Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-06-22
A RraYe R0Y.

w nat Qlu ne 10, lnen, lndt Ne SuOulu
be called brave? Did he hunt lion or
a bear? No.
Did he fight with thieves? No.
Did he have a pitched battle with q
boy bigger than himself? Oh no.
What did he do, then? He told the
truth.
Perhaps you think that that did not
require much courage; but indeed ii
did, and only brave boy could have
told it under the circumstances. Bat
who was the boy?
Well, his name was James Peters,
and he was the son Of man and wo-
man who loved and served God, and
wanted their children to do the ssame,
and they had taught James that it was
a cowardly thing to tell lie. He be-
lieved that so entirely that 1 do not
think anything would have Influenced
him to tell an dntruth.
One day he and some other boys
were playing in field through which
the railway ran. They played at mar
bles, and whipping their tops, and sew.
eral other things. Among the rest
they got some stones together and
made heap with them, but what
game it was they plAyed with themtl
really do not know.
1t happened, however, that sharp
and sudden shower came on, and the
boys ran off for shelter. No one no
'ticed at the time that the heap of
stones was simply kicked down, and
not properly cleared away, and certain
ly no one saw that couple of large
ones lay across the rail.
They, however, remembered it af-
terward; for while they were in their
place of shelter they saw an empty
luggage train come ale1g, ahd noticed
that it was going very slowly, and at
last stopped.
% James, said one of the boys in
terror, I'VE forgot to pull the stones
away. Look! man hasjust 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, that there
might have been an accident.
The boys all looked very frightened.
we ought not to have play ed so
near the line,' said James.
we ought to have cleared the stones
away said another.
DONE said a third.
But if we are found out we might
expect to be expect to be well punish
ed,' said another.
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
a white face; don't know anything
about it, for whoever is found out will
have to 60 to prison.
There was no time for more, for the
policeman 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.
Il did not said one.
Neither did L, said another.
Il am sure it was none OF my doings,
aid a third.
What do you say about it, young
ter?' inquired the policeman, looking
ull at James. His friends gave him a
warming glance, and one boy held up
lis finger. Another formed his mouth
o that James read the word prison.
nd another held up his fist to show
What he would do if James told. But
he boy could not tell lie. He felt at
hat moment that he would be less
fraid to 60 to prison than he was to
ell an untruth.
Now, then,' said the policeman, did
vou put the stones on the line?'
L am afraid did, said James.
'Oh, are you? Then L am very glad
0 have caught you.'
Il did not mean to leave them on the
ine,' said James, 'and indeed l am not
ute sure that l put them there; but /
hink it is very likely, for l was play
ng on the spot
Then you must come with me-
Very WELL
'What fool Jim is, said one of the
oys. He will be taken before the
magistrates and sent to prison, and
cry likely whipped
But James had not lost his own self !
espect, and though he wondered what
yOuld be done to him, and though it {
1ust be confessed that he was a little
fraid, still he felt he had done right,
nd he was not as miserable as one
hight have expected.
Was he not brave boy? &
And he had a brOve boys reward, 8
,r the gentleman to whom the police
IAN took him complimented him 7
pom his love of truth, and after eau !
oning him never to play near the line
gain, he let him 60 home.-Sunday-
chool Advocate.
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