue clave TO The root Of
his mouth. Either he was very much fright
ened, or he was actually unwell
Speak, l say again Numbered Lugare,
and his hand, grasping his rattan, lowered
above his head in a very significant manner.
hardly can, SIR said the poor fellow,
family. His voice was husky and thick. A
will tell you some-some other time. Please
to let me go to my seat am not WE'LL
%, yes, that's very likely and Mr.. Lu-
gare bulged out his nose and his cheeks with
contempt DO YOU think 10 make me believe
your lies! I've found you out, cir. plainly
enough, and | am satisfied that you are as
precious villain as there is in the State. But
| will postpone settling with you for 80 hour
yet. shall then call you Up again, and if
you don't tell me. the whole truth then,
Ill give you something that'l make you re-
member Mr.. Nichols melons for many a month
10 come. Go to your seat'
Glad enough OF the ungraciqus permission,
and answering not a sound, the child crept
trembling TO his bench. He felt strangely
dizzy-more as if he was in a dream than in
real life, and laying his arms on his desk,
bowed down his head between them.
The pupils turned to their accustomed stud
les, for, during the reign OF Lugare in the vii
lage school, they had been so used 10 scenes
of violence and severe chastsement, 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 bag, and
of young Baker being under the garden fence
the preceding evening.
The boys mother was widow, and they
both had to live in the very narrowest limits.
His father had died when he was six years
old, and little Tim was left sickly, emaciated
infant, whom no one expected to live many
months. To the surprise Of all, however, the
poor child kept alive, and seemed to recover
his strength, as he certainly did his size and
good looks.
This was owing to the kind offices of ain
eminent physician, who had country seat in
the neighborhood, and who had been interested
in the widows little family. Tim, the phys-
clan said, might possibly outgrow his disease,
but everything was uncertain. 1t was mys-
terious and battling malady, and it would not
be wonderful if he should, in some moment OF
apparent good health, be suddenly taken away.
The poor widow was at first in continual
state of uneasiness, but several years had now
elapsed, and none of the impending evils had
fallen on the boys head. His mother seemed
TO feel confident that he would live, and be a
shield and honor to her old age and the two
struggled on together, mutually happy in each
other, and enduring much of poverty and dis
comfort without rePinirg, each for the others
sake.
Tins pleasant disposition made him many
friends in the village. and, among the rest, a
young farmer named Jones, who, with his elder
brother, worked large farm in the neighbor.
hood on shares. Jones very frequently made
Tim present of bag Of potatoes or corn, ol
some garden vegetables, which he took from
his own share but as his partner was par
simonious, high-tempered man, and he had Of
ten remarked that Tim was an idle fellow, ant
ought not 10 be helped because he did no
work, Jones generally made his presents il
/
such manner that no one knew anything
about them except himself and the gratefu
objects of his kindness.
1t might be, too, that the widow was 10th tc
have it understood by the neighbors that she
received food from any one ; for there is al
always an excusable pride in people of hel
condition which makes them shrink from be.
ing considered as objects of charity, as they
would from the severest pain.
On the night in question, Tim had been told
that Jones would send them bag Of potatoes
and the place where they were to be waiting
for him was to be fixed at MFR. Nichols gar.
den fence. It was this bag that Tim had beer
staggering under. and which had caused rhe
unlucky boy to be accused and convicted By
his teacher as a thief.
That teacher was one little fitted for his
important and responsible office. Hasty to
decide and infiexibly severe, he was the terror
| of the little world he ruled so despoiically.-
Punishment he seemed 10 delight in. Know
| ing little of those sweet fountains which in
chiIdren's breasts open quickly at the call oi
gentleness and kind words, he was feared by
all for his sternness, and loved by none.
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