The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-10-07
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
81 Dare YOU"

"PooH! 1 could do it easily, and be
back here again before you could count
fifty"
MAY be so; but you don't dare to try
it."
"Dont dare! Now Tom, you know bet
ter"
"Wcll, dare you,"
The boys eyes flashed. In moment
he was over the boundary line, skating
skillfully over the forbidden ice while his
scheOlmates looked on, some with astonish-
ment, 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 and
swifter, with look of pride on his glow
ing face, and the praises Of the other boys
already sounded in his ears:
Good for you, Win!"
"Hurrah for"
Who Where was he Where the proud
form and smiling face, and the dark hair
uncovered in the moment of eXultation I?
Gone Hidden at once from their sight,
under the ice, and the waters rose up over
the spot, as if their time of triumph had
come then.
"Oh What shall we do?"
Run, quick Get rOpei"
Stand back, every one of you !" and the
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 crcpt with ii to the
boundary line which he had marked for
the boys that morning. Over that, too,
so carefully, 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 hair of their
schoolmate appeared above the broken ice;
then his body slowly, slowly dragged to-
wards 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 to the house,
| and rubbed; and, no, he was not dead !;
for in few moments he opened his eyes,
and looking at the group of anxious, boy
ish faces gathered round he said: All
right" How it frightened every heart
there The boys could speak now.
"Oh, Wint, haven't counted fifty yeti"
burst ont Tom, excitedly, and trying to
laugh; but if he had not been a boy, he
could 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 cheeks.
1T is all my fault" said Tom, hum
bly,.
"How came you to disobey my rule,
Winthrop, and go beyond the boundary ,"
Why, hardly thought about the rule,
sir: wanted to let them see | wasn't
afraid of the ice! They dared me to do
| it and when any one darcs me to do a
| thing"
Winthrop stopped suddenly, as the rec
| objection came over him of the cold CUR
Cling waters, and of those few, terrible
moments of suspense.
"Then you always dare to do it; is that
| what You mean? :"
| Eyes, sir :" but the voice was not so full
| of confidence as it had been half an hour
| before.
and the end of your daring, this,time,
| might have becn-dcath !"
A shudder crept avcr tho boy'e heart
ooh, sir, please don't! l dared him I "
said poor Tom.
1" And SO you think boy is coward
who is dared to do thing, and doesn't do
it,"
at looks So" answered Winthrop.
"Ah, my 10y, you must get rid of that
| idea it is wrOngl He who refuses to do
a sinful or dangerous thing, even when
people say, dare YOU is true hero
and he who runs all risks to do something,
just because he is dared, S.by far the most
cowardly and foolish Don't look so
| down-hcarted, Winthrop; l want you to
be truly heroic, and | know you can do
things very bravcly sometiIfits For in
stance, if L should say you may not go
skating another day during this season,
you would bear the punishment without
complaint, think"
"Yes, sir" answered the boy, with a
touch OF the old pride in his voice.
"Mayn't bear the punishment? 1t is
my fault" exclaimed Tom
! al 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
Winthrop rest, while l go to examine my
dressing gown and ifit is entirely ruined
I'll pass subscription round 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 tho
safety of his pupil, and TO pray that he
might become truly brave and noble.
Boys, never be dared into doing what i,
wrong. Do not take one step aside from
the straight path, no matter how many
voices say, Il dare you" BE brave
enough to say, a 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 faith ;