Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-05
MiscELLAnsnus.
TIE WORST BOY IN SCHOOL,

ssSffA I'LL you obey me, young man, or will
oyyS you not? Think of the consequences
of your behavior. Either hold ont your hand
and receive your punishment, or be expelled
from this school"
The words came apgri!y from the lips of
the schoolmaster, and grated harshly upon
the ear of the pupil. They had none of the
tones of gentle persuasion or of loving kind
ness. Had you heard the command you
would have said Master Bradley was firm,
decisive man, wasting little love on his pu>
pills, and little used to be trihed with Yet
he was not hard man. "Way down in his
school teaching had not utterly chilled" p
But this tender, this better side of his nature.
was not So apparent to his pupils. 1t was
reserved for his own homo and hearth. There.
towards his own family, he poured out all the
love and fondness of his disposition, Towards
his pupils he was ezactiDg, unyielding. What
at home was gentle request, became at
school sharp command, and so it is not
matter of surprise that while loved and ad-
mired by his relatives. his scholars as cordially
hated him. But withal Mr.. Bradley had
fine education and peculiar faculty for i'm
parting instruction, which drew forth the
respect of his pupils; and so while recos-
nized by all az good teacher, as master ho
oln not nave their confidence.
The youth to whom the foregoing command
was addressed was about sixteen years of age,
and of fine personal appearance His ewes.
which were coal>black. flashed with an angry
look. ard lis conntenance assumed defiant
expression as he heard his teachers command
II give you precisely ono minute to decide.
Will You obey me or not ~
'.Never -
'Then you are expelled from this school.
You may take yonr books and 60"
With look of concentrated anger and de-
iance, the boy turned quickly on his heel.
and passing hurricdly to his desk, began to
pack up his books. Then he left the school.
room, closing the door noselessly behind him.
As the sound of the last footsteps died away
upon the stair, the master turned and ordered
the scholars to proceed with their usual ex>
ercises.
Louis Milburu was boy whose parents had
cied in his childhood. Since then he had
lived with his uncle, and had been allowed
to do as he pleased. Such arrangements
would have ruined many lads, but Louis
though selfwilled, was possessed of an in
herent nobility that made him scorn to do
mean action. Still he was troubled with a
temper, and could brook no interference {; and
though his generosity aud pleasant, merry
ways made him favorite with his schools
mates, Master Bradley regarded him as the
worst boy in the school, To gentle re-
quest he would have yielded instant obedience.
but the masters authoritative manner alwavs
reused in him the spirit of resistance. In the
present instance Louis was not to blame as
Master Bradley would have discovered had
he designed to listun to any explanations.-
His uncle and guardian, who was deerly en-
crossed in business, troubled himself very
little about the boy, except as now and then
complaint would be waited to his ears, on
which occasion he would reprove the lad very
saeely, and think no more about it. But lat
terry these were becoming too frequent, and
the last time he had actually threstened that
if he heard any more complaints. he would
send him off, and Louis knew what that
meant.
When Louis left the school-room he went
directly to his home. Hi heart was sad in
deed, and be wept bitterly. As it seemed to
him then his reputation was gone His path
seemed to grow dark, and he could not rer-
celve anything ahead. His aunt, he knew.
disliked him, and would do all she could to
influence his uncle to carry out his threat of
the night before.
''Oh! how this poor boy longed for a
mothers love J how he yearned for mother's $
guidance! He wished he had died in in
fancy aud not lived to grow up all alone in
the world.
And then sudden daring impulse took
possession of his breast he would leave this
hated town, aud seek his fortune elsewhere
on the earth. He would not wait to be sent
away, but would leave this very night, aud
before morning be many miles away-awsy
where his uncle would never trouble himself
to seek him.
His plau was 70 start then and there. but
his aching head and weary body disinclined
him. aud he resolved to rest awhile, and leave
the house in the cool of the night. He flung
himself on his bed, and laid his burning brow
! on the cool pillow. The bitter memories Of