Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-04-12

A robins meet, ma'am.' lie was n,
liar, with all his faults"
40, wouldn't" Her voice had a grieve,
tone. 1t would be such pity, when tn,
birds have just finished it. Are there egg
in it?"
81 don't know, I'll see" and he climbe,
rapidly TO the nest. .'Yes ma'am, four.'-
He didn't touch them, but came down agair
to the lowest bough.
"There'll be little birds soon, then, ant
It will be so pleasant for me to watch them
l wish you wouldn't touch them"
81 won't ma'am. didn't want it fo
myself, but poor little Tommy said las
night he wished he had string of Bird
eggs to look at. Tommy is lame, ma'am
and can't get out much and he gets lonesom,
and wants something to play with. So
thought I'd get him some"
Is Tommy your brother"
" No ma'am. never had brother OIL
sister either" His voice softened as h,
spoke. s He belongs to the folks where
stay"
III send Tommy something as pretty a:
birds eggs. See here" and she broke of
large bunch of liacs and handed him the
purple plumes. Garry this to him. Put
it in pitcher of water, and it will keep
fresh several days; and here are some
flowers for you,' and she gave him the lit,
tie bunch of violets she had gathered. "Run
quick with them now, or you will be late
to school. you're going to school, ain't
you?"
Are you the new teacheri"
Yes"
"I'm going then; I'll be there in time,' >
and he ran Off
| Now only the night before, he had declar-
ed up and down to Tommy that he wouldn't
90 to school. 1t was no use. He never
would be anybody, and he was tired of be-
ing fogged and beaten and boxed. He
wouldn't stand it from woman teacher
And if they sent him TO school he'd play
hockey" he would. Yet the very next
morning he was in hurry to 90, fearful
that he should be late. Who will dare say
there is not magic in kind words
Miss Merton went early to the school
house. The "worst boy" was already
| there.
"Ah," said she kindly, you've beat me
But I'm glad you're here, for l want to
learn something about the school. What
is your name F."
| "Bill Hendrickson, maam."
"Say William, my dear, or Will. Bill
is not pretty nickname"
It's what I've been called ever since
my father died." and he sighed.
"Then your father is dead, poor boy
See spoke tenderly. And your mother
She's dead, TOO, ma'am. She died when
| was little baby. ! cannot even remem-
Der how she looked" and new tears gath
cred into his blue eyes.
Courage, thought Miss Merton. A boy
who weeps at the mention of his dead moth
er, cannot be all bad. And she laid her
hands caressingly on his brown hair, and
said softly, +" i know how TO feel for you,
Willie, fer too am an orphan"
That gentle touch. 1t melted the poor
| boys heart entirely, but with the better
feelings that then surged over his soul came
feeling of shame. too, and for the first
time in his life he blushed for his matted
hair, and his dirty face and hands.
81 believe" he said after a moment s
thought, I" I'll run down to the brook and
wash myself, forgot it this morning. No
didn't either" disdaining the falsehood.
was too mad to DO it, but I'll wash now.''
"Do, Willie, that's good boy. / love
to see my pupils neat and tidy. Here's a
towel for you to wipe on. ] always bring
one with me to school, for the little ones
almost always need washing after dinner.
And here are pair of pocket combs-bran
new ones. I'll give them to you, if you'll
promise to use them every day."
Willie ran TO the brook and made such a
dextrous use of the towel and the combs,
that he hardly seemed like the same boy
when he returned.
"Why, you're real handsome" Miss
Merton spoke involuntarilY, but she spoke
the truth, for he was handsome little fell
low, with high. fair brow, and a wealth Of
nut-brown hair clustering about his temples,
in soft, silky curls.
al shall not have much time to talk to
you, for hear the children coming" and as
she spoke, little sna,chss of musical laugh
ter came ringing through the open door
q but one thing ! must say, l need your
help, Willie"
He looked up, and his blue eyes dilated
in wonder. His help What could he do
TO help her?
She continued. /" need your help, Will
lie. You are probably one Of the Oldest
pupils shall have, and the little ones will
look up to you as an example. If they see
you quiet mannerly, orderly, faithful to your
studies, and prompt in recitaions, they will
strive to emulate you, and shall have but
little difficulty in governing the school, but
if, on the contrary, you are noisy, forward,
rude, negligent of your lessons, and diaio-
ry in coming to your class, they will imbibe
your spirit, and shall so home every night
sad and weary. Willie, you are cut out
for good boy" and she moved her hand
over his now glossy hair. " Your head is
a good one. If you only guide it with your
heart, it will make a good, and perhaps a
great man of you. Can ! trust you, vii
lie, will you help me to make this school a
credit to the district
Willie had never been talked to in that
way before. He had never had trust re-
posed in him. He hardly knew what 10
make of it now, but he did not hesitate to
say at once, +" VIII help all | can. Per-
haps | shall forget sometimes, and act bad,
/ because / am so used to cutting up, that
it'll 90 hard TO be good all at once, but if l
do, just look at me and I'll give up"
The other scholars came in just then, and
looked surprised enough to see Willie there