Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-11-17
Stlrttt0 Stotp.
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CIRROLL'S rEMPT1TION.
~ Il. ANNIE FROST.

ne ElCdltSt PlcAeulc da1 N"t stN'''e'e
pain OF Crroll FairweIiS lite was going
to school-,he greatest pleasure, because
he was fond OF study. and his mother
worked hard to give him the 'ime Tor it
and to cloIhe him deceutly; the greatest
pain. because the lad WAS crippled, and
tho straight, well made boys ridiculcd
and taur,cd him with his crooked back,
The resalt Of a tall in infancy.
No one in The large school of fifty
scholars WAS so fond OF ,he cruel amusc
men, o, exciting the rage ol the poor
huuch JacS by Iaun,s and snecrs as Wcs
ton Hall, The leader OF lis class, the
haudsomcst aud smnr,es, OF al. Nh
Grey's scholars. The studies that Car.
roll conquered by patient, aborious ap.
plica,ion, Weston learned easily. and The
two were The best and iirst OF The large
number OF scholars.
Weston Hal. was the son of rich
man. bad been pe,,ed ana INDUCED from
hi, cradle. and was accustomed 10 have
bis Will q law both AZ home and amongst
his .choolmatcs; and il angered him to
have boy who Was poor and crippled
keep 50 close 20 ham IN AL h!s studies.
tha, lie had TO study iailhlu.ly to keep the
head OF his class. tie missed no occasion
TO show his spi.elul resentment 10 Carroll
taking unfair advantage ol him whenever
Il was possible, and leading the boys on
to many insults upon TIE lads aliicdon
thoy would no, have thought OF alone.
Matters were in lA.s state WHOM Mr.
Grey. three weeks before The close OF the
summer term, announced TWO prizes lor
the schoo,-one fog the best his,orica,
composition. and one Tor The best Latin
verse. l. was really race between Car
roll and Weston, as they were iar ahead
o. the other scholars in all the studies ol
the class.
Faithfully Carroll worked upon his
manuscripts. copying. revising and i'm
proving them in every hour OF leisure
Whi!o Weston sneeliugly told him lac
could toss OF better composition in t%o
hours than be could write in six weeks.
1t IS really between Weston Hall and
myselt mother. Carroll said As he rolled
Up his neatly written papers on the morn
ing OF examination. The ether boys in
the class will all se.d in composition.
bu. ,he prize will be between Us two Il
1 lose. Weston will have new taunt to
throw al ne; those on my delornlily and
poor clothes are getting old. Il win,
bo sill ind some new tormonts TO show
his anger Mother he said earnestly,
his pale lace flushing; "ii were a
strong and tall Us Weston Hall, | would
as soon strike q baby or gigl as | would
torment boy as helpless and feeble as |
am. He knows would be q mere child
in his grasp. and lie delights in showing
his strength against my weakness"
"Tha, is the cowardice of a tyraut,"
said Mrs. FairweI gently No truly
brave boy is ever cruel or tyrannical.-
But are y ou not starring Tor school too
carly, my sou p
"All the compositions must te handed
in before nine, mother. Wish me sue
cess"
with all my heart"
There was time for leisurely walking
when Carroll started, but when nearly
hl.f way to school he saw Weston Hall
and a group of other schoolboys waiting
at Mr. Halls gate Tor him 10 pass. Sure
that they were planning some cruel spor,
he stepped back. aud hiding behind n
hedge, waited in his turn until the road
was clear. Ii was a long time before the
boys wearied Of standing there. and the
school bell clang the quarter before nine,
s,art.iug them all.
With q shout, the whole group hurried
on, and when they were we'll on their
way Csyoll came from his hiding place
/. was late for him for he could not walk
fast or run il he was late; but he hurried
as much as possible. Suddenly he saw
in his path a small roll tied with ribbon.
He knew the bold. clear writing upon il
rs soon rs lie saw it. 1t was Weston
Halls composition rolled together. Evi
IDENTIFY he had dropped it from his school
bag in his haste.
CAROLS heart beat fast. Probably
Weston would 40, miss the roll until he
was in the schoolIoom, and he would