The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-02
THE GREENvALE CODE OF HONOR.

THE GREENYALE CODE OF HONOR.
Jamie Webb had cut wood enough to
supply the next weeks fires, filled the
boiler for Mondays washing, taken
home Mrs Foote'S quilting-frames, dug
two or three hills of potatoes, besides
running a dozen errands; and, at
four o o'clock p. m, felt he was entitled
to the leisure for which his small heart
yearned.
Hid in the northwest room was a
book relating the adventures of Leoni-
das Murray, in his Judgment the most
remarkable work ever published That
it was thus concealed was due to the
mischievous propensities of his three
years-old sister Oracle, ever ready to
leave the mark of her chubby fingers on
clean pages. Finding her sound asleep,
he stole on tip-toe upstairs to read it.
Having secreted the book under his
waistcoat, he stole as softly out the
back door, and, throwing himself down
under an old apple tree, soon forgot
work, errands and burdens generally in
the wild eXcitements of the sailor boys
life.
A cloudless sky bent over him; not
far away, in his mothers garden, golden
marigolds, fringed peoples and silver
petaled hollyhocks drank in the sun
shine; bees droned their sleepy song
among clover blossoms and thyme; a
plump robin hoped in and out the
grass under his very nose; and black
and yellow spider wove its gossamer
web almost into his eyes; and Jamie
stirred not, but, oblivious of everything,
wandered in the distant islands of the
Pacific, his soul quaking with terror
lest non the savages would really muir
der Leonidas Murray, and feeling all
the while an intense desire to do a deed
men would regard as proudly as he did
the courage of this sailor hero.
just at this crisis of the story three
boys appeared before him, and, although
Jamie wished they had deferred their
visit little longer, he fastened to well
come them. After entertaining them in
various ways, the four began to play
ball to see who excelled in toss and
catch, Frank Knox being chosen Judge.
For a time nothing was heard but
laughter and good-natured raillery; but
by and by Jamie's ball mistook Horace
Gates head for his hand, and nearly
knocked him off his feet. Horace was
quick and ill-mannered when
provoked, and, with face purple from
rage, and voice choked with passion,
screamed out:
"You did it on purpose, you mean,
ugly boyn
" AS true's / live, l didn't! I'll 90
right away and get some camphor, ="
was the reply, in boy dialect.
"No, you sha'n't, either! l don't
want to be mollycoddled, you liar,
your said Horace, rudely.
Now it was the code of honor in
Greenvale, as I'm told it is in some
larger towns, if boy is called liar,
to retaliate with blow in the face.
Jamie sprang forward to follow this
honorable (P) fashion, but was arrested
by the recollection of some remarks of
Mr.. Loring, his teacher, on this custom:
"What does it PROVE" he asked, "when
you pound your accuser until he is a
mass of black and-blue bruisesP Your
innocencep Certainly not! Only that
you have immensely hard fists, and are
adroit in using them; the effect is, as
soon as your rival can stiffen his mus
Giles equal to yours, he'll repeat the Of
| tense; but let him see you so control
your temper as to meet insult with dig
nifty, and he'll be too ashamed to trouble
you again" ..t
A long speech to flash through the
| Int hn hoy II h l.
of it between his steps forward and the
turning back Che could not face exas-
perating Horace and obey Mr.. Loring)
At this movement, Frank Knox called
out: "For shame, Jamie! afraid of
Horace Gates?n
"Not bit of it, but I'm not going to
fight" answered Jamie.
That's a good excuse" sneered the
wounded boy; who'd have guessed he
was such timid child? Let's do him
up in cotton, and send him to his
MOTHER
Such a terrible moment as it was for
James, when he was full of brave i'm
pulses, to have his courage questioned
He did wish memory had failed him
until he had given Horace one good
thrashing. But his perfect confidence
in Mr.. Loring's wisdom restrained his
blows; although he had not proved very
clearly to himself the superiority OF
peace to war, he was sure it was not
best to yield to his anger now, and re-
piled:
boys, think what you will; Mr.. Lo-
ring says it is foolish to fight, and be-
lieve him.
Frank Knox exclaimed, contemptu-
ously: He's goody boy, he isl Hell
die young, like all good children! Three
groans for Deacon Webb!' to which the
boys responded and then walked off.
Jamie did not finch muscle in his
tormentors' presence, but when they
were out of sight he threw himself on
the ground and wept as only reticent,