Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-26
The Worst Boy In School.

Inc WOrst bVJ LII ochVV'
prs. RoBNsoS.
",Jobn Jackman, come here" and the
teacher turned and took light, Witty rod
from the desk.
If you please, sir, l haven't
"Not another word. Didn't | see you
with pin in your hand not three minutes
ago2" And the punishment commenced.
There was no use trying to explain then
that he had taken the pin from his coat to
fasten up rent in one of the smaller
boys clothes, which had come to grief on
some projecting nail. And there only little
way from him, with eyes studiously bent on
his book, sat Frank Wilson, whom John
knew to be the guilty one. With his heart
burning with the injustice done him he de-
termined on no account to shed tear; and
with firm-set lips he bore the severe punish
ment that followed.
Finally the teacher sent him to his seat
with the words; You are the worst boy in
school; take care that you don't grow up to
be worse man."
eff | am the worst boy in school,,
wouldn't see another boy punished for what
1 did," thought John, as he rested his ach-
ing head on his hand.
Recess followed soon after and the boys
went racing out from the building for their
few minutes play.
"Now for game of SNOWFALL" called
out Frank Wilson.
John, ever ready to forget injuries, was
the first to catch up a handful of snow.
Here" said Frank roughly, "you needn't
trouble yourself to SNOWFALL we don't care
to play with the worst boy in school,"
Frank Wilson, being the Oldest and larg-
est boy in school, had undisputed influence
over the other boys, and they quickly fol-
lowed him to the other side of the play
ground, leaving John alone; even the small
boy whom he had befriended less than an
hour ago followed the rest.
Words of retort were such strangers to
Johns lips that he saw them go in silence,
half believing that what was told him so
many times must be true. He even glanced
down at the snow in his hand, wondering
why that did not slip and glide away from
contact with such bad boy. Almost as far
back as he could remember, seedlings and
punishment had been his lot But way,
way back when he was only little fodder
Of four, he could recall plenty of love and
kindness His father had loved him dearly,
and many time when the mother was
scolding over the noise and litter, would
take him in his arms and hush him to sleep
with pretty stories. There had fallen dark
shadow over their home and when it lifted
the fathers chair was vacant and there was
newly filled grave in the church-yard.
The days that followed were sad ones for
John; but worse ones came. His mother
married again, and he was more in the way
than ever. More children came, and from
being the scapegoat at home John came tc
be the scapegoat at school; accused of every
thing that went wrong and duly punished
Something like this passed through his
mind as he stood there in the snow, listen
ing to the merry shouts of the other boys
not connectedly and in order, but tumult
uously, making his brain throb and hi
heart ache. But the schoolbell put an enc
to play and they all returned to the hum Of
the school-room.
Slowly and grudgingly, it seemed to the
scholars, the clock told off the minutes, anC
at last the hands pointed at four; then
eager, noisy feet crossed the threshold AM
the schoolhouse was left in its strange 81
lence. John alone went quietly and slowly
A quarter of mile from the schoolhouse
at the foot of little hill, stood the small
white house where lived Mary Hunton al
old maid the towns.people called her, bu
to John a true friend, and his feet brok,
into run as he turned in at the gate, sur,
of his welcome and of sympathy.
But what could the best of friends say IL
the face of such misunderstanding and in
justice only to do right for the love of RICH
and trust to time to make things straight
But after the first outburst, the generou
spirit of the boy asserted itself and he d.
termined to think no more about it.
isn't it ?" said Miss Hunton. Chow old al
you ?"
"Fourteen years DID," replied he, wit
boyish pride.
"Well, ask your mother if you may spen
the evening with me; and we'll see viii
luck we have popping corn and roastin
apples"
This would be indeed great treat to IL
boy who had so few pleasures, and promi
ing faithfully to come if he could, he gay
her hearty kiss and dashed off home.
She stood at the window long after
had passed out of sight, thinking how muc
he looked like his father and how, sixte'
long years ago, when she was a fair your
girl, she had been engaged to him" Friel
Jackman,' as every one called him. b
interested friends had stepped forth, an
what with this ones saying this and tn
ones repeating that, they had quarrele
and one morning Friend Jackman ro'
away and came home at night with wi
from the neighboring town.
Mary Hunton had met him shortly aft
wards and an explanation had follow
which made them friends, but left the
hearts sore and aching, with no aftermath
but to bow to the inevitable. And now
SHOWS of ten winters had blown and drift
above his grave, while she was the only G
who seemed to remember him OF cared
speak kind word to the boy who bore
name. The outlook was too dreary, a
turning from the window she took up
warm, worsted muller she had nearly
ished as birthday present for John.
The following day at noon all the schol
are out on the long hill in front Of the schC
house, coasting. OF course it was contr
to the village regulations to slide in the p
lie highway, but no one minded it and
children did as they pleased. Even MAJ
Wilson, plump little ive-years-old, alw
falling down and getting into trouble
sliding with the rest. John Jackman sta
at the top of the hill watching the 9th
for he has no sled.
They come thronging up the slipT
trank tuogino at THAR alads aaoar for