Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-31
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY
The BOYS Court.

One morning, on my walk down town,
was passing through that pleasant, quiet, old
fashioned quarter of the city OF New York
which used to be the village of Greenwich
| saw, on the sidewalk before me, half q
dozen boys surrounding two others who stood
up bravely toward each other, nearly in the
fashion of two chickens expecting to fight
but not quite ready to begin. The smaller
boy held one hand behind him, and in that
hand was a whip. As ! approached the
larger boy looked at me hesitatingly, and
finally said, "Say, mister, won't you make
him give me my whip ?"
"Tain't his; it's mine"
Hereupon there was very nearly an out
break of hostilities. Here" said TO my
self, ais the old question which has inter
fered with quarres for eighteen centuries.
Is it possible TO substitute peaceful arbit-
rament for free fight ?" looked around
upon the crowd of boys for by this time fif-
teen or twenty had gathered about They
were evidently favorably inclined to the
spectacle of a fight. They looked at me GU
riously, as if wondering whether would in
terfere, and what sort of fist should make
of it in quelling the combat.
WE'LL" said, addressing myself tolthe
two boys in the center of the ring, If you
want to settle your question as boys gener-
ally do, you'll have to fight it out your
selves but if you want to settle it as men
settle such questions, I'll help you But if
you want me TO settle it, you must first
agree to do Just as | say. You must abide
by my decision" Each was evidently re.
luctant to agree TO this, fearing that the
decision would be against him but finally
both promised.
did not think it would do to rest on the
promise alone. It would be a good joke if |
should investigate the case, aud command
| the possessor of the whip to give it no, and
then the rogue should take to his heels with
the whip, and laugh at me.
SO told the boys that when men choose
Judge to decide claims to property, they
also choose a sheriff to attend the court and
execute the judgment. We must also have
a sheriff. ] looked around the circle, who
were all attending to the proceedings with
eagerness. | saw stout good-natured
plucky-looking lad, size or two larger thar
the combatants | asked him if he would be
sheriff.
ayes, sir, ri be sheriff."
Very good" said !. Whatever ! de
eide you must make 'em obey If | say h,
must give up the whip, you must make hin
do it. Take it away from him if he won't
And if say he is to keep the whip, yor
must protect him and not let the other boy
get it away. You are not to do anything
cruel or ugly, or brutal. choose you be
cause you are good-natured looking boy
and don't think would abuse your power
But you must make 'em obey"
By this time quite group of boys from
every quarter had arrived on the scene, ant
crowded around. The sheriff's hand
doubled up into fists, and | could see his ell
bows moving as he edged himself forward
as if his dignity and authority required {
little more room.
"Yes, sir, I'll do it," said he.
Then | asked the story of the whip; anC
then the boys all began to talk at once
Finally we settled it that it would be fair t,
let the boy who claimed the whip tell hi
story first.
"1t's my whip. made it, and | lost it
and he stole it. Give it to me-" This las
he said to the other boy with gesture, tina
no doubt would have been blow or gral
if the sheriff had not been on hand.
Then in answer to my inquiry the othe
boy said, ITS my whip; found it, and
belongs to me-"
Next we called for the witnesses. A DO
in the crowd said pointing to the claimant
1T is his whip, sir. He made it, and hi
father gave him the lash. Runuey and som
other boys were playing with it last night
and they threw it over the fence into thi
boys area" pointing to the possessor of tn
whip.
"Yes, that's where found it, said tn
latter, " in my fathers area and it belong
to me-"
There were witnesses to the contrary @
this; so the facts were made plain.
! explained to the boys that thing b,
longed to the person who made it, if h
made it of his own materials, because
was produced by his time and skill and il
genuity. If he lost it, it did not cease
become his. If another found it he had
right to take possession of it and keep
from everybody but the true owner, but a
soon as the true owner appeared the finde
must give it up. $50 my decision is"
concluded, turning to the possessor, tina
you must give him the whip"
The boy clutched it little tighter an
hesitated; first he looked at me, then II
looked at the sheriff then at the whip theI
with one eye on the sheriff and the mo,
comical expression on his face, he gave u
the whip.
The boys laughed and the court adj ournet
Christian Weekly.