The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-04-29
Little Scotch Granite.

Burt and Johnnie Lee were delighted
when their Scotch cousin came to live
with them. He was little, but bright
and full of fun. He could tell curious
things about his home in Scotland and
far advanced in his studies as they were,
and the first day he went to school they
thought him remarkably good. He
wasted no time in play when he should
have been studying, and he advanced
finely
At night, before close of the school,
the teacher called the roll and the boys
began to answer, Ten" When Willie
understood that he was to say ten, if he
had not whispered during the day, he
replied, have whispered"
More than once?' asked the teacher.
Yes, sir" answered Willie.
As many as ten times ?"
Maybe | have" faltered Willie.
Then shall mark you zero" said the
teacher sternly and that is great dis
grace.
why, 1 did not see you whisper
once" said Johnnie that night after
school.
"Well, 1 did," said Willie; I saw
others doing it, and so l asked to borrow
book then l lent slate pencil, and
asked boy for knife, and did several
such things. supposed 1t was allowed
"Oh, we all do it, said Burt, REDEEM
ing. There isn't any sense in the old
rule; and nobody could keep it, nobody
does
:" l will, or else will say 1 haven't, ="
said Willie. Do you suppose l would
tell ten lies in one heap?'
ooh, we don't call them lies mutter-
ed Johnnie. There wouldn't be a
credit among us at night, if we were so
strict.
What of that, if you told the truth ?"
laughed Willie, bravely.
In short time, the boys all saw how
it was with him. He studied hard,
played with all his might in play time
but, according to his account, he lost
more credits than any of the rest After
some weeks the boys answered mine"
and eight oftener than they used to-
Yet the school-room seemed to have
grown quieter. Sometimes when Willie
Grants mark was even lower than usual,
the teacher would smile peculiarly, but
said no more of disgrace. Willie never
preached to them or told tales but,
somehow, it made the boys ashamed OF
themselves, Just the seeing that this
sturdy, blue-e eyed boy must tell the truth.
1t was putting the clean cloth by the
halt-soiled one, you see and they felt
like cheats and story-tellers. They talk
ed him all over, and loved him, if they
did nickname him Scotch Granite" he
was so firm about promise.
Well, at the end of the term, Willie's
name was very low down on the credit
list. When it was read he had hard
work not to cry for he was very sensi-
tive, and he had tried to be perfect But
the very last thing that day wasa speech
by the teacher, who told of once seeing a
man muffled up in cloak. He was pass
ing him without look, when he was
told the man was Gen. -, the great
hero.
1.-The signs of his rank were hidden,
but the hero was there Just the same, -
said the teacher "And now, boys, you
will see what | mean when give little
medal to the most faithful boy-the one
really the most conscientiously perfect
in his department among you. Who
shall have it ?"
Little Granite - shouted the forty
boys at once for the child whose name
was so low on the credit list had made
truth noble in their eyes The British
Evangelist.