Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-28
Death in a School Room.
A FACT.

Ting -a-ling-ling ling went the little bell
on the teachers desk of village school ore
morning, when the studies of the earlier part
of the day were about half completed. 1t
was well understood that this was a command
for silence and attention aud when these
had been obtained, the master spoke He was
a low thick-set man, and his name was Lu-
gare.
Boys" said be, II have had complain t
entered, that last night some of you were
stealing fruit from Mr. Nichols garden.
rather think know the thief Tim Bark er,
step up here, SIR"
The one to whom be spoke came forward
He was slight, fair-looking boy of about
| fourteen and his face had a 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 diSspated. The couutenance of the
boy, however, was too unearthly fair for health :
it had, Notwithstanding its feshy cheerful
| look, "a singular cast as If some inward disease.
aud that fearful one, were seated within -
AS the STRIPPING stood before that place of
| judgment, that place, SO often made the scene
OF heartless aud coarse brutality of timid in-
nocence confused, helpless childhood outraged,
and gentle feelings cru shed-Lugare looked
Gu him with frown which plainly told that
he felt In no very pleasant mood. Happily
worthier and more philosophical system is
proving 10 men that schools eau be better
governed, tnan Gy lasheS aud tears and signs.
We are waxing toward that consumma ton
when one OF the old-fashioued schoo-nas ters
with his cowhide, his heavy birch rod and hs
Ingenious methods OF child torture, will be
gazed upon as Scorned memento Of ar ignor.
ant, cruel aud exploded doctrine May pro-
pitious gales speed that day
" Were you 10y Mr.. Nichols garden fence
last night 7" Said Lasare.
4" Yes, Sir" answered the boy " was"
Well, sir, | IN glad to fnd you so ready
with your confession And so you thought
you could do a little robbug, aud enjoy your
self in manuer you ought to be ashamed to
own, without being punished, did you 2"
" have not been robbing," replied the boy
quickly. His face was sutfu.ed. whether with
resentment or fright, it was difficult to tell
" And l did MT do anything last night, that |
am ash amed to own
" No impudeuce y exclaimed the teacher,
passionatey, as he graSped a long heavy rat
an give me none Of your sharp speeches
OF III tharsh you till you beg like dog"
The Youngsters face paled little his liz
qulyered, but he did not speak
s. Aud pray sir" continued Lugare, as the
outward signs OF wrath disappeared from his
features what were you about the garden
for? Perhaps you only received the plunder,
and had au accompllce to do the more dan
gerouS part Of the job 2"
" went that way because it is on my road
home. | was there again afterward to meet
an acquaintance aud-aud but | did not
go into the garden, nor take anything away
from it. | would not steal, hardly to 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 niue O'Clock, with bag full of something
or other, over your shoulders The bag had
every appearance of beiug filled with fruit,
aud thls morning the melon-beds are found
TO have been completely cleared. Now, sir,
hat was there in the bag Z"
Like ire'itSelf glowed the face of the de.
tected lad. lie spoke not word All the
school had their eyes directed at him. The
pGrSpratlon ran down his white forehead like
Ialn-dropS.
Speak, sir |" exclaimed Lugare, with
loud stroke OF his rattan On the desk
The boy looked as though be would faint
But the uumerciful teacher, confident of hay
ing brought to light criminal, ana exuting
III the idea OF severe chastsement be should
now be justified in indicting kept working bin
self up 10 a still greater and greater degree
OF passion. In the meantime, the child seemed
hardly TO know what to do with himself. His
tongue cleaved TO the roof of his mouth. Ell
ther he was very much frightened, or be was
actually unwell.
Speak, say !" again thundered Lugare:
and his hand, graspiug bis rattan, lowered
above bis head in very significant manner
L hardly can, sir, said the poor fellow
tantly. Ills voice was husky and thick 81
will tell you Soue-sOme other time Please
to let me 60 to my seat--I ain It well.'
On yes, that S very likely , and Mr..
Lugare bulged out his nose aud cheeks with
contempt. Do you tbiuk to make ne believe
your lies l We found you out, sir, plainly
enough and am satisfied that you are as
precious little villain as there is in the State. |
But will postpone settling with you for an
hour yet. | shall tran call you up again; and
if You son t tell the whole truth then | will
give you something that III make you remem
Der Mr.. Nichols meloDs for many month to
come go to your seat"
Glad enough of the lngracious permission, |
and answering not sound, the child crept
trembllngly 10 his bench. He felt very |
strangely, dlzzily-more as if he was in a |
dream than in real life ; and laying his arms
on bis desk, bowed down his lace between |
them. The pupils turned to their accustomed |
studies, for during the reign of Lugare ia the
village school, they had been so used to scenes
OF violence aud severe chastsement, that such |
things made but little interruption in the ten
or of their way
Now, while the intervening hour is passing,
we will clear up the mystery of the bag, and
of YAnnp Rarknr heinr nndar tho oea rdan fonna