The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-23
SCOTCH GRANITE.


you thought was clean until sometime it
happened to be laid close by new piece
and then you saw it TO be spoiled2 In
a similar way people discover facts about
themselves, as Burt and Johnnie Lee
did when their Scotch cousin came to
live with them. They were "pretly good
boys" and would have been very angry
il anybody had called them deceiLful.
Well, when their cousin came they we're
delighted. He was little, but very bright
aud full of fun. He could tell curious
things about his home in Scotland and
his voyage across. the ocean. He was as
far advanced in his studies as they were,
and the first day he went to school they
thought him remarkably good. He vast
ed no time in play when he should have
been studying, and he recled finely. At
night, before the clio of school, the tea
cher called roll, and the boys began to
answer ten" When Willie under
stood that he was to answer "ten" if he
had not whispered during the day, he
replied:
81 have whispered"
"More than one?' asked the teacher.
"Yes, sir, :" answered Willie.
"As many as ten times2"
"Maybe 1 have" filtered Willie.
"Then l shall mark you zero, said the
teacher sternly. "and that is great dis
grace"
why, I did not see you whisper
once" said Johnny that night after
school.
We'll, did," said Willie. II saw |
others doing it, and 30 asked to borrow
book then lent a slate pencil and
asked boy for a knife, and did several
such things. supposed it wac allowed.
"Oh, we all do it," said Burt, redden-
Ing. "Tnere isn't any sense in the old
rule, and nobody could keep it-nobody
does"
Il will, or else 1 will say, 4 haven't"
said Willie. do you suppose would
tell ten lies in one heap?"
"Oh, we don't call them lies, muttered
Johnnie. There wouldn't be credit
amongst us at night if we were so strict"
What Of that. if you told the truth ?"
laughed Willie, bravely.
In short time the boys all saw how
1t was with him. He studied very hard,
played with all his might in playtime,
but according to his own account, he lost
more credits than any of the rest. After
some weeks the boys answered Mine"
and Eight" oftener tnan they used to
yet the school room seemed to have
grown much quieter. Some times when
Willie Grants mark was even lower
than usual, the teacher would smile pc
culiarly, but said no more Of disgrace"
Willie never preached at them or told
tales, but somehow it made the boys
ashamed of themselves just the seeing
that this sturdy blue eyed Scotch boy
must tell the truth. 1t was putting the
clean cloth by the halfsoiled one you
see and they felt like cheats and "story-
teilers." They talked him over and
loved him, if they did nickname him
Scotch Granite" he was 80 firm about
promise.
Well, at the end Of the term Willie's
name was very low down in the credit
list. When it was read, he had hard
work not to cry, for he was very sensi-
tive, and he had tried hard to be perfect.
But the very last thing that day was a
speech from the teacher who told of
once seeing a man mufflsd up in a cloak.
de was passing him without a look,
when he was told the man was General
- the great hero. "The signs of his
rank were hidej, but the hero was there
just the same" said the teacher. ,'And
now' boys, you will see what mean
when tell you that 1 want to give a lit.
tie gold medal to the most faithful boy
the one really the most conscien.
tiously perfect in his department among
you. Who shall have itP"
Little Scotch Granite" shouted 40
boys at once for the child whose name
was 80 low on the credit list had made
truth noble in their eyes.-S. s. Visitor.