Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-30


Singing all the time,
And We sing right morrily
Phcbo Phcbe happy Phehe' N
How Nat was Cured or Telling Lies.
One fault Of Mats gave the Bhaers much
anxiety, although they saw how il had been
strengthened by fear and ignorance. re-
gret to say that Nat sometimes told lies. Not
very black ones, seldom getting deeper than
gray, and often the midest of white fibs but
that did not matter, a lie is a lie, and though
we all tell many polite untruths in this queer
world ofours, it is not right, and everybody
knows it.
You cannot be too careful watch your
tongue and eyes, and hands, for it is easy to
toll, and look, aud act an uutruth,' said Mr.
Bhaer, in one Of the talks he had with Nat
about his chief temptation
" know it, and ! don't mean to, but it's
so much easier to get along if you amt very
tussy about being exactly true. | used TO tell
EN- because | was afraid of father and Nicolo,
and now | do sometimes because the boys
laugh at me- ! know it's bad, but forget -
and Nat looked much depressed by his sins.
~ " utu L WIS u llkllt ldu u-tu " itll lies
Ach what dbs they were, and my old grand
mother cured me Of it--bow, do you think
My parents had talked and cried and punish
ed, but still did l forget as you. Then said
the dear old grandmother, 81 shall help you
to remember and put a check on this unruly
part" With that she drew out my tongue
and shipped the end with her scissors till the
blood ran. That was terrible, you may be-
/ lieye, but it did me much good, because it
was sore for days and every word ! said came
so slowly that had time to think. After that
| was more careful and got on better, for |
feared the big scissors. Yet the dear grand
mother was most kind to me in all things, and
when she lay dying far away in Nuremburg
she prayed that little Fritz might love God
and tell the truth"
| never had any grandmother, but if you
think it will cure me, I'll let you snip my
tongue, said Nat heroically for he dreaded
pain, yet did wish to stop fbbiDg.
Mr. Bhaer smiled but shook his head.
4" have better way than that | tried
it once before and it worked we'll See, now,
when you tell lie will not punish you, but
you shall punish me-"
How ?" asked Nat, startled at the idea.
You shall ferule me in the good old-fash-
oned way | seldom do it myself, but it may
make you remember better to give me pain
than to feel it yourself"
/ Strike you? o, couldn't !" cried Nat
| have no wish to be hurt, but | would gladly
bear such pain to cure this fault"
This suggestion made such an impression
on Nat, that for long time he set a watch
upon his lips, and was desperately accurate,
for MIR. Bhaer Judged rightly, that love OF
him would be more powerful with Nat than
fear for himself. But alas one sad day Nat
was off his guard, and when peppery Emil
threatened to thrash him if it was he who
had run over his garden and broken down his
best hills Of corn, Nat declared he didn't, and
then was ashamed to own up that he did do
it when Jack was chasing him the night be-
fore.
He thought no one would find it out but
Tommy happened to see him, and when Emil
spoke Of it a day or two later, Tommy gave
his evidence, and Mr.. Bhaer heard it. School
was over, and they were all standing about in
the hall, and Mr.. Bhacr had Just sat down on
the straw settee, to enjoy his frolic with Ted
dy but when he heard Tommy and saw Nat
turn scarlet, and look at him with fright
ened face, he put the little boy down, saying,
Go to thy mother, bubchen, | will come
soon" and taking Nat by the hand led him
into the school-room and shut the door.
The boys looked at one another in silence
for a minute, then Tommy slipped out and
peeping in at the halfclosed blinds, beheld a
sight that quite bewildered him. Mr.. Bhaer
had just taken down the long rule that hung
over his desk, so seldom used that il was COW
cred with dust.
my eye he's going to come down heavy
one Nat this time. Wish i hadn't told,
thought good-natured Tommy for to be fe-
ruled was the deep disgrace at this school,
You remember what | told you last
time ?" said Mr.. Bhaer, sorrowfully, not an.
grily.
4" Yes but please don't make me, can't
bear it," cried Nat, backing up against the
door with both hands behind him, and full oi
distress.
why don't he up and take it like mani
| would" thought Tommy, though his heart
beat fast at the sight.
" shall keep my word, and you must re.
member to tell the truth. Obey me, Nat
take this and give me six good strokes"
Tommy was so staggered by this last speech
that he nearly tumbled down the bank, hui
saved himself, and hung on to the window ledge
staring in with eyes as round as the stuffed
owls on the chimney-piece.
Nat took the rule, for when Mr. Bhael
spoke in that tone every one obeyed him. and
looking as scared and guilty as if about tC
stab his master, he gave two feeble blows OF
the broad hand held out to him. Then ht
stopped and looked up half.blind with tears
but Mr. Bhaer said steadily
3" Go on, strike harder"
As if seeing that il must be done, ant
} eager to have the hard task soon over, Ma
drew his sleeve across his eyes and gave tive
} more quick hard strokes that redeemed th,
hand yet hurt the giyer more.
-" Isn't that enough2" he asked in breath
less sort Of tone.
1.-Two more" was all the answer, and h,
gave them, hardly seeing where they fell
then threw the rule all across the room, an,
hugging the kind hand in both his own, lai,
his face down on it, sobbing out in passion
} of love, and shame, and penltence-
" | will remember Oh ! Twill !"
Then Mr.. Bhaer put an arm about him, anC
said in tone as compassionate as it haC
; Just now been firm
9" think you will. Ask the dear God t
help you, and try to spare us both another
scene like this."-From " Little Men b
Miss AicoH.
"A little four year old remarked to hel