St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-23
A GOLD MEDAL.
A Story For BOYS.

-
pearances. In one of her books where
a young lady "thinks it very strange
THAT Mr.. A. did not write," Mrs. Frances
III. Burnett wisely says something like
this "My dear never think strange
84Fhere are so many circumstances of
(which, perhaps, we are not aware, that
we have no right to judge others has
lilly when things go wrong" Ananec-
dOte published in The Children's Own
swell illustrates this:
| shall never forget a lesson | receiv-
ed when at school at A. We saw a
boy named Watson, driving a COW to
pasture. In the evening he drove her
back again, we did not know where,
land this was continued for several
weeks.
The boys attending the school were
nearly all sons of wealthy parents, and
some of them were ounces enough to
Hook with disdain on a scholar who
had to drive a COW.
With admirable good nature Watson
BORE all their attempts to annoy him.
HI 81 suppose, Watson" said Jackson,
another boy, one day,-"I suppose
your father intends to make a milk
man of you ~
"Why not Z" asked Watson.
go, nothing. Only don't leave much
water in the cans after you rinse them
that's ALL"
The boy laughed, and Watson not in
Bthe least mortified, replied: "Never
fear. If ever I am a milkman, I'll
give good measure and good milk"
Il The day after this conversation
there was a public examination, at
(which ladies and gentlemen from the
neighbOring towns were present, prizes
were awarded by the principal of our
school, and both Watson and Jackson
received a creditable number, for in
respect to scholarship, they were
about equal.
Ii After the ceremony of distribution,
the principal remarked that there was
bne prize. consisting of a gold medal,
(which was rarely awarded, not so
much on account of its great cost, as
because the instances were rare which
Rendered its bestOwal proper. 1t was
the prize of herOism. The last medal
was awarded about three years ago to
boy in the first class who rescued a
poor girl from drowning.
Fl The principal then said that, with
the permission of the company, he
Avould relate a short anecdOte.
IA "NOt long since, some boys were
#tlying a kite in the street, just as a
poor lad on horseback rode by on his
Eway to- the mill. The horse took fright
pnd threw the boy, injuring him so
badly that he was carried home and
confined some weeks to his bed. Of
The boys who had uniDtentiOnally
caused the disaster, none followed to
learn the fate of the wounded lad.
EThere was one boy, however, who
witnessed the accident from a distance,
who not only went to make inquiries,
but stayed to render service.
"This boy soon learned that the
wounded boy was the grandson of
poor widow, whose sole support con-
sisted in selling the milk of COW, of
which she was the owner. She was
old and lame, and her grandson, on
whom she depended to drive her COW
to the pasture, was now helpless with
his bruises. "Never mind, good wOm-
an" said the boy 81 will drive the
cow"
''But his kindness did not stop there.
money was wanted to get articles from
the apOthecary. 81 have money that
my mother sent me to buy pair of
boots WITH" said he, "but | can do
without them for a while" "Oh, no."
said the old woman, 81 can't consent
to that but here is pair of heavy
boots that | bought for Thomas, who
can't wear them. If you would only
buy these, we should get on nicely"
The boy bought the boots, clumsy as
they were, and has worn them up to
this time.
"Wel, when it was discovered by
the other boys at the school that our
scholar was in the habit of driving a
COW, he was assaulted every day with
laughter and ridicule. His cOwhlde
boots in particular were made matter
of mirth. But he kept OH cheerfully,
bravely, day after day, never shnn-
ming observation, driving the widows
cow and wearing his thick boots. He
never explained why he drove the COW
for he was not inclined to make boast
of its charitable motives. 1t was by
mere accident, that his kindness and
self-de was discovered by his
teacher.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, L
ask you-was there not true herOism
in this boys cOnductq Nay, Master
Watson, do not get out of sight be-
hind that black board. You were not
afraid of ridicule, you must not be
afraid of praise.n.
As Watson, with blushing cheeks,
came forward, round of applause
spoke the general appreciation, and
the medal was presented to him amid
the cheers of the audience.