The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-12-23
Job Printing
hat the heap of stones was simply kicked

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.
"Oh, James," said one of the boys in
terror. - we forgot to put the stones away.
Look! 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"
The boys all looked very frightened.
1--WE ought not to have played so near
| the line said James.
eve ought to have cleared the stones
away" said another.
Never mind no real harm has been
done,' said a third.
| " 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, tor policeman came toward
them.
Now, take care, said one boy, witha
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
bows put these stones on the line" he
asked, and his voice was dreadtully
stern.
"I did not" said one.
"Nelthcr did >" said another.
81 am sure it was none of my doingS,'
said third.
"What do YOU say about it, youngstcr?"
inquired the policeman, looking iull at
James. His friends gave him Il 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 Il
lie. He felt at that moment that he would
be less afraid to 90 to prison than he was
to tell an untruth.
"Now, then" said the cpoliccman, "dit
YOU put the stones on the linc'
Il am afraid did, )" said James.
ooh, are you? Then l am very glad to
have caught you"
Il did not mean to leave them on the
line" said James, land indeed am not
quite sure that l put them there; but
think it is very likely, for | was playing
on the spot"
''Then you must come with me-
every wel.'
"But first tell me if you did all the mis-
chief yourself, OF 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
/ playmatcs, and so he declined to answer
the policeman's question.
Never mind, " said the man; " one OF
YOU will be enough to serve as an exam
pie" and he walked away taking James
with him.
What a 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 ii 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 a brave boy?
And he had a brave boys reward, Tor
the gentleman to whom the policeman
took him complimcntcd him upon his
love of truth, and after cautioning HIM
never to play near the line again, he let
him go home.-Adr0catc.