Milford chronicle., 1883-06-08


p countable in the boys sudden stubborn
ness and in the value he seemed to set
upon a simple toy. She had found him,
at her entrance into the school, idle,
willful, and disorderly, as neglected
children so often are, but he had been
easily won and had tried earnestly
and constantly to improve. This out
break was puzzling, discouraging, like
so many of the cases teachers have to
deal with. Sometimes they find the
key to the mystery; oftener it is entirely
out of their reach, and they have to
blunder along blindly, doing what cir
cumstances compel, feeling that, after
all, it is not the right way, though the
only one possible to them.
What weary afternoon; would it
never end? At last the sunlight slipped
off the threshold. The pupils soon fol-
lowed it. For moment she slackened her
watch, while the larger ones, being in
spelling class with their backs to the
door, could not see. In that moment
Charles slid round. He was almost gone
not quite. though.
Miss Lawrence turned Just in time to
seize him and throw him, kicking and
struggling, into the nearest seat. She
was thoroughly angry at his persistent
wickedness, and flung the boy down
with the feeling that he was entitled to
no further consideration from her.
"Sit there she exclaimed, ''and we
will have you fastened like any other
thief.
Cruel words they regretted as
soon as spoken-but the boy did not
seem to hear them. His eyes were fixed
with glare of terror upon the balloon;
which was slowly shrinking away,
pierced by some pin-point. As it shriv-
eled up into an unsightly rag he flung
himself, with a despairing scream, upon
the floor beside it, and lay there moan
ing and grieving like dog beside some
article once worn by its dead master.
As for Miss Lawrence, she was rather
glad of this unlocked for escape from her
difficulty.
"Ray," she said, 'I will get you a
new balloon, since this one was destroyed
partly through my fault The school
is dismissed. Charles will remain.
The boy sat quiet, unheeding the jeers
or the contemptuous glances of the
others as they passed out, and staring
blankly straight ahead of him, like one
who had just seen last hope go out.
The teacher watched his face, so stony,
so unchildlike, long after the last young
footstep had battered out of hearing. At
last she said:
Charles, did not suppose you cared
so much for playthings that you would
take those which did not belong to You"
81 don't, answered the boy, logged
ly. why don't ye let me go now ?
There aint nothin' to stay for. You've
smashed it, and that's the very worst
thing ye could do to me-.
"You may go presently; but why do
You speak so to me? 1 did not keep
you here for punishment. You forget
that have the toy to pay for, unless l
you can help me- c
Well, can't then," he reioined, t
81 haven't got penny in
,he world. If I had had or could t
earned one do you think I'd a touched a
lis old balloon - G
"But why should you, any way p 4
irged Miss Lawrence. 1t wasn't any l
hing you needed"
Wasn't it ?" he cried, furiously. 81 8
lever needed anything so much in all t
ny life, and if there's another to be ,
,rigged in this town tonight Tn the fell
ow that does it, and you may help your n
elf" t
"Why Charles y exclaimed the as Il
onished lady; care you crazy? What h
5 the matter? Tell me all about it" n
he added, coaxingly, almost terrified by I
he strange conduct of the boy. s.
"What's the use ?" he muttered, with d
sullen, suspicious glance " You "
ouldn't help, and if you could, you a
rouldn't. Nobody cares for poor folks
Ike us. What if we do get sick and p
lie? It's nomatter. And as for feelin's, n
7ho ever thought of our havin' any S
7eelin's is for folks that dress in silks NJ
nd satins off o the money they cheat W
IS out Of n,
"Charles, observed Miss Lawrence,
emily, 81 am sure I don't know what D
makes you talk so strangely, but I am 81
cry sorry for you, aud if you will tell D
le what all this means I will help you,
can. Isn't that fair"
eyes, ma'am, replied the boy, slowly,
fter long, wistful gaze into the trou-
led and gentle eyes of the teacher; ''I'll h,
III We, though there's nothin' you can 7,
o, as I know on. You see, my little -
rother Len has been sick long Time 9
nd gettiu' thinner and thinner, tilRhes ID
st as poor and pale as ghost. It's h
lostly the poor food he has and the hard OF
mes, the Doctor said, and he finally m
I'D mother there wasn't no use of his X
omin any longer; so he don't, and poor Gs g
tile Len has got so weak he can't sit :, ~
p any more, but just has to lie still all bs
~ long, with nothin' to pass the time m
way or make the time any easier, only tn
hen some of us hold him up to the ar
indow q few minutes at time. He
MT hear IL long. but il seems to ulease