The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-04-26
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vet TIE latter tried 10 look innocent
aud 80 one replied 10 his question.
BOYS. be asked in a calmer tone, who
made that disturbance Many Of you
know. and ! depend upon the lovers 81
coed order here 20 make common
cause against the bad boys
Bot still no one answered 10 the APP
peal
/ know. whispered one 10 another;
but teachers not gong to make tell
tale out ot me.
And 80 10 |. replied bis companion
but be will not get II out Of me, can
tell him
And thus the 70 whispers ran thro'
the room. For more than moment
the teacher stood before them awaiting
reply, then he retired 10 attend
Ito some duties in an adjoining
room. But no sooner was his back turn
"a than the same noise which had DIS
turbed him was renewed and even loud
er than before.
he at once returned and again stood
before them. .....
Let the boys who have violated the
good order 0i the school. bold ~ their
hands, he said,
No baud was lifted.
New let al who are innocent hold mp
their hands,
Every hand vas promptly raised
For Il lev moments lhe teacher look
ed bis scholars IN the face, his own
connteuauce expressing pam and mog-
uiicaton before be spoke
From a boy / have ever looked upon
falsehood AS the meauest Of crimes,
showing a disposition TO commit almost
any SIN, II the offender had tue courage
to do So am, therefore, deeply pain
cd 10 find that have scholars iii my
class who are not above this most cow
nrdy OF ali vices. 1t was bad enough
to break the rules Of the school, but a
thousand times worse TO tell false
hood about II a ialsehood, too, that is
cast upon every innocent, high-minded
boy IN the room ] sec here the sons
Of Een whose virtue and usefulness are
known TO all These boys, am sorry
10 say, are all involved in the guilt OF
this violation Of order, and what is
wolse, in the crime of denial oft; for
how can | discriminate when all act
alike? When | ask the guilty to hold
up their hands, no hand is lifted; but
when | call upon the innocent to attest
their innocence, all declare themselves
to be innocent, ] will try you once
more. Let the guilty hold up their
hands.
But no hand was lifted
Now lot the innocent lift their
hands,
Every hand was again raised.
| would not he the the boy who has
thus lifted his hand before the school
TO tell falsehood, for all the wealth
this world can bestow, the teacher said,
as he looked at bis class for moment
or two, and then turned away to leave
the room. Although he was away for
full ten minutes, lie was not again dis
turbed
You we're one, James Harker, said a
boy, in low tone, looking with a half
indignant expression OF countenance at
the hoy who sat next to him.
don't care if ] was He couldn't
find it out, was the prompt reply
But don't think it right that others
should be blamed for what you have
done.
You are not going to turn toll-tale,
are YOU said Harker, with a sneer.
No, not mere tel-tale; but still !
am not certain that | shall not let the
teacher know that you were guilty,
unless you have the true spirit to do SO
yourself.
Oh, tell-tale tell-tale! tell-tale -
Tom Jores is going to turn teIl-tale -
said James Hatker SO loud as to be
heard all around, pointing at the same
time at Jones, and looking at him con
temptuously.
Are you going to tell on me too ask
cd boy sitting near, with a threaten
ing look.
| did not see you making noise.
You bad better not, can tell you
| did not see you, so you need not
fear, was Thomas Jones reply; but !
can tell you what | think II you did
make the noise, and then afterwards
denied il, think that every honest
minded boy here should feel it his duty
to expose you.
Let any one dare to do it. was the
reply to this.
After school, several OF the boys got
around Tom Jones, aud tried to CON
vince him that TO turn iniormer would
be the most low, despicabe thing in
the world
| don't think it half SO bad as to
break the rules Of school, and be liar
into the bargain, was his quick answer
There is not meaner creature 10 the
world than tell-tale said james Har-
ker. with bis ugly sneer.
Which is worse, James he who tells
what is true OF another, or he who false
" accuses him
Ill leave il to your palayer TO draw
All such nice distinctions, replied Har
ker. tossing his bead contemptuously.
II is not hard for me to draw them
james; nor, think for any boy here
But it is useless tor us 70 talk about
this matter. | will tell you what will
do, aud IL say so, you may be sore
that | will II you will 60 up to-mor
row acd tell our teacher that you did
tie wrong be complained q, ] will keep
quiet; bnt 4 you will not, my mind is
made up to 90 IL can not, and will
not, rest under the blame Of having told
q iaisehood when am innocent; nor
30 think am right IL letting the
whole class suiler under a false &C
cusation. whils ana able 10 remove it.
Almars tAongAt Won were moan low