Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-23
Oh, no.
What did he do, then?

ne lO1u the ruin.
Perhaps you think that did not reouire
much courage; but indeed it did ard
only brave boy could have told it under
the circumstances.
But who was the boy? -
Well, his name was James Peters. and
he was the son of man and woman who
loved and served God and wanted their
children to do the same, and they had
taught James that it was a cowardly thing
to tell lie. He believed that so entirely
that do not think anything would have
influenced him to tell an untruth.
One day he and some other boys were
playing in a field through which the rail
way ran. They played at marbles and
whipping their tops and several other
things Among the rest they got some
stones together and made heap of them,
but what game it was that they played
with them l really do not know.
1t happened, however, that sharp and
sudden shower came on and the boys ran
Oft for shelter. No one noticed at the time
that the heap of stones was simply kicked
down and not properly cleared away, and
certainly no one saw that couple of
large ones lay across the rail.
They, however, remembered it after
ward; for while they were in their place
of shelter they saw an empty luggage
train come along, and noticed that it
was going very slowly, and at last
stopped E.#E
Oh, James," said one of the BOYS in
terror. !" we forgot to put the stones away.
Look! a man has just taken one up in his
hand. We ought not to have left them
there. should not wonder if the train
had been coming quickly, instead of
creeping along, there might have been an
accident" ...t.t
The boys all looked very frightened.
We ought not to have played so near
the line,' said James.
1--WE ought to have cleared the stones
away" said another.
Never mind no real harm has been /
DONE" said a third.
I" But if we were found out we might
expect to be we'll punished" said an
other.
"But then we are not going to be found
out, and that is one comfort
AS they were going home, however,
they were afraid it might not be as they
had hoped, for policeman came toward
them.
Now, take care" said one boy, with
white face: don't know anything about
it, for whoever is found out will have to
go to prison"
There was no time for more, for the po-
liceman stood in front of them
Now, tell the truth. Which of you
boys put these stones on the line?" he
asked, and his voice was dreadfully
stern.
81 did not" said one.
"Neither did l." said another.
s. sure it wac of MY doinrsn
said third.
"What do you say about it, youngsters"
inquired the policeman, looking full at
James. His friends gave him a warning
glance, and one boy held up his finger.
Another formed his mouth SO that James
read the word prison." and another held
up his fist to show what he would do if
James told. But the boy could not tell a
lie. He felt at that moment that he would
be less afraid to go to prison than he was
to tell an untruth.
Now, then" said the policeman, "did
you put the stones on the line ?"
Il am afraid | did," said James.
ooh, are you? Then / am very glad to
have caught you
II did not mean to leave them on the
line" said James, land indeed | am not
quite sure that 1 put them there; but [
think it is very likely, for / was playing
on the spot
"Then you must come with me-
every we'll"
But first tell me if you did all the mis-
chief yourself, or if any of these boys
helped you"
But if James told the truth about him
self he was not going to tell tales on his
playmates, and so he declined to answer
the policeman's question.
"Never mind,'' said the man; Il" one of
you will be enough to serve as an exam
ple," and he walked away, taking James
with him.
"What fool Jim is" said one Of the
boys. He will be taken before the
magistrates and sent to prison, and very
likely whipped"
But James had not lost his own self
respect, and though he wondered what
would be done to him, and though it must
be confessed that he was a little afraid,
still he felt he had done right, and he was
not as miserable as one might have ex-
expected.
Was he not brave boy?
And he had brave boys reward, for
the gentleman to whom the policeman
took him cOmplimented him upon his
love of truth, and after cautioning HIM
never to play near tine line again, he let
him 60 hOme.-AdoOcdte.
A Mr.. J. A. GROVES, JR., while hunt
ing recently near Central Star, Miss, ex-
hausted his stock of gun-caps, and while
in this rredicament he suddenly saw q