Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-10-10
WHO WAS THE HERO 2


looking up from his newspaper.
aN1, papa Tom Flowors," answered Henry.
"Why, what has Tom Flowers done to earn
uat distinction ~ asked the gentleman.
why he took Arthur Raymond's part in tho
1ght yesterday with Club, and Club is ever 10
much bigger than him."
'tBut l thought fighting was forbidden at
achool now, Harry said the gentleman"
His son looked down and colored slightly.
$50 it is, papa" he said "but boys can't get
mi without fighting"
Indeed" said the gentleman, dryly, 81 was
nOt aware they were such .quarrelsome ami
mals.'
"Now, papa, you arc laughing al me, said
Harry. "But if fellow calls you names, what
are you to do 2"
Strike him, suppose, according to yonr
theory" said Mr. Wills.
"Yes, there's nothing else you can do, unless
you want to be called. a coward said Henry /;
land do hate towards" he added II wish
Arthur had not walked off instead of fighting
Club yesterday He'll be sent to Coventry for
II, know"
"Ihen Arthur Raymond thinks it possible for
boys to live without fighting, 1 suppose" said
The gentleman.
"wel you see papa, fighting has been for
hidden since that affair Of Martins, said Hen
ry land Raymond said he wouldn't break the
rules. It was very cowardly of him, forwe were
not in the playground, nor near the school at
ALL"
"What had Club done to Arthur that your
code Of honor demanded he should fight p asked
Mr. Wills.
"He called him liar, and Arthur ought to
have Knocked him down directly He could have
done it easily; but instead Of that, he merely said
he could prove to all the school thai he had
spoken truthfully.'
"And did he do so Z" asked his papa.
''lIe will bring the proof tomorrow morning
but OF course. the fellows won't notice 1t, for
they've agreed to send him to Coventry for be
ing such coward"
'And does Raymond known this Z?
"Oh yes, papa We told him what we should
10 II he refused to fight; but he stuck to it that
1t was not right to break the rules and walked
oil, and then Tom Flowers pitched into Club
for his impotence, just to redeem the honor of
the school, which Raymond lad disgraced.'
Dsgraced do you call it , Well, think that
lad is an honor to the school, said Mr.. Wills.
Oh, papa !" exclaimed Henry.
q mean what l say. | call him true hero,
,aid the gentleman warmly.
But, papaall the boys said il WIS so coward
~ Of him not to fight Chub.n
But you say he was not afraid of Chub--could
have beaten him easily and yet he Draved 60
ing against the pnblic opinion of the whole school
lathei than break the rules.
Then you don't think he was a coward.
papa sald Henry and you do not think he
oisai to be sent TO Coventry, l suppose"
hope, my boy; you will BIO brave enough to
stand by him, though all tho rest should carry
out their threats said Mr.. Wills. ITO stand
by those who have dared to do what is right in
spite of all opposition, is true bravery, and
hope you, Harry, will be hero of this type. 1t
viii he far more difficult, dare say, than to ac
the part of Tom Flowers
For lome time afser his father had left him
Harry sat thinking over what had been said, and
At length he resolved to stand by hiA friend but
he did not know how difficult this would he
until he tired 1t the next day.
As he was going to school the next morning,
Tom Flowers overlook him. He was full OF
self gorfcation, telling what had taken place
the night before, and that the schools honor haC
been trampled in the dust by Kaymond's cow
afdlce. Harry wanted TO say something in de-
fence OF his friend-something Of what his faith.
or had sad the night before but somehow III
could not. But when Raymond came in sigh
and the rest of the boys rather pointedy turned
away, he went and met him.
Have you brought the proof you said yol
SondT asked Harry, wanting to say some
thing
YES, have it in my pocket said Raymond
hlt lie colored and sighed as he spoke, for tw'
other boys had passed and taken no notice o
him. IL was not easy TO bear this silent con
tempt of his schoolfellows, although he was up
ned by the consciousness of having done right
Harry, you'd better Join the rest" he SAID
nile bitterly. "Ihey mean to send me to Gov
entry, | can see.u
Arc you sorry You did not pitch into Club 2
asked Harry. "You might do it you know. Eve
now you might walk up to him, show him til
PROOF and then punch him. You're not afraid o
NM, are youY You're stronger than Flowers.
No, am not afraid of him" said Raymond
bnt I'm not going to fight when it's against tn
ne, ~, 1t isn't right. II get the opportunity
il let them zee I'm not n coward, but 1t won
he by lighting"
BY this time they had reached the school an
went in but Harry received several threatenin
Slances from his companions AZ he passed
hlH place. During school-tme the quarrel We
no. mentioned but no sooner had they got
uae playground than Harry was overwhelme
What business had you to speak to Ra.
noldY' said one.
You're Just such another sneak as he is
said another.
"lf you talk to him again wen send you
coventry as well, said third. And this tire
WA taken up and echoed by all the rest.
marry had never yet been treated to this punisl
meit, and was by no means inclined to covet
especially when he glanced across the pla
GROUND and saw Raymond sitting by himse
WIN book IN his hand. To be shut out of q
me games and quite unnoticed was very hard
pear but no remembered his fathers word
anu moreover, he could not help admiring Ra
N uStioi, although 10 Drought no glory, VI
Ereat deal of annoyance, go he said boldly:
Now, look here. Raymond isn't coward,
f9n make out My father says it was brave
h. .i 10 stuck out and do the right and Ill stal
" NM though You do send me to Coventry
II bomb-shell had suddenly exploded in d
must OF them, the boys could scarcely Ina
mohed more astonished. evils is sure to do
We tel HIM had been the universal belief un
uuw and that he should suddenly dare tht
Teatest punishment was almost past bell,
iney thought they could tease and worry hi
, ,ao compliance with their wishes but in d
uley were mistaken.
nary had begun to think for himself, and
,V'.i1 That his companions opinion Of things "
, uo. always to be relied upon and, seeing VIII
mas mas ileht he determined to act upon it. sra
sIe ond is no coward" he repeated, "and sh
os let him go, said one, in tone Of {
L..ueu ultguht. FLOWERS is our hero. He "
sep up the honor of the school.
a, lowers 10 was not likely to forget his herosl
ssh icy others forget it either. He hsctored eN
n..t IL a. A..