The Penn's Grove record., 1882-02-18


rushed to his seat and hid his face II
his arms. Meanwhile, Master Spratt
the oldest boy in school, In nv
desk and signified his desire to SPEAK
well, Spratt, what Is it"' sskec
Mr.. O'Daly.
There's but the m door 70 tns
room Re1burn was locked IN sato
Spratt, "and there was no other way
OF getting out the window n too
high and too small for anything u o
cat, and there's spikes on 1t. Wait Q
minute, master; I sat by the door
with my legs across 1t, from the min
ute you vent Redburn In unui the
minute you took him out, doing tha'
problem l failed in"
'sThen the wildly and the boys have
been lynn and IU-waft q minute
Dunstan come herep
Dunstan, another large boy, between
whom and Sprstt there was q sort OF
feud, 40 they were the leaders OF rival
factions, strobe up to the desk.
sit was you told me the WILDLY
spoke the TRUTH" said Mr.. o'Daly.
"Now give your ivideRce."
swell, / shouldn't have mentioned
! 1t, Mr.. O'Daly," said Dunstsn ; I'm
not a tell-taie, but you wouldn't DO
lieve the old woman and she told the
| truth. Redburn was up the tree for
an hour and q half. We boys on the
| form by the window saw him-Stoke s,
Grady, Fisher, Pope and l. de as
| the plums and threw them about. II
I am q liar, there are five Of u.s." and
he looked at Spratt, who slowly re
peated:
..Redburn never left the room, l saw
| him 20 In and | saw him come out,
and he was studying aloud most OF
the time"
"Mr. O'Daly listened In silence. He
would BIKE to have fiogged the whole
school, but even q tyrant could not De
quite 80 unjust
He opened the door OF the classroom
and made sure that nobody on earth
| could have escaped through the win
| dow, He called Rsdburn to him n
turned his pockets inside out neither
| fruit nor stones were there. He looked
at his hands; they were unstained by
plum Juice, though grimy with slate
pencil dust and tears.
Fifteen boys being questioned, swore
solemnly that Spratt had never lett
| the door. The class at the window
swore to seeing Redburn in the tree.
| Widow Mclaughlin being sent for
was asked to point out the thief, and
| bounced on Redburn at once.
"He's the idlest boy in the school,"
| she said; and l wonder, Mr.. o DAILY,
| YOU lave him 30 much time 10 throw
stones at the ducks. and taze me
! euinea-hen and didn't he milk q
| cow with a tin can last Monday morn
ing7"
.'It,s a-falsshood !" screamed little
Redburn.
Mr.. O'Daly was puzzled. He re-
marked that he'd talk the thing over
next day and settle 1t, and dismissed
the school. Instantly, instead OF a
game of ball, began a battle, Spratt
and his adherents on one side Dun
stan and his friends on the other.
| Black eyes, bruised cheeks, and torn
| clothes were the result. In two cases
the doctor was sent for. Anxious
mothers called on Mr.. O'Daly and re-
preached him. More than ever did
that unhappy individual desire to
"nog every boy in the school" The
Widow Mclaughlin beset him for
ferty halfpence until he paid her.
And when he retired at night, instead
of saying his prayers, his last waking
words were:
ITO the devil with all boys and all
widdysl'
School opened next day a. usual.
The factions marched back, after q
slight skirmish by the way. Mr..
O,Daly had anew cane, nicely waxed,
mon his desk. Redburn was there
also. and a solemn ceremony took
place. Mr.. O'Daly called the boy to the
desk, put one of those small chunky
Bibles which prevail in schools upon
It, bid the boy lay his hand upon 1t,
and take his solemn oath to tell the
truth, aud then questioned him
"Where were you, lad, yesterday
from twelve to two"
I'm that classroom" replied little
Redburn.
"When did you climb the wildly
plum tree thin p"asked Mr.. O'Oaly.
1T v climbed the plum trse,'
said poor Redburn.
"Never? You're on your oath y
roared the pedagogue.
But Redburn repeated:
"Neverp"
anrat. Dunstan and all the othel
boys were put on oath. Five Of then
swore to seeing Redburn In the tree
= great nuInLeE W WV oSs sAos oPAot
never left the classroom door. SpIat
swore that Redburn did not come GU
of the room by that door. And ate
the examination Redburn was cor
signed IN tie classroom with his slat
and book. and the truth was no mol
manifest than before.
At two o'clock, however, samethinI
happened.
| The widow appeared at the dooi
> and requested 10 speak to Mr.. o'DalS
: Mr.. O'Daly went out to her al once
. He shut the door, and 10 'ked atSher.
"Wel, woman he said, what
/ 1t ye'Ie after? Do we want mo
money or yer pound of flesh %
Mrs. Mclaughlin had never rea
Shakespeare.
az niver axed no one for mate, {
anything but me just jews" she salt