The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-05-14
The Old School-TTast.,'s Story.

! th"H Yourself. tuHDElIA.
! -------'o-e
! The Old hool-Mast",'s Story.
! lhc following capital story is from Tie
! RdDlc Eiond .Schoolmasicr.
! When taught ,ii>,ric, school, said lie.
| adopted it as Il principle To give as few
rules TO my scholars rs possible. | had.
however, one Standing rule, which was,
| Strive unrr all circumstances to do right :
and the test Of right, under all circums.an-
ccs WAS the Golden Rule: 'All things what
*ocvcr We would that men should do unto
| you, do you even So unto tlcm.'
If an offence WAS committed Il was my
invaria!!e practice to ask, WAS i, right {?
! Was it "a You would be done bv?'
y il my cHl'eirucc and observation hav"
convinced me that no act Of :: pupil ou"h,
TO be regarded as IN offence, unless !, be
measured tv the standard Of the Golden
Rule. During the last years Of my teach
! in@. tn" only test ever applied 10 an act
OF which 1t was necessary to judge, were
Ihos" of the above questions. By ;his course,
| gained many important advantages.
IN the first place, the plea, You have not
made any rule against it, which for n long
time was terrible burden to me, lost all
its power.
In the second place, by keeping constant
! ly before the scholars. as a standard Of ;c.
ton, the snglc test Of right and wrong as
one which they were to apply for them
selves. / was enabled to cultivate in them
deep feeling Of personal responsibility.
In the third place, got strong hold on
their feelings, aud acquired ncw power of
cu',ivaing and directing them.
! In the fourth place, had the satisfaction
Of scoing them become more truthful, hon
! est, trustworthy, and manly in their inter
course with me, with their friends, and with
! each ".hcr.
Once, however, was sadly puzzled hv m
! application Of the principle by one Of my
scholars, George Jones, Il large boy, who,
partly through false feeling of honor, and
partly through, a feeling Of stnhboruess re-
fused to give me some information. The
circumstances were these:
a scholar had played some Tricks which
interrupted the exercises. AS was nv Gus
tom, called 10 the one who bad done the
mischief to come forward. As no one
started, repeated the request, but with no
| success. Finding that the culpr would
no, confess his guilt, asked George if he
knew who had committed the offence.
= did not do it, was the reply.
But DO YOU know who did?'
'Yrs, SIR
'Who was it 2
4 do not wish 10 tell
But you must tell; it is my duty TO ask,
and yours TO answer me-
4 cannot do it, SIR said George firmly.
'Then you must stop with Inc after
school,
lie stopped as requested, but nothing
""'"" "o""l "'oc "oui'l lnuucc Dln 10
reveal anything. At last, out of patience :,
with what believed TO he the obs,nacy of
the hoy, said:
We'll George, have borne with you as
long as can, and you must either tell mes
or be punishcd.'
With triumphant look, as though con-
scIous that he had cornered me BY an an.
pllcation Of my favorite rule, he replied:
4 can t tell you. because it would not be
right; the boy would no. like to have me
tell Of him; and I'll do rs I'd he done bv.'
A few years earlier, should lave deemed
reply thus given an insult. and should
have resented it according; But experience
and reflection had taught ME the folly of
this, and that one Of the mos. important ap.
plica,ions of my oft quoted rule was to
judge of the nature OF. others as wonld
wish to have them judge Of mine. Yet,
for the moment / was staggered. nisplea
was plausible; bo might be honest in ma.
king iti Ldid not sec what ,respect il was
fAlassiesass: I felt that ityould not do to fss
trsstfrom my position, snd ssnfEsr,th ets
fender to'escape, end yet, that ! should do !.
great injustice BY compelling a boy to do Z