Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-07-23
fur the Motlte Cirfle.
81 DARE Y0II lO
VI UAHE IOU ~
sPooh! 7 could do it easily. and be back

~ DAI&G 4oO .
"Pooh! I could do it easily, and be back
here again before you could count fifty !"
''May be so; but you don't dare to try"
"Don't dare now, Tom, you know bet
ter"
"WelL, I dare you!'
The boys eyes flashed. IN a moment
he was over the boundary Lire, skating
skilfully over the forbidden ice, while his
schoolmates looked on-some with aston
ishment, some with fear, and few with
shouts of applause. Clear to the other side
he went, though the ice cracked and bent
then, with graceful turn, he was coming
toward them again, swifter, swifter, with a
look of pride on his glowing face: and the
praises Of all the other boys already sound
ed in his ears.
''Good for you, Win!'
ssHurrah for -"
"Who? where was he where the proud
form and smiling face, and the dark hair,
uncovered in the moment of exultatlon.-
Gone hidden in one moment from their
sight, under the ice, and the waters rose
again over the spot, as it their time OF trl-
umph had come then.
20, what shall we do p
"Run quick get rope!'
'Stand back every one of you J" and q
voice, generally so kind, frightened them
now with its sternness and they looked in
silence at the teachers white face, as he
drew off 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 Just how it was done, only that soon
the dark, dripping hair of their schoolmate
above the broken ice; then his
body, slowly, slowly dragged towards them,
his hand clutching tightly the teachers
dressing-gown. -,
The teacher did not speak and they
dared not. In the teachers own strong
arms Winthrop was carried into the house,
and rubbed, and, no, he was not dead for
in few minutes he opened his eyes, and
looking at the group of anxious boyish
faces gathered round, he said: "Allright." !"
How it frightened every heart there The
boys could speak now.
"Oh, Win! Ihaven't counted the fifty
yet ;" burst out Tom, excitedly, trying to
laugh but if he had not been a boy, he
would certainly have cried instead.
sNow, let me hear all about it, said
their teacher, calmly, as the color. began to
come back into Winthrop's cheeks.
"It is all my fault said Tom, humbly.
"How came you to disobey my rule,
Winthrop, and 60 beyond the boundary!'
"Why, hardly thought about the rule,
,ir I wanted to let them see that wasn't
afraid of the ice they dared me to do it
md when any one dares me to do a. thing"
Winthrop stopped suddenly, as the reeol-
ection came over him of the cold, gurgling
waters, and of those few terrible moments
If suspense.
"Then you always dare to do it; is that
What you mean"
eyes, sir" but the voice was not so full
If confidence as it had been half an hour be-
ore.
"And the end of your daring, this time,
night have been-death !"
A shudder crept over the boys heart.
"Oh, sir! please don't I dared him -
said poor Tom.
"And so you think boy is coward
who is dared to do o thing, and doesn't do
It o.
s'It looks so, answered Winthrop.
"Ah, my boy, you must get rid of that
dea it is all wrong! He who refuses to
10 sinful or dangerous thing, even when
people say, I dare you,' is true hero !;
and he who runs all risks to do something,
Just because he is dared, is by far the most
,owardly and foolish. Don't look so down.
hearted, Winthrop; I want you to be truly
heroic, and I know you can do things very
oravely sometimes. For instance, if l
should say you must not 60 skating anoth-
er day during this season, you would bear
the punishment without complaint, l think. "
Eyes, sir" answered the boy, with q
touch of the old pride in his voice.
"Mayn't 1 bear the punishment! 1t was
my fault"
81 haven't given any punishment yet,
Tom, have only given this lesson about
true bravery for you all to learn. And
now, be off every one of you, and let Win
throp rest, while I 60 to examine my dres-
sing-gown and if it is entirely ruined, I'll
pass a subscription around among you to
get new one." And the kind man smiled
as he left them, but his heart was full and
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, 81 dare you Be brave
enough to say, Il dare not" to every
temptation.
RESPONSIBILITY.
A =. l.