The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-12-30
Tho Whitfield DCsk, or an Appeal to
the Boys w Wcrd uud Honor.

was q schoolmastcr once, teaching large
school iu Michigan. As / Wua passing a..
round a.. l,aool-room one morning, snW d
notch that had been cut boz The dcsk, just bee.
lore G., pointed to the desk and
asked
"Wiliam, do you know who did that2'
AYES, sir ! did ~ hc worry frankly an
svcrcd.
did you not know that It VAS against
the rules Of the school to white tie desks
ur the scbts''
"Nrs. sir
81 suppose YOU must punish me, sir be
continued booking very much troubled,
Now William Was about ten years old. was
oac OF my best schohrs, ye'y bright and
generally ubcdicut boy. Utdid not own 20
pocket knife. bat had shat morning borrowed
one 90 home, and the temptation Co try it Oh
the desk before him had proved too much
tor him But his lrnukuc,s in couiessinp
his fault and cuudomwng himself added To-
his general good character, made omr wish %
possible, % avoid puuishtug him. Yet how
cuull ] avoid itwtthsut appearing partial Co
William Observation-Disclosures was q new one.
aud I v65anllous TO leave IL in good urdcl
40 the end OF M, term. | turned the matter
over moment in my mind, aud then said TO-
him
"Willilm, can't bear TO think OF punish.
ing ,ou, Tor you are one OF my best boys
But what can do II lrt YOU 10 unpuu-
l,hrd, how can enforce the rules And Il
ll.ai r.ile iA d!ArrglrdeL. NJ shall Aarl-a zar-
D.loukiug schooi-huuso when 1t gets 70 bc
SPRING
81 know it will b, so, sir, % said lie, looking
more disconsolatc.
But Is there no way that can let YOU 60
and stil save the dcsks9'
81 don't think there is, sir
"lus NAY lay aside your books and think
.5uut II Tor "a while, and see il you cannot
coutryc some nay, and will see If / cannot
ind one
turned pvay an engaged in some other
duties toI some t'.ne, and tScn came be,N TO
'5TrWcn, William, have you thought Of any
plan to save the necessity Of that punish
mrnt ?'
mo sir, do not see how you can do any
thing else with me-
We'll have devised plan which may
possibly succeed. The boys are now to take
their recess, aud If while YOU are nut with
them, yuI can induce them to pledge their
word and honor that they will not whut,c
the seats or desks it yoa are not punished,
can let YOU GO"
William seemed very little encouraged by
that proposition. lie evidently doubted
whether the boys would gieo such III pledge.
| stated the plan in presence of them all, and
then gave them their recess As ! alter.
wards learned. William had not the courage
to ask Anybody for the pledge but one OF the
older boys gathered them all around him,
and made stump speech in Williams be.
half
"Boya." said he, 1--WE don't any of US want
to see Win whipped, and we can prevent It
b, jual giving our ward aud hoalr-thai we
Sont " bitllv the schs"lbouSe. Now what
do We want 70 whittle the school.house for
ia rather have a good smooth desk before
me than one all cut up. and 90 had any Of
you. Besides We ought to heNe some pride
Ia keeping the house decent, as well 40 the
master.
In giving this pledge We only promise To
do what W. ought to do in any way. II we
don't give IL, win must bo %Iippcd, and
.thcn u We cot the desks We shall be- shipprd
vim him For MY port, am l"r giving 'hss
pledge WITH nli my hcart--who votes aver
lie theu put ITO VOTE. aud every one shout
"a "n}u."
-,.--,.4,-.-----.-r~- ~ With tho eiood gone
lau h.s face. and sold thst thr hpjs hyd 90
r.,tn their pIedg, OtAers cpuiirn'ed iha
report, 90 / dismissed bim % s srat' aud