The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-12-12
HORACE'S DECISION.
How q Little Boy Conquered Himself and
Decided for the Right.

How q Little Boy Conquered Himself and
Decided for the Right.
His name was Horace-Horace Dem
ver-and his home in quiet country
town. Here were old settlers and new;
old farm-houses and small thrifty cot
tages; here also, with its spire pointing
Heavenward, was the church, and next
in importance in morality and truth,
the school-house. The district school
house, time-worn and weather-beaten,
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 thrilling story, in itself; it Is
very little thing, but small as it is,
trifling as it may appear. it is true, and
if every boy is willing to act accordingly
he will not be ashamed of his record.
Bows 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 all.
Ii was the noon hour at school.
Everywhere was still and listless,
scarcely breath stirred the tree-tops
of the woods close at hand. and short
distance away little pond Tapped its
blue waters in refreshing GOODNESS.
Upon the opposite side of the pond
another school was in session, and the
bows of that school often came to the
pond at noon time for 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. / say / suppose
this was so, but 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 were 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 not quite dare assert
himself sufficiently to add, "and he
should" his look and manner bespoke
it. Horace was good deal of a boy,
and genuine manly boy, as the sequel
will prove.
To this stout assertion the teacher
only said he could not 60 unless he
brought a 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 go. His clinched
| fist and red face said he would go.
| Very little his teacher said. She
knew a battle was in swift progress.
| The forces were there, marshalcd in
battle array. The fists of little Horace
were tighter elinched, his round face
grew redder yet, and longing his eyes
wandered to the inviting water. where
already the merry shouts of the boys
from the other school could be heard.
His teacher was watching close;
where would the victory come? Pres
emily tears were seen rolling from the
boys eyes, and the hands relaxed theil
hold on anger Not a word had beer
spoken, but Horace glanced now at the
teacher, and as her eyes met his h,
smiled. All, he had won the victory
that time, and in short space of tim,
his merry voice was heard in shouts o
play, of laughter. Yea, verify, create
is he that ruleth his own spirit, than b.
that taketh q city.
But this is not quite the end o
Horace's doing that day.. His mothe
was a widow, and lived in small
cottage at the end of the lane. I thinl
it was her custom to make quite con
fident of Horace, talking over matter
freely with him. Some parents tax
q different course with their chi
dren, but this was Mrs. Denver
way, so when the events, general an
particular, of this day came up for di:
cussion, he gave his mother an acoour
of the swimming expedition which b
did not take. Horace, although bt
twelve years of age, as stated, wa
nevertheless the Oldest pupil by tw
years in the school, and being a brigh
amiable lad. was quite admired an
looked up to" by the youngs
scholars.
The next morning, when the teacht
called the pupils together, Horat
| placed note in her hand She had M
thought but that it was Mrs. Denver
written consent for Horace to join Il
} / daily swimmers across the pond. Wit
} scarcely thought she ran her eye dow
: the page, and in less than ten secont
found herself glancing or lookin
steadily at the joyous. beaming face ,
Horace. The note ran on this wise:
al have talked tsie matter over viii
Horace. and he has decided" mot q
You notice. but he has decided s'since
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