Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-10-08

"Poou / could do Il easily, and be
back here again before you could count
ii0y."
May be SO; but you don't dare to try
"Dont dorei Now Tom, you know bet.
We'll, dare youl"
The boys eyes flashed. In a moment
ho was over the boundary line, skating
| skillfully over the forbidden ice while his
SChoomates looked on, some with astonish.
mcnt some with fear, and few with
shouts Of applause. Clear TO the other
side he went, though tho ice cracked and
bent then, with graceful turn he was
coming toward them again, swiiter and
swiitcr with look of pride on his glow.
ing face, and the praises of the other boys
already sounded In his cars,
Good for you, Wni"
Hurrah for"
WhoY Where was he ? Where the proud
form and smiling face, and the dark hair
| uncovered In the moment of cNultationS =
| Gone Hidden at once from their sight
under the ice, and the waters rose M over
the spot, aS If their time of triumph had
| come then,
"Oh What shall we dop"
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, MS he
drew OIL his gown, and crcpt with tito the
boundary line which he had marked for
the boys that morning. Over that, too,
so carefully, yet so quickly; and the ice
| cracked crackedl 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, l haven't counted fifty yeti"
burst out Tom, excitedly, and trying to
laugh but if he had not been 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 checks.
ut is all my fault" said Tom, hum
bly,.
"How came you to disobey my rule
Winthrop, and go beyond the boundary "
"Why, l hardly thought about the rule
sir; wanted to let them see | wasn't
afraid of the icci They dared me to dc
it; and when any one dares 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 meang"
Yes, sir :" but the voice was not SO full
of confidence as ii had been half an hour
before.
"And the end of your daring, thistime
might have been--death ~
A shudder crept over the boys heart.
"Oh, sir, please don't! | dared him y
said poor Tom.
T. And so you think boy is n coward
who is dared to do thing, and doesn't dc
itY"
" 1t looks So" answered Winthrop.
"Ah, my 10y, you must get rid of that
idea 1t is wrongl He who refuses TO do
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, is by far the most
cowardly and foolish. Don't look so
down-hearted, Winthrop; | want you Ia
be truly heroic, and l know you can do
things very bravcly sometimes. For in.
stance, if | should say you may not &c
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? II is
my fault" exclaimed Tom.
-" i haven't given any punishment yet,
Tom; | have only given this lesson about
true bravery for you all to learn. And
now, be oil, every one of you, and let
Winthrop rest, while | 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 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 straight path, no matter how many
voices say, al dare YOU" BE brave
enough to say, a dare not" to every
temptation. And always
Dare to be right Dare to he truel
Al thG worlds scorning can never harm you
| Stand by your conscience, your honor your iaith
| stand like hero and hattie till death