Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-01

| take our DOCKS Ut present.
Elizabeth Arnold. see that your fac,
md hands, and apron are covered will
blood. What is the matter? What ha
happened to yon ?"
ben Furwcll, he threw" roumcnc
eel halt II dozen nl the Younger chidrc,
together MIR Wilict cul Them short an,
| said that they musi rcuu.ii, her that il VA,
contrary la The rules of the school Io,
ANY "nc 10 reply Ia his questions. excerpt
thu one who was questioned
Now, Elizabeth, tell mr everything
just rs Il lranSpired"
Ben Farwell threw great. hard
snow ball at me. and il struck me right
"n my nose. aud made il bleed awlully
and hc said he hoped hc had broke il;
and that he wished my father and mother
were dead All the scholars heard him
SAY So"
What did you do to him to make him
So AN ry ?" MIR WilIcl asked. in II ten.
der, piINine tone
"Nothing"
"Shc lies" Ben said grufily.
Every scholar looked amazed al Bcn's
audacily. Tor heretofore. no matter what
hc was accused of, he had always hung
his head aud maintained >ullcn silence.
What would Mr.. Willet say What
scholar had ever dared To speak like that.
in his presence, before
BE very careful. sir" Sir. Willct said
in the same uneNCitcd tone. what Ian.
%uage YOU use in this school, room. DO
YOU mean to have me understand that
you did not throw SNOWFALL at her?H
NO | don't mean 10 have You under.
stand any snch thing. cause did throw
one at her. and I'd lhrowed dozen at
her il III had EN-. But she said she did
nj do nothin' to me. and say ag'n. she
lies"
20 ~ o.o.oh Whyc.c c :" said several
of the scholars in Lihby's class. "Shc
never touched him; she never went near
him
Mr.. Willct cnioined silence once more
on the scholars, and then said 10 Ben.
very gravely. and little lower and a
little slower than he had spoken bel re:
"Alter am through questioning Eliza.
beth, YOU will have IN opportunity to tell
your story. But remember that it will
not help your case any to use rough lam
guagc."
mo, ! don't expect that. nor nothin'
else will help my case any for ain'l Mr..
Arnold's son The Lord knows am
glad amt, though, for if was, that
little lying imp would be my sister"
Mr.. Willet never had II scholar answer
him with such boldncss and rcck lcssncsS
before. He still controlled his voice. hut
his pale face flushed, in spite of himself
as he replied
al have cautioned you twice in regard
To your language; but YOU seem disposed
TO disregard my cautions, and 10 act in
defiance of my authority. will say 10
yCu now. that every word you speak. ne
fore You mC questioned, will add To
your troubles"
Elizabeth. YOU say YOU did nothing
to provoke him Did YOU not SAY some.
thing that offended him ?"
II only said what al the scholars say
and think about him. spoke to him
about looking st. dirt, and shabby; and !
told him he would be- u little more decent
if he would wash his hands before he
came to >chool.T
"WaS that all ?" Mr.. Willct asked,
with just sligh, cmph isis on the "all. y
as though that ":,ll" WAS very slight
provocation for stout boy of sixteen 10
sn0whall II little sen year old girl.
Yes. sir" Libby replied. with the
slightes, sound of eNultatiop in her tones
She felt sure she was coming off triumph,
antly us she usually did. She was the
best dressed child in school; and by
lar the most beautiful child in that dis
trict, if not in the whole parish; and she
had been 50 repeatedly told so, The facts
were well impressed upon her mind and
she wondered that anybody should dare
be rough with her, if she were impudent
and exasperating.
Mr. Willct said, after a slight pause
"All OF the scholars who were present
this noon may arise"
His rule went up rs Il signal, and stimuli
taneously two thirds of the school arose.
Each scholar standing, who can tesli-
fy that Elizabeth has told the truth, may
raise his or her right hand"
Tweniy-nine right hands instantly
went up. There were thirty scholars
Standing. Mary Lee, the owner oil The
right hand that was not raised. was not
Il scholar to he passed by in silence. She
was fair complexioned, blue-eyed girl,
only twelve years old, the youngest schol-
ar in the first class, but by no means the
poorest. Mr.. Willet esteemed many oi
his scholars very highly, but. among
them all, she was his especial favorite.
He had never had occasion TO speak re
provingly To her; and he would rs soon
have thought OF doubling that the sun
would set that night. rs OF doubling her
word. He said, with more surprise than
his scholars had ever seen him manifest
before:
"Uow il this Maryp Do YOU think all