The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-27
Little Scotch Granite.

Burt and Johnnie Lee were delight
ed 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 Scot
land and his voyage across the ocean.
He was as far advanced in his studies
as they were, and the first day he went
to school they thought him remerka-
bly, good. He wasted no time in play
when he should have studied, and he
advanced finely.
At night, before the 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 du-
ring the day, he replied, II have
whispered"
"More than once?" asked the teach
er.
Eyes, sir,n answered Willie.
GAS many as ten times"
"Maybe 1 have" faltered Willie.
"Then I shall mark you Zero" said
the teacher sternly: land that is
great disgrace"
"Why, ] did not see you whisper
once" said Johnnie that night after
school.
"Well, I did," said Willie "I saw
others doing 1t, and so I asked to Dor.
row book then lent slate and
pencil, and asked boy for a knife and
such things. Isupposed it was allow
ed."
"Oh, we all do it,n said Burt, red.
dening. "There is no sense in the old
rule and nobody could keep it, no.
body does"
II will, or else I will sayI haven't" "
said Willie. "Do you suppose l would
tell ten lies in one heap?n
"Oh, we don't call them lies," NUT
tered 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.
In a 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 &C
count, 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
seemed to have grown quieter. Some
times when Willie Grants mark was
even lower than usual, the teacher
would smile peculiarly, but said no
mere ofdisgrace. Willie never preach
ed to them or told tales but, somehow,
it made the boys ashamed of them
selves, just the seeing that this sturdy
blue-eyed boy must tell the truth. It
was putting the clean cloth by the half
soiled one, you see and they felt like
cheats and story-tellers. They talked
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 SEN
sitive, and he had tried hard to be per-
feet. But the very last thing that day
was speech by the teacher, who told
of once seeing man muffied up in q
cloak. He was passing him without q
look, when he was told the man was
Gen. Blank, 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 I mean when give
little medal to the most faithful boys
the one really the most conscientious
ly perfect in his department, among
YOU. Who shall have it?"
Little Granted" shouted the forty
boys at once; for the child whose
name was so slow" OH the credit lisl
had made truth noble in their eyes.