Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-28

| a sckly little, annotated boy whom no one eX-
pected to live many months TO the surprise
of all, however, the poor little child kept
alive, and seemed to recover bis health, as he
certainly did his size and good looks This
was owing to the kind Offices of an eminent
physician who had countryseat in the neigh
borhood, and who had been interested in the
widows little family. Tim, the physician said,
might possibly outgrow his disease but ev.
! erythiDg was uncertain. 1t was mysterious
and battling malady and it would not be
wonderful if he should 10 some moment of ap
parent health be suddenly taken away. The
poor widow was at first in continual state of
uneasiness but severa> years had now passed
and none of the impending evils had fal len
upon the boys head. His mother seemed to
feel confident that he would live aud be
help and hou1r to her old age; and the two
struggled on together, mutually happy in
each other, and enduring much of poverty and
discomfort without repiuing, each for the 9TH
er's sake.
Tins pleasant disposition had made him
many friends lu the village, and among the
rest young farmer named Joues, who with
his elder brother, worked large farm 10 the
neighborhood on shares. Jones very frequent
ly mad Tim present Of bag of potatoes or
coru, Or some garden vegetables, which he
| took from his own stock but as his partner
Was a parSimoniouS, high tempered man. and
had often said that Tim was an idle fellow,
and ought rot TO be helped because he did
not work, Jones generally made his gifts in
such manner that no one knew ANYTHING
about them, except himself and the grateful
ohj4cts of lis kindness 1t might be too. that
the widow was !oath TO have it understood
10y tue nelghborS that she received food from
any one for there is often an excusabe pride
in people Of her condition which makes them
shrink from being considered as objects of
" charity" as they would from the severest
'lnS. On the night i'll question, Tim had
been told that Jones would seud them a bag
of potatoes, and the place at which they were
to be waiting for him was fixed at Mr.. Mich
olS's gardenieuce. 1t was this bag that Tim
had been seen staggering under, and which
caused the unlucky boy to be accused and
convicted by bis teacher as d thief. Tnft
teacher was q little untitled for his important
and responsible Office Hasty 10 decide, and
inHexiby severe, he was the terror of the lit
lie world he ruled SO despoticaIly. Punish
nent he seemed to delight in. Knowing lit
tie OF those sweet Fountains which in cbildren's
breasts ever open quickly at the call of gen
tleness aud kind words, he was feared by all
for his sternness, aud loved by none | would
that he were an Instance in his profession
The hour OF grace had drawn to its close,
and the time approached at which it was u,u-
al for Lugare to give bis school joylully re-
ceVed dlsmlSsi0n Now and then one of the
scholars would direct furtive glance at Tim,
sometimes in pity, sometimes in indifference or
inquiry They kuew that he would have no
mercy shown him, and though most of them
loved him, whipping was too common there to
exact much sympathy. Every inquirng glance,
however, remained dissatisfied, for at the end
OF the hour, Tim remained with bis face com
pleteiy hidden, aud his bead bowed in his
arms, precisely as he had leaned himself when
he first went to his seat Lugare locked at
the boy occasionally with a scowl which seem.
ed TO bode vengeance for his saenness. At !
length the last class had been heard and lhe
last lesson recited and Lugare seated himself
behind his desk Oh the platform, with his lon
gest and stoutest rattan before him.
Now, Barker" he said, we'll settle that
little business of yours. Just step up here"
Tim did not move. The schot Lroom was as
still as the grave Not sound to be heard,
except occasionally a long drawn breath.
Mind me, sir, or it will be the worst for
you. Step up here, aud take off your Jack.
ct ?"
The boy did not sir any more than if he
had been made of wood. Lugare shook with
paSsloDn. He sat still minute, as if consid
erlng the best way to wreak his vengeance
That minute. passed in death like silence. was
a fearful QUE to some of the children, for their
faces whltened with fright. 1t seemed, as it |
slowly dropped away, like the minute which |
proceeds the climax OF au exqusitely perform |
ed tragedy, when some mighty master of the |
historic art is rendering the stage, and you |
and the multitude around you are waiting with |
stretched nerves and suspended breath, iu ex-
pectation of the terrible catastrophy
Tim is asleep, sir" at length said one of !
the boys who sat near him.
Lugare, at this intelligence, allowed his fea-
lures to relax from their expression of savage
anger into smile, but that smile looked more
malignant, if possible, than his former scowls
1t might be that be felt amused at the horror
depicted on the faces Of those about him or
1t might be that he vas glowing in pleasure
on the way in which be intended to wake The
poor little slumberer.
ASLEEP are you, my young gentleman Z"
: let US see if we can't fud something to tickle
your eyes open. There's nothing ike making
the best of bad case boys. Tim, here, is de-
termlned not TO be worried in his mind about
little fogging, for the thought OF it even
can't keep the little scoundrel awake"
Lugare smiled again as he made the last
observation. He grasped his rattan firmly,
and descended from bis seat With light and
steaIthy steps he crossed the room, and stood
by the unlucky sleeper. The boy was still as
unconscious of bis impending punishment as
ever He might be dreaming some golden
dream of youth and pleasure perhaps he was
Jar away in the world OF fancy. seeing scenes.