Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-11-28
DECISION.
Bow a Little Boy Conquered Himself an
Decided for the Right.

HORACES OEClSlON.
Bow q Little Boy Conquered Himself and
Decided for the Right.
His name was Horacc-Horace Den
ver-and his home in a quiet country
town. Here were old settlers and new;
old farm-houses and small thrifty cot
tagcs; here also, with its spire pointing
Hcavenward, was the church, and next
in importance in morality and truth,
the school-housc. The district school
house, time-worn and weather-beatcn,
what memories cluster around; what
"reminiscences fill the mind!
The little instance l am about to re-
late happened here, in the ancient,
time-honored abode of learning. 1t is
not a thrilling story, in itself; it is a
very little thing, but small as it is,
triling as it may appear, it is true, and
if every boy is willingto act accordingly
he will not be ashamed of his record.
Boys and girls in the rosy flush and
bounding vigor OF early life are prone
to consider little things OF small import,
but as one writer says: "They may be
nothing, but they are oN."
1t was the noon hour at school.
Everywhere was still aud l~istless,
scarcely a breath stirred the trec-tops
Of the woods close at hand. and a short
distance away a little pond Tapped its
blue waters in refreshing GOODNESS.
Upon the opposite side of the pond
$3.50 @lo. ,.l.-.1 ,-,, -, ->.,,a~, ..l Al
boys of that school often came to the
pond at noon time for Il cool "dip" in
its blue waves, and it was pleasant and
refreshing, for what boy does not like
to swim? And SO the boys on the other
side of the pond day by day through
the sultry noon hour enjoyed the luxury
of its cool waves. l suppose their
| parents were quite willing they should
do SO, and that the teacher gave her
unqualified consent. l say l ppo
this was So, but l do not know. l do
know, however, that the teacher on this
side was very unwilling her pupils
should visit the pond to swim while
they We're under her charge at school,
and she said as much to the school.
The scholars received it well, all but
one boy, Horace. He Strengthened his
little form, twelve years old, in quite an
uncompromising attitude, and quite de-
family answered the teacher that his
mother had given him permission to go,
although he did MT quite dare assert
himself sufficiently to add, .and he
should,' his look and manner bespoke
it. Horace was a good deal of a boy,
and a genuine manly boy, as the sequel
will prove.
10 this stout assertion the teacher
only said he could not go unless he
brought q written message from his
mother to the effect that she would take
all responsibility Of accident should any
occur. But the little fellow grew
resolute. He wanted to 90. His clinched
fist and red face said he would 90.
Very little his teacher said. She
knew a battle was in swift progress.
The forces We're there. marshaled in
battle array. The fists of little Horace
were tighter clinchcd. his round face
grew redder yet, and longing his eyes
wandered to the inviting water, where
already the merry shouts of the bows
from the other school could be heard.
His teacher was watching close:
where would the victory come? Pres
emily tears We're seen rolling from the
boys eyes, and the hands relaxed their
hold on anger. Not a word had been
spoken, but Horace glanced now at the
teacher, and as her eyes met his he
smiled. All, he had won the victory
that time, and in a short space of time
his merry voice was heard in shouts of
play, OF laughter: Yea, verify, greater
is he that ruleth his own spirit, than he
that taketh a city.
But this is not quite the end of
Horace's doing that day. His mother
was a widow, and lived in a small,
cottage at the end of the lane. I think
1t was her custom to make quite q con-
tdent of Horace, talking over matters
freely with him. Some parents take
a different course with their chill
dren, but this was Mrs. .Dcnyer's
way, SO when the events, general and
particular, OF this day came up for dis
cussion, he gave his mother an account
O! the swimming expedition which he
ulo not take. Horace, although but
twelve years Of age, as stated. was
nevertheless the Oldest pupil by two
years in the school, and being a BRIGHT,
amiable lad, was quite admired and
looked up to" by the
scholars. e
The next morning, when the teacher
called the pupils together, Horace
paced Q IN her hand. She had not
d thought but that it was Mrs. Denver's
Written consent for Horace to join the
ual1y swimmers across the pond. With
scarcely a thought she ran her eye down
tAe page, and III less than ten seconds
round herself CHANGING or looking
steadily at the joyous, beamine face Of
horace. The note ran on this wise:
4 nave talked the matter over with
horace, II he has decided'' (not uc
you no,iee' butAe has decidedly .:since he
Is l1c oldest pupil IN school, he oupht to