Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-17
From the Little Corporal
Julian Reeds Punishment.
TRUE STORY ron CHILDREN.


lacked in numerous ones.
The little village Of Kent, on the Cayuhogi
river, in Ohio boasted Of several schoolhouse
most Of them, too, near the bank Of III,
river. This fact caused the teachers of tn,
schools wonderful deal Of trouble for il wa
most impossible to keep the scholars, especial
ly the boys, away from the water Many o
| them were as yet, too young 10 swim, an,
I there was fear that some day there might b,
enc Of them drowned for Just as sure as thel
saw the water, their pants almost inyolunta
rily slipped above their knees, and before tn,
/ boy himself was quite aware Of it, he was
wading around in the clear, cool water--sC
clear that he could distinctly see his toes OF
the grayelly bottom, even if he was over hi
knees in water,
One Of these buildings was lamiliarly known
as the Red Schoolhouse." 1t occupied on,
fthe pleasan,est points on the river bank;
hill that sloped gently down to the river
edge, dotted with few large elms, under
which the scholars would sit at noon and eai
their dinners; then, when through, the boys
would set down their baskets, and lying dowr
fat, would take a rolling race"-that is, all
commence to roll down hill, and see which
would reach the sands first Their laughter
mingled with the shouts Of the girls, who ad
miringy cheered them on, would echo from
the farther bank, where there was heavy
growth Of willows that hung gracefully over
the water that flowed deep and dark, and
where all the fishes gathered to hide when
they heard the approach Of an enemy.
The teacher at the Red Schoolhouse wa,
more watchfu Of her pupils than those Of any
Of the other schools She was so fearful that
some harm would happen, while they wer,
out Of her sight near the water that she took
her dinner with the rest, and sat and watched
all the noon, to see that none went in who
were unable to swim. 1t was true that the
parents Of the boys often duly cautioned them
but they seemed to forget all about this wher
out Of their sight
One day, at noon, as the teacher touched
the little bell to call their attention a moment
before the dismissal Of the school, she said
Now, children cannot very well 20 with
you this noon, when you start from the school
house, but | forbid you going down the bank
to the water. 1t will not be much of hard
ship to stay away just this once. Take you
balls and 20 over the other side Of the hill
this time, there's my good boys"
SO she let them out, and saw them going
over the hill with shout Then she picked
up her satchel, and started to 90 and pass the
noon with friend, as she had promised.
After the teacher had been out Of sight
about twenty minutes, two boys slowly walked
around the base Of the hill, in the direction
Of the river
That water looks mighty cool and nice,
to-day" said George Higgins, to his compan-
ion, Julian Reed, as he threw up marble
and caught it in his hand
Yes" answered Julian, with a whistle
looking cautiously around to see if any ont
had heard or was near him.
No one answered the signal or appeared III
sight.
{" guess we're big enough to go in the
water without getting drowned he contin-
ued nobodyll see us-let's go down on the
sand, any way there's no sense in the teach
er being so 'fraid to trust us out Of sight
So they ran along where the little waves
came up playlully and ran over their bare
feet II was delightful to feel their soft ca.
resses
Lets 90 in just up to our knees, said
George. And in moment they had waded
knee deep, and were splashing the water all
over themselves Once in while they would
stop and look toward the top of the hill where
the schoolhouse Stood to ascertain if they
were likely to be discovered, then they would
hold their breath and listen.
tell you" said George, you wade in
up to your neck, and I'll give you the best
china I've got. He's fine fellow, you know
and that'l be getting him for almost nothing
He held up the marble temptingly between
his thumb and finger, with challenging smile
on his face, and Julian exclaimed
"I'll do it--so here goes !"
He didn't stop to take off any Of his clothes,
but plunged ahead, while George stood up to
his knees in the water watching him.
Deeper and deeper the water was getting as
Julian waded on, and at last, when it reached
his chin, George shouted
" That'll do-come back now -
But Julian couldn't come back--he had
got into the current, it had taken him of his
feet, and was bearing him away.
Come back, why don't you p again shout
ed George; but the only response was fran
tic uplifting of Julian's arms He then be-
gan TO be alarmed He looked toward the
sehool-house but no one was in sight, though
he could hear faint murmur of voices be-
yond. Right around him there was almost a
deathlike stiffness, and Julian's head was al
most out of sight as he hoated down the stream,
and at intervals gave wild struggle to re-
gain his feet, but in vain.
George couldn't think ofleaying his friend,
to 90 in search of help, for before he could
get back Julian might 60 entirely out Of sight,
and no one know where to look for him. lie
commenced shouting with all his might and
the energy of despair seized him as, looking
again to where he had seen the brown head
floating just on the surface, it was gone out Of
sight
Louder and wilder he halloed, and at last
the head Of man appeared over the TOP OF
the hill. George swung his hat, and kept
shouting, as the man hurried down, and was
soon able to understand what was the trou-
BILE. He threw off his coat and boots, and
pitched into the water, swimming down with
all his might, till he deserted a dark object,
which was Julian, coming to the surface for
the third and last time He grasped him,
and keeping his head out of the water, brought
him out and laid him on the green grass.
George had, all this time, stood motionless
in the river, unconscious of where he was or
what he was doing, with his mouth open, and,
as they say, I" his heart in his mouth"
BY this time agood many people had gath
cred on the bank. Julian lay motionless, as
il entirely dead but after long time, dur
ing which they kept rolling him from side to