Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-09-16
Nnnlh's s Department.



" Pooh | could do it easily aud be back
here again, before YOU could count fifty
May be 50 but You don't dare to try
iitw
" Dont dare now Tom, you know bet
ter"
Well | dare you n
The boys eyes flashed Ia moment he
was over the boundary line. skating skillfuly
over the forbidden ice while HIS schoolmatcs
looked on some with astonishmcnt, some with
/ fear, and few with shouts of apphuse.--
Clear to the other side he went. though the
ice cracked and bent then, with graceful
turn he was coming toward thcm again, swift
er and swiltcr With look Of pride on his
glowing face and the praises Of the other
/ boys already sounded in his ears
Good for you, Win :"
llura for ----"
/ Who ? where was he? Where the proud
/ form and smiling face, and the dark hair un-
covered in the moment Of cxultation Gonel
hidden at once from their sight, under the ice,
aud the waters rose up over the spot, al it
their time Of triumph had come then.
Oh what shall we do ?'
"l;un quick get a rope ~
Stand back, every one Of YOU ,' and the
voice, generally so kind, frightened them
now with its stcrnncss and they looked in
silence at the teachers white face as he
drew of his gown and crept with it to the
boundary line which he had marked for the
boys that morning. Over that, too, so care
fully, yet so quickly and the ice cracked
cracked And the boys could none of them
tell how it was DONE only that soon the dark
dripping lsir of their schooImate appeared
above the broken ice then his body slowly,
slowly dragged towards them, his hand clutch
ing tightly the teachers dressng-gown.
The teacher did not speak. and they dared
not. In the teachers own strong arms, Win
throp was carried TO the house. and rubbed /;
and, no, he was not dead for in few min
utes, he opened his eyes and looking at the
group Of anxious, boyish faces gathered
round, he said All right How it bright
ened every heart there The boys could
speak now
Oh, Win, hareat copRted the fftg
I yetr burst out Tom, exctedly, and trying to
/ laugh but, if he had not been a boy he
would certainly have cried instead.
Now, let me hear all about it, said their
teacher, calmly, as the color began to come
back into Winthrop's checks
II is all my fault" said Tom, humbly.
How came you to disobey my rule VIM
thr0p, and 90 beyond the boundary 2'
Why | hardly thought about the rule
sir; l wanted to let them see wasn't afraid
of the ice They dared me to do IL and
when any one darCS me TO do thing"
4 Winthrop stopped suddenly as the recol.
lection came over him Of the cold, gurgIing
waters, and Of those few, terrible moments Of
suspense.
Then you always dare to do it is that
what you mean ?"
" Yes, sir = but the voice was not so full
of confidence as il had been half an hour
before
And the end of your daring, this time,
might have been-deafh ~
\ shudder crept over the boys heart
Oh, sir, please don't | dared him y
said poor Tom.
q" And so you think a boy is a coward who
is dared to do thing. and doesn't do it,"
" 1t looks so,n answered Winthrop.
4" All, my boy, you must get rid Of that
I idea it is all wrong He who refuses to
do a sinful or a dangerous thing, even when
people say, dare you. is true hero and
he VINO runs all risks to 10 something, just
because he is dared, is by far the most cow
ardly and foolish Don't look so down-heart-
ed, Winthrop | want You to be truly heroic,
and know you can do things very bravely,
sometimes. For instance, if | should say
you may not 90 skating again during this
season you would bear the punishment with
out complaint, think
Yes, sir, answered the boy, with touch
of the old pride in his voice.
Mayn't bear the punishment IL was
my fault" B" exclaimed Tom.
y" haven't given any punishment yet, Tom;
I | have only given this lesson about true brave
ry for you an to learn. Aud now, be off,
every one Of you, and let Winthrop rest,
while go to examine my dressing-gown; and
/ if it is entirely ruined, III pass a subscrip-
tion round among you to get new one."-
I And the kind man smiled us he left them,
but his heart was full f; aud he went to thank
God for the safety Of his pupil, and to pray
that he might become truly brave and noble.
Boys, never be dared into doing what is
wrong DO not take one step aside from the
safe and straight path, no matter how many
voices say " | dare you BE brave enongh
to say, " dare not, to every temptation.
And always
Dare to be right dare to he true
All the worlds scorning can never harm you
Stand by your conscience, your honor, your mith
Stand like a hero and battle till death % Ex