Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-04-15
DEATH IN THE sCHooL-ROoM
FACT

Ting,a,ling' ng'ling,ling went the little
bell on the teachers desk of a village
school one morning, when the studies Of
the earlier part Of the day were about
half completed. 1t was well understood
that this was command for silence and
attention and when these had been obs
tared, the master spoke. He was a low
thick-set man, and his name was Lugare,
Boys said he, 4 have had complaint
entered, that last nigh some OF you we're
stealing fruit from Mr'N choPs garden
rather think know the thief FIN
Barker, step up here, sir
The one to whom he spoke came for.
ward. lie was a slight, fair looking BOY
Of about fourteen and his face had o
laughing, good humored expression, which
even the charge now preferred against
him, and the stern tone and threatening
look Of the teacher, had not entirely dis
sipatcd. The countenpuce Of The 10y,
howeyei,wa too ureertLiy fair for health;
it had, Notwithstanding its neshy, cheer.
ful look singular cast as if some inward
disease, and lhat a fearful one, were seat
) tdwithin. As the stripping stood before
/ ,hat place orjudgment that place, 50 or>
ten made the scene Of heartless andcoarse
brutality, Of timid innocence confused,
helpless childhood outraged and gentle
feelings crushed LDguo looked on him
eilh a nown which plainly told that he
felt in 10 very plea5au, mood. Happily a
worthier aud moro philosophical system
~ proving TO men that schools can be bet
ter governed, n an by lashes aud tears
and signs. We are waxing toward that
contamination when one Of The old'iash'
iored schoolomasteB, with his cowhidc,
his heavy birch rod, and his many inge'
nous methods Of ciiid>tor!nre, will be
gazed upon as a scorued memento Of an
ignorant, cruol, and exploded doctrine
May propiLious gales speed that day
Were you by Mr.. Nichols garden fence
last nigh 2 said Lugafe.
Yes. sir, answered The boy: 4 was
Well, sir, IN glad 10 find you so ready
with Your confession. And 50 you tho't
you could do Il little robbing, and enjoy
yourself in manner you ought to be
ashamed to own, withou! being punished,
did your
i have not been robbina, replied tic
boy quickly His face was suiiasod,
whether with resentment or fright, it was
difficult to tell. And didn't do any
thing last night, that I'm ashamed to
own
NO impudence exclaimed the leach,
er, passion~tcly, as he grasped long and
heavy rattan; give me none Of our sharp
speeches, or I'll thrash you till you beg
like a dog
The youngsters face paled little; his
lip quiyered, but he did not speak.
And pray, SIR continued Lugare, as
the outward signs Of wrath disappeared
from his features what we're you about
the garden for? Perhaps you only receiV-
ed the plunder, and had an accomplice to
DO the more dangerous part of the job"
Il went lhat way because it is on my
road home. was there again afterward
TO meet an acquaintance; and-and-
but did not 60 into the garden, nor take
anything away from it, | would not steal,
hardly 10 save myself from starving
you had better have stuck to that last
evening. You were seen, Tim Barker, to
come from under Mr.. Nichols garden
: fence, little after nine o'clock, with a
bag full of something or other, over your
shoulders. The bag had every appear
rance of being filed with fruit, and this
morning the melon-beds are found 10
have been completely cleared. Now, sir,
what was there in the bagY
Like fire itself glowed the face of the
detected lad. He spoke not a word, All
the school had their eyes directed at him.
The pers yiration ran down his white fore
head like rain>drops.
Speak, sir = exclaimed Lugare, with n
loud strike of bis rattan on the desk.
The boy looked as though he would
faint. But the unmerciful teacher, con
fdert Of having brought to light crimi.
nal and exulGng in the idea of The severe
chastisement he should now be justified
in inflicting, kept working himself up to
still higher degree Of passion. n the
meantime, the child seemed hardly TO
know what 70 do with himself His
tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth.
Either ne was very much frightened or
he was actually unwell.
Speak, ] say + again thundered Lugare
and his hand, grasping his rattan, lowered
above his head in a very significant man.