Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-03-01
A Beautiful Story.
"a cheerful word of sympathy
.Nay scatter clouds away.
One little act performed in love
Turns darkness into day.n

"a cheerful word of sympathy
.Hay scatter clouds away;
One little act performed in love
Turns darkness into day"
1t was warm Summer afternoon a la
zy breeze stole through the windows of Il
little hot district school house. lifting the
white curtains. aud rustling the leaves o.
the cqpy-booE IL 1t lay open on the desks
Thirty or forty scholars Of all ages were
bending over their writing, quiet aud busy
the voice Of the master. aS lie passed about
among the writer's, was the only sound
But though silent, this little hot school
room had its heroes and her0incs rs certain
ly as the wiIer sphere of life.
The bell rings for the Writing to be lad
by; and comes now the last exercise of the
day, the spelling in which nearly add ii.e
schaol joined. At the head Of the class Is
u delicate little girl in a blue dress. whose
bright eyes and attentive air show that she
prizes her place, and means to kcepit.
Presently word. which had passed all
the lower end Of tie class came to Eunice.
The word was privilege. PRIV, priv
j. privi, privilege spclt Eunice.
But the teacher. vexed with the mistakes
OF the other end of the class misunder-
| Sto'u hti P0ooSu IL. iC ittiS ~
looked amazed ; the bright color came in
TO the next person, who spelt itasaiir ls
she had done.
Right said the teacher; take your place.
Il spelt it 80. whispered Eunice to her
sell; tears sprlnging to her eyes As she
passed down. But, too tmil to speak to
the master, she remained in her place in
vardly determining SOON to get up again.
But her trials were not yet over.
Many expedients had been tried in the
school to keep odt the arcl! ell eniy Of adj
tcacte whisper. AT length tie follow
ing plan was adopted Th first Whisper
er was STOOD upon the flour in front Of the
teachers desk. Here he acted as moni-
tor as soon as he detected another he took
his scat,i and the next oEegder kept a
sharp look to tnl some one to take
his place; for at the close of the school. the
scholar VIC Lad tl.e wiisperer's place was
punished very scyercly-as the school
Ihrase was took a ferulinG This plan
appeared to operate very well; every one
dreaded being found the last on the floor
but though 1t secured an orderly school,
many OF the parents and seAossIs dqpoted
its Justice.
The boy who was on the foo: when Eu-
ntce lost her place was an unruly. surly
fellow, who had smarted for his faults Of
ten beicre ; and as school drew near Its
close he began to trcmble. The instant
Eunice's whispered complaint reached bis
ear his face frightened up; he was safe
now. And when the class was dismissed
be said: "Eunice whispered sir"
Eunice lose, and in a trembiing voice
t.el;,lel what sile had said; but the tcackel
saw no excuse in it, and she was called tc
take the place Of the ungenereus boy whc
had told Of her.
Books lad been put away, and the wait
ing schQpl looked on in sorrowfulness a!
Eunice left her seat to take the dreaded
punishment. She was one of the hes
scholars-bright, faithful, sweet tempered
and general favorte. Every one fcl
that it was unjust: and many angry CLAN
ces Were cast at the hey whe was meai
enough to get a Little girl whipped. Over
GENE with shame and fear she stood by
the side of the desk, crying bitterly, Will,
the teaeler was preparing to inilc: thu
punishment.
At this moment tall boy stepped ou
OF his seat, and going to the desk, said:
Are You going to whip funicc sir!
Yes, | never break my rules. the teach
er answered.
We will not See her whipped = sale
the boy in an excited tone; there is no
IL hoy he.e bpt one that would see he
whipped! Whip me. sir, aud keep yna,
rule if yop Mast, but don't touch that VI
tie girl =
The master pausel; the schqol kqke'
CT tearfully.
DO YOU mean to say that you will talk
her punishment ? asked the teacher.
Il dp, sir was the bold reply.
! The sohbing little girl was sent to le'
seat; aod without t!inching, her trien'
stood and received the punishment tina
was tc haze fallen on her. The school wa
: dismissed. and the boys paid him in admi
ration and praise for adj he had suffered
: while the grateful little girl blessed hin
from her heart for Il noble and generous
boy. whe has saved her from the creates
shame and suffering.
said that the little school had its he
rocs, aud this ives one of them, Do yol
think sLs conduct admirable!
Now for the moral
The punishment received Ivy this nobl
hey was Christ like it was one of suffer
ing from its own free will the punshncn
that was to have been borne by another
You see-do you not!-that this is jus
what Christ did, who bore our own sins i
his own body on the trce--the Saviour ,
men. How great the gratitude each Of Il
owes suel = friend