News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-05-19
A DUMB HERO.
BY AGNES F. KIRKLAND.

1t was the begi2ning of the winter
term, and the boys of Chestnut dis
trict school were full of speculatiOns
about their new teacher, and hopes
that he might be quite unlike his pred
ecessor, between whom and his wild,
high-spirited pupils there had been
neither sympathy nor liking.
They were strong and hardy. ac-
customed to rough work and sports;
he weakly and town-bred, knowing
as little of their country interests as
they did of his books.
SO the boys had despised him, for
they worshipped physical strength
and daring, hardihood and endur-
ance, We'd with each other in labor
and games that displayed them, and
were devoted followers of three broth
ers, named Armstrong, who were the
largest, strongest and handsomest
boys in all the country around. Da-
vid and Jonathan, twins, were four
teen years old, and Alfred, year
younger, was as large and strong.
Merry, noisy fellows they were, SEEM
ing never to have known weakness or
weariness. They had the greatest
interest in the new schOolmaster tCo,
for he was to board at their home.
Mr.. Armstrong was a stalwart
farmer. a widower; his hOusekeeper
was a bustling, notable cousin, tire
less as one of the boys. There was
but one exception to the vigorous
activity of the Observation-Disclosures
year old Will, AIfred's twin brother !;
he had never walked II sOeP'
very weak and small ,.;,,,,. sansi-
= D. Will! Hewas moroiuIy ST.
t. obout his lack OF the Pny 9liss' AZ
,,C,,,ars Ills brothers possessed ~ ul0'
PP,,.sss,,.ti .Fu,rn especially ON Airs az
count forlhe loved his twin GfoLhei
,IossionateIv, and felt himself some
how to blame that Alpn haei IL % "
criDDle for his mate. lie Hht7SeG VI,
mother love that would nave peeH
! doublv his because OF his helplessIess
and found in stirring cousin Nether'
all no spark of tenderness for his IN
firmities. His weary days were 1ui
of an ever growing hatred OF hmseE
and his empty, hopeless life, ana al
admiration for physical vigor beside
which his brothers estimate OF 1t was
small
The school opened on Friday, ant
Mr.. Lee was not to cometo Mr. Arm
strong's till Saturday evening, Du
Will heard a great deal about HIM be
fore then. for his brothers talked q
nothing else when they came hom
on Friday, and could find no Word
strong enough to express their aG
miration. He was Just splendid !!
I'm to everythingl'' Rode SOUR
Th0rnton's kicking colt to school
"Was going on a tramp up ti
mountains with the boys next day
$50 tall and strong!' so han'
somep' $50 good atgymnastlcs,
= he called them!"
viii. silently listening, grew as e
cited as they, exalted MIR. Lee INTO
hero. andlonged to see him, until Il
Thought flashed into his mind, nc
would this fine, handsome strang
regard him, the puny cripple? Hc
STRANGE he would think it that I
sbould have such a twin brOthe
Oh. WHY had God given him Just Il
and no power to use or ENJOY IT,
be anything but a burden ana q
tress to others? These thougt
were with him all day, and the &C
fict between his desireto see Mr.. l.
and dread of being seen by him, ga
him such headache that he had
he taken to bed before the walk
party returned.
Next morning he was at the bre'
fast table when Mr.. Lee appear
Ia and at first forgot his dread OF not
in interest and admiration. Mr..
was the handsomestman he had e
seen, and his manners were as ma
and attractive as his appearar
He seemed on very friendly ter
with his pupils, and bent on establl
ing the same relations with the
: of the family. At first Will no
| that in conversing with the 9th
IA Mr.. Lee might overlook HIM,
~ toward the end of the meal the tef
W er inquired if he were another pu