Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-04-15
THE BOY THAT COULD NOT LIE.

Alfred Williams had been taught by his
father and mother to despise all kinds Of evil
doing, and especially, alsehood.
Many times they had talked with him upon
that subject, pointing out the way Of truth as
the only honorable and right path in which to
go. and so well did they succeed in their work,
that there was no fear in their minds that he
would ever become a man, like 80 many in
this world. whose word cannot be trusted
When he was twelve years old, an incident
occurred which tested the perfection Of that
work they had teen seeking to perform.
Alfred was at play afternoon with sew
eral of his schoolmates, and, with them, was
his little sister Eta. The boys had slings,
and were seeing which of them could sling a
stone furthest.
They had tried many times, and were get
ting tired, when Alfred proposed that each
one should select the best shaped stone he
could find, and then all together, make one
final trial, wien he who should send his stone
the furthest should be called Captain of the
company Of singers.
All agreed to it and set about selecting the
stones they would throw; for in singing a
stone to u great distance, much depends upon
its shape and weight
Alfred found one that suited him, and he
placed it in his sling, and stood ready for the
trial.
1t was round stone, very heavy for its
size, and almost as white as marble He
looked at it very closely, for it was a peculiar
stone. When all were ready, they stood in a
line, and the girls, of whom there were two
or three, besides Eta, stood little way be-
hind them. The word was given, by one OF
the girls, and the boys put forth their strength
and skill as best they could.
As the stones whirled, and the quick sharp
snap was heard from the slings, there came a
piercing shrek from one Of the girls, and
turning quickly, Alfred saw Eta holding her
hands to her head, and the blood running
down her face.
stone from one of their slings had not
been properly balanced, and slipping too soon,
as it was whirled to give it greater speed, had
gone backward and inflicted severe wound
in the head of the little girl.
Alfred sprang to her side in moment, and
as he did SO, he saw at his feet the white
stone that was in his own sling.
o, whose stone could it have been ex-
claimed all the other boys; for they had been
so intent on the trial, that they thought it pos
sible that their stone had slipped in the sling
without their feeling it, as indeed was the
case with that which Alfred threw. He did
not know that the stone in his sling went
backward till he saw il at the feet of Eta
! All gathered around the weeping girl, and
/ kept saying, 90, whose stone could it have
been ?"
Alfred stopped down, picked up the white
stone, and put it in his pocket, but said moth
ing. and then helped by his weeping play
mates, each one of whom feared that he had
done it, he took little Eta home, still bleed
| ing, and almost unconscious,
His father and mother were both at tht
door, and when they saw Eta all covered
with blood, they demanded to know how i
| happened.
/ One little boy stepped forward and said
40, MIR. Williams, we were very careless
and we are all very much to blame. for We
were singing stones, and the stone from som,
one of our slings went backward and hit her
We were all singing together, and we do moi
know who hit her.
Alfred was weeping as he bent over his sis
ter, already in her mothers arms, and haC
said nothing. His father turned to him, say
ing;
is this so. my boy' DO you not know
who the careless fellow was whose stone slip
ped and hit your sister"
Alfred took the stone from his pocket. anC
holding it out to the view of all present, said
Z" That is the stone that hit her, and it wal
thrown from my sling The others did no
know it. father, but knew it was the ston,
that threw, and though by my carelessnes
may have killed my dear sister, cannJ
tell a lie."