Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-01-23
Hiscrllanrous.


Ont hltic aci performed 10 love
Turns darkness into day
II was a warm Summer afternoon a lazy
breeze stole through the windows Of a little
hot district school-house, lifting the white
curtains, and rustling the leaves Of the copy
book that lay open on all the desks. Thirty
or forty scholars OF all ages were bending
over their writing, quiet and busy; the voice
of the master, as he passed about among the
writer's was the only sound. But, though
silent, this little light, hot schoolroom bad
its heroes and herones as certainly as the
wider sphere Of life.
The bell rings for the writing TO be laid
by; and comes now the last exercise Of the
day, the spelling. in which nearly all the
school joined. AT the head Of the class is a
delicate little girl in blue dress, whose
bright eyes and attentive air show that she
prizes her place, and means to keep it.
Presently word, which had passed all the
lower end OF the class, came to Eunice. The
word was privilege. "P-r.i.v, priv, priyi
---l-e-g-e-privilege spelt Eunice. But the
teacher, vexed with the mistakes Of the other
end Of the class, misunderstood her and pass
ed it. The little girl looked amazed the
bright color came into her cheeks and she
listened eagerly to the next person, who spet
it again as she had done.
Right" SAID the teacher; take your
place"
81 spelt it So" whispered Eunico to her
self: tears sprinping to her ewes as she mass
ed down But, too timid to speak to the
master. she remained in her place inwardly
determining soon to get up again. But her
trials were not yet over.
Many expedients had been tried in the
school to keep out the arch-enemy of all
teachers-whisper. At length the following
plan was adopted: The first whisperer was
stood upon the floor in front Of the teacher
desk. Here be acted as monitor as soon
as he detected another he took his seat, and
the next offender kept a sharp lookout to
find some one TO take his place for at the
close of the school, the scholar who had the
whisperer's place was punished very severely
--as the school phrase was, ''took ieruling :"
This plan appeared to operate very well /;
everyone dreaded being found last on tie
floor but though il secured an orderly
school, many OF the parents and scholars
doubted its Justice
The boy who was on the floor when Funice
lost her place was an uuruly, surly fellow,
who had smarted for his faults often before /;
and as school drew near its close he began to
tremble. The instant Eunices whispered
complaint reached his ear his face Frightened
up he was safe now And when the class
was dismissed he said "Eunice whispered,
sir"
Eu1ice rose, and in a trembling voice re-
lated what she had said but the teacher saw
no excuse in it, and she was called to take
the place Of the ungenerous boy who had
told Of her.
Books had been put away and the waiting
school looked on in sorrowfulness as Eunice
left her seat to take the dreaded punishment.
She was one of the best schoars--bright,
faithful, sweet-tempered, and general favor
lite. Every one felt that it was unjust and
many angry glauces were cast at the boy who
was mean enough to get little girl whipped
Overcome with shame and fear, she stood by
the side of the desk, crying bitterly, while
the teacher was preparing to inAlct the pun.
ishment.
AT this moment tall boy stepped out O
his seat, and going to the desk, said
'Are you going to whip Eunice, sir :"
Eyes, | never break my rules" the teacher
answered.
1--WE will not see her whipped !" said III,
boy in an excited voice sthere is not DO,