American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-10-03

though it brought no glory, but a great
deal of annoyance. So he said, boldly ::
" Now look here. Raymond isn't a cow
ard as you make out. My father says it
was brave of him 10 stick out and do the
right; and I'll stand by him, though yon
do send ne TO Coventry"
II bomb-shell had suddenly exploded
in the midst of them the boys could
scarcely have looked more astonished
Wills is sure to do as we tell him, had
been the universal belief until now; and
that he should suddenly dare their
greatest punishment was almost past be-
lief. They thought they could tease and
worry him into compliance with their
wishes; but in this they were mistaken.
Harry had begun to think for himself,
| and lie found that his companions opin-
| ION OF things was not always to be relied
upon; and, seeing what was right, he de-
| termined to act upon it. " Raymond is
no coward" he repeated, ' and shall
! stand by him"
Oh! let him 60" said one, in a tone
of assumed disgust. Flowers is our
hero. He will keep up the honor of the
school"
Flowers was not likely to forget his
heroship or let others forget it, either
He hectored everybody and on the
slightest provocation threatened to tight,
and still managed to keep up the i'll feel
had espoused. He and Harry were quite
unnoticed out of school, and very I'M
comfortable they found it. Public opin-
ion is slow to change among boys some
times, especially in a case of cowardice
and heroworship; and their present
hero, Flowers, was by no means willing
to resign his place, although some of the
boys could not but respect the way in
which Harry and Raymond behaved, and
were more than half convinced that they
were in the right, if they had only been
courageous enough to own it.
But one day, as the old, sore subject
was again being discussed, on their way
home from school, they saw II horse come
tearing down the road, while just below
a group of children were slowly cross
ing, under the escort of an old, deaf
woman.
ooh, the Children gasped Harry.
Flowers, YOU are used to horses"
shouted two or three. But Flowers drew
back, pale with alarm at the thought of
exposing himself to real danger. AT the
same moment Raymond threw down his
books and dashed forward in the road,
just in time to catch the horses bride as
he passed. He was dragged forward, al
most helpless, for nearly dozen yards,
but he still kept his hold and at last
managed to stop the horse and save the
children.
His companions were frightened when
they saw his danger; but when the horse
was stopped they raised a tremendous
cheer and eagerly pressed round him, all
their former feeling quite forgotten.
raymond, forgive u.s." said one;
/" we've been making great blunder all
this time in saying you were coward
I'm sure we ought all to be ashamed
of ourselves, for no one spoke up for you
but Harry Wills" said another, holding
out his hand.
Harry looked most triumphant. Now
who is the hero?" he asked; Flowers,
who did the fighting, or Raymond, who
did the right, both in keeping the rules
and saving the children"
The boys were well pleased to change
their heroes. Many of them changed
their opinions, too, and Harry was almost
as highly thought of as Raymond him
self for standing by him when all the
rest declared him coward; and, from
that day, to hold to the right in the face
of all opposition became the settled prin-
ciple of many in the school.-N. Y. hide
pendent.