The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-26
Vol. XIV-No. l3.

ness, refused TO give me some information.
The circumstances were these:
a scholar had played some trick which
intcrrupted the exercises. As was my
custom, ] called on the one who had dono
the mischief to come forward. As no ono
started, repeated the request, but with no
success. Finding that the culprit would
not confess bis guilt, asked George II he
knew who had committed the offence.
~ did not do it," was the reply.
"But do you know Who did :"
ayes sir"
"lNho was it ~
"I do no, wish TO tell"
"But YOU must tell. |, is myiddty TO ask,
and yours to answer me-"
II cannot do it," said George, firmly.
"Then you must stop with INC alter
school,"
lie stopped as requested, but nothing
~hieh could do would get HIM 10 reveal
anything. AT last, out Of patience with
what believed to bo the obstinacy Of tho
boy. said:
"Well, George, have borne with you as
lorg as can, and you mus, either tell me
or be punished"
With triumphant look, as though con-
cious that hc had cornered me by an np-
pllcation of my iavoritc rule, he replied,
IL can't tell you, because II would not DO
right. The boy would not like TO hnyc me
tell of him, and I'll do as I'd be done by"
A few years earlier ] should have deemed
a reply thus given an insult, and should have
resented il accordingly; but experience and
reflection had taught inc tho folly OF this,
and one of the most important applications
of my oft quoted rule, was-to judge OF tho
nature of others us would have them Judge
of mine. Yet, for the moment, was
staggered. His plea was plausible; no
might be honest in making It. did not
sec in what respect il was fellacious; felt
that il would not do to retreat from my pos
tion, and suffer the offender to escape and
yet that should do great injustice by
compelling boy to do thing, If he really
believed it to be wrong.
"Aitcr little pause, ] said, "Weli
George, | do not wish you to DO anything
which is wrong, or which conflicts win
your golden rule. We will leave this Tor
tonight, and perhaps you will al.er your
mind before tomorrow"
saw him privately before school, and
found him more firm in his refusal than ever.
Aftor the devotional exercises OF the MORN
ing, began TO question the scholars-as
was nv wont on various points OF duty, and
gradually led the conversation to the golden
rule.
"Who,"I asked, "arc the persons to whom
as the members of this school, you ought 10
do as YOU would be done by' Your parents,
who support and send you here! your
schoolmatcs, who are engaged IN the salno
work with yourselves? the citizens OF tho
town, who, taxing themselves, raise money
: to pay the expenses OF this schooi 'ho
school committee, who take so great an
interest in your welfare your teacher! or
the scholar who carelessly or wil!uliy COM
mi,s some offence against good order"
A hearty "ycs' was responded to every
question except the last, on which thcy
were silent.
Then. addressing George, said: "Yes-
tcrday, | asked you who had committed
certain offence. You refused to tell me,
because you thought ii would not be doing
ns YOU would be done by. now wish you
to reconsider the subject. On one side arc
our parents, your schoolmatcs, the citizens
of this town, the school committee and your
teacher, all deeply interested in everything
affecting the prosperity of this school. on
the other side is the boy who, by this act,
has shown himself ready to injurc all these.
TO which party will you do as you would
be done by" >, ann
After n moments pause, he said: "To
the first; j, was William Brown who did
it,
Ny triumph, or rather the triumph OF
principle, was complete and the lesson.
was as deeply felt by the other members OF
the school as by him for whom It was
specially dcsigned.-ProjtsSor Robert Allyn.