Litchfield enquirer., 1873-01-02

help us. There will be fr1ctlonS and veX- ations among forty boys; I know that, and about these wish to hear nothing. Settle these matters among yourselves. Be patient and good-natured with each other; but all those things that. interfere with the order, purity, and honor of the schOol-an those things that refuse to be corrected-must be reported. I think we understand one another. The school is never to suffer in order to save the expos ure and punishment of 8 wrong-doer.
 ''As for this boy, who has offended the school so grossly and shown so defiant a spirit, l propose, with the private assist ance of the boys who have testified against him, to make out literal report of his foul language and forward it to his moth CT, while at the same time I put him into the stage-coach and send him home."
 It was terrible judgment, and I can never forget the passion depicted upon Andrews face as he comprehended it. He seemed like one paralyzed.
 Every boy" said MT. Bird, "who is in favor of this punishment will hold up his right hand"
 Two or three hands started to go up among the smaller boys, but as their own, CTS saw they had no support, they were drawn down again. Four or five of the boys were in tears, and dear Mir. Birds eyes were full. He gathered at glance the meaning of the scene, and was much moved. We'll, Tom Kendrick, you were the first to testify against him; what have you to say against this punishment?"
 Tom rose with his lips trembling, and every nerve full of excitement. Please, sir, said Tom, 'I should like to have you give Andrews another chance. I think it's an awful thing to send boy home without giving him more than one chance"
 Tom sat down and blew his nose very loud, as 8 measure of relief. s.75 i*'ss
 1 watched Andrews with eager eyes during the closing passages of his trial. When Tom rose on behalf of the whole school to plead for him-that he might have one more chance-the defiant look faded from his face, and he gave con- vulsive gulp as if his heart had risen to his throat and he was struggling to keep it down. When Tom sat down, he rose upon his feet and staggered and hesitated for a moment; then, overcome by shame, grief, and gratitude, he ran rather than walked to where Mrs. Bird was sitting near her husband, and with wild burst of hysterical sobbing threw himself upon his knees, and buried his face in the dear motherly lap that had comforted so many boylsh troubles before. The appeal from man to woman-from justice to mercy moved by the sympathy of the boys, was the most profoundly touching incident I had ever witnessed, and wept almost as heartily as did'Andrews himself. In truth do not think there was dry eye in the room.
 Tom said Mir. Bird, 'sI think you are right. You have helped us all. The lad ought to have another chance, and he shall have one if he desires it. The rest of this matter you can safely leave to Mrs. Bird and myself. Now remember that this is never to be alluded to. If the lad remains and does right, or tries to do right, he Is to be received and cherished by you all. No one of us is so perfect that he does not need the charity of his fefows: If Andrews has had bad habits, you must help him to overcome them. Be brothers to him in all your future in- tercourse, as we have had business enough for one family meeting, you may pass out and leave him with us -i.-
 'Gorry r exclaimed Jack Linton, wip- ing his eyes and wringing his handker- chief as he left the door, wasn't that freshet? Wettest time ever saw in Hills borough"
 But the boys were not in testing mood and Jacks drolleries were not received with the usual favor. Every thoughtful and sympathetic lad retired with a tab leau on his memory never to be forgotten -a benignant man looking tearfully and most affectionately upon him, and sweet faced, large hearted woman pillowing in her lap the head of kneeling boy, whose destiny for all the untold and unguessed ages was to be decided there and then.
 It WAS more than an hour before we saw anything of Mir. and Mrs. Bird. When they issued from their retirement they were accompanied by a boy who was as great a'stranger to himself as he was to the school. Conquered and humbled, looking neither to the right nor the left, he sought his room, and none of us saw his face until the school was called to- gether on Monday morning. His food was borne to his room by Mrs. Bird, who Ill her own way counseled and comforted him, and prepared him to encounter his new relations with the institution. The good, manly hearts of the boys never manifested their quality more strikingly than when they undertook on Monday to help Andrews into his new life. The ob- stacles were all taken out of his path obstacles which his own spirit and life had planted-and without taunt, or a manifestation of revenge ill any form, he was received into the brotherhood.
 On Monday evening we were some what surprised to see hlm appear, dressed in his best, his hands nicely gloved, mak- ing his way across the the village green. No one questioned him, and all under stood the case as he turned in at the gate which led to the home of the village min ister. When any lad had behaved in an unseemly manner at church, it was MT, Birds habit to compel him to dress him. self for call, and visit the pastor with an apology for his conduct. ssIt is not punishment, my boy" Mr. Bird used to say, "but 1t ls what one gentleman owes to another. Any boy who soe far forgets his manners as to behave improp- eriy ln the presence of clergyman whose he IS attending owes him an apology, If he proposes to be considered a gentleman; and he must make it, or he cannot associate with me or my school"
 In this case he had made conformity to his rule test of the genuineness of the boys penitence, and trial of his newly professed loyalty. The trial was severe one, but the result gratifed all the boys as much as it did dear MT. and Mrs. Bird.
 was very much excited by the expos ure of Andrews, and put good many se- rious questions to myself in regard to my own conduct. The closing portion of the Sunday evening on which the event oc- cured was spent by several boys and my self in our rooms. We were so near each other that we could easily converse through the open doors, and l was charg- ed with questions.
 ''What do you think Mir. Bird will do with Andrews2" inquired of Jack Lin ton.
 '.Oh, nothing: he's squelched," said Jack. ....sE
 ''I should think he would punish him." 1 said, s'for I know MT. Bird was mad"
 ''Yes, responded Jack, 'sthe old fell low fires up sometimes like everything but you can't fail a boy when he's got his head in woman's lap, can you, you little coot?"