The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-02-23

her.
81 hardly can sir said the poor fellow
family. His voice was husky and thick
II will tell you some--sone Other time
Please to let me so to my seat am not
we'll"
90, yes that's very likely" and Mr. Lu-
care bulg ed out his nose and cheeks with con
tempt. do you think to make me believe
your lies ! I've found you out, sir, plainly
enough, and am satisfied that you are pre-
cious william Ms there is in the State. But
will postpone settling with you for an hour
yet. | shall then call you up again, and if
you don't tell me the whole truth then. will
give you something that Il make you rcmem-
Der Mr.. Nichols melons for many month
to come. Go to your seat.
Glad enough of the nngraciouS permission,
and answering not IA sound the child crcpt
trembling to his bench. He felt strangely,
diZzily-moIe rs if he was in a dream 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 Lugarc in the
village school, they had been used to scenes
Of VIOLENCE and severe chaS.scmcnt, that such
things made but little interruption i'll the
tenor Of their way.
Now, while the intervening hour is passing
we sill clear up this mystery Of the bag and
Of young Baker being under the garden frace
the preceding evening.
The hOv' s mother was widow. and they
both had to live in the very narroweSt limits.
His father died when he WAS six years old.
and little Tim was left a sjckly cnacIat,l in
FAINT, whom no one expected to live many
months. 70 the surprise Of all, however, the
poor child kept alive, and semcd 70 recover
IL, l,, ninlr did Ii ~ ii
good looks.
This was owing to the kind Offices Of an
eminent physician, who had country scat
in the ncigl,bo,hood, and who had been inter-
cstcd IN the widows little family. Tim, the
physician said, might possibly outsrow his
disease bat everything was uncertain. II
WAS mysterious and bItting ma!ady. and it
would not be wonderful. if he should, in
some moment Of apparent good health, be
suddcnlv taken away.
The poor widow was at first in a continual
ate If uncaSncss, but several years he'd now
elapsed, and none Of the impending evils had
fallen on the boys head, His mother seem
ed to feel confident that he would live, and
be shield and honor to her old age and the
two struggled on Together, mutually happy
in each other, and enduring much Of poverty
and discomfort without rrpinns, each for
the others sake.
Tins pleasant disposition made him
many friends in the village, and among the
rest young farmer named Jones, who, with
his elder brother, worked large farm i'll the
ncghhoihood ON shares. Jones very fe-
quentlv made Tim 4 present Of bag Of po-
tatocs or com, Or some garden Vegetables,
which he took floin his own stock but As
his partner was par$in.oni0uS higtI-tcmrcr-
Cd man, and he had often remarked that Tim
was an idle fellow, and ought not 10 be helped
because he did not work, Jones generally
made his presents in such II manner that no
one knew anything about them cxccpt him
self and the grateful Objects of his kindness.
1t might be too, that the widow was 10th
to have it understood by the ncighbors that
she received food from any one; for there Is
always an cXcusable pride in people of her
condition which makes them shrink from be-
ing considered as ohjccts of charity, as they
: would from the Scvc,cst pain.
On the night in question. Tim had been
, told that Jones would send him u bag of po-
tatocs, and the place at which they were To he
waiting for him was fixed at Mr.. Nicho's
garden fence. 1t was this bag that Tim had
F., been staggering under, and which had caused
the unIucky boy to DC accused and convicted
by his teacher as a thief
9 The teacher was one little fitted for his i'm
portant and responsible Office. TASTY to de-
eide, and inheXibly severe. he was the terror
> of the little world ruled so dcspotically.-
Punishment he seemed to delight in. Know
: ing little of those sweet fountains which in
!. chlldrcns' breasts open quickly at the call o.
) ecntlcncss and Kind woods, he was feared by
all for his stcrnncss, and loved by none.
would that he wcIc an isolated instance il
his profession.
Tic hour of grace had drawn to close
J, and the time approached at which I.ugart
was to give his school a joyiully received dis
mission. Now and then one of the scholar.
, would direct a furtivc glance at Tim, anG
: sometimes in pity, sometimes inditlrl cncc Oh
u inquiry ley know that he would have NJ
mercy shown him, and though most Of thtn
:. loved him, whipping was too common ;herc
), to excite much sympathy.
y Every inquiring glance, however. remained
unsatislicd; for, at the end Of the hour, Tin
remained with his face completely hidden
:. and his head bowed down in his arms, pre-
, ciscly as he had leaned himself when he frs
! went to his scat. Lugarc looked at the boy
', occasionally with Il scowl, which bod,l ven
u goancc for his sulkineSs. At length the las
class had been heard, and the last lesson re
= cited, and Lugarc seated himself behind hi
!, l. desk on the platform, with his longest nt
- stoutt st raft IN before him.
Nov, Baker" he said, "wc'll scttl
+ that little business Of yours. Just step III
here"
= Tim did not move. The sclool-room wa
70 as still as the grave Net sound was to b
- heard, except, occasionally, long draw o
- breath.
mind me sir. or it will be the worse f,
d you. Step here and take of your jacket y
t The boy did not stir any more than If IL
1t had been wood. Iugare shook with passion
V lie sat still u minute, as if considering tn
;; best way to wreak his vengeance. That min
ute passed in dcathlike silence, and was
# fearful one to some of the children, for thei
% faces whitencd with fright. 1t seemed, as i
3 slowly dropped away, like the minute which
IF prccodcs the climax Of an cXquisitcly per
,e formed tragedy, when some mi shty maStc
h of the hstrionic art is trcadng the stage, ant
% you and the multitude around are waltin:
" with stretched nerves and suspended breath
in expectation of the terrible catastrophe.
,e Tins asleep, SIR at length said ono q
II the boys wEo sat ntar him.
- Lugarc, at this intelligence, allowed hi
E. features to relax from their expression q
Ill l,,t hat