The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-06
Other Peoples Rights.


are so warm know I shall roast be.
fore night"
mo; if what you say is true you
had better stay at home"
"And lose my place in the class ~
said Walter, doubtfully.
"Better lose your place than your
self. Anyone who is roasted is not fit
for much but eating"
Oh, mama, l didn't mean that; !
meant 1 would be very hot"
"Say what you mean, then. Don't
stretch the truth even to gain your
point. 1t Is strange the beat never af-
fected you till that new suit was finish
ed."
Walter shifted uneasily from side to
side. "I'd better wear it all can, for
perhaps it wont fit me next summer"
"Arn't you afraid you'll out-grow
the suit you've got on before winter
Perhahs it will be as profitable to wear
it, If you are going to save" said Mrs.
Glenn, laughingly.
Nov mamma, don't make fun.
You know what l want"
"Of couree | know what you want,
and why don't you ask for it without
so many pretences. Go, now, and put
it on.n
"Be careful of your new suit, and
remember the Golden Rule" were her
parting words at the gate.
ayes, mamma" was waited back,
as Walter skipped gaily down the
rosI.
TO his lofty imagination such an
Injunction was unneeded. 1t was not
possible he would think of soiling
bis nice new suit which had no less
than four pockets I'D it, and then what
would de have to quarrel about, for
wasn't he the best dressed boy in
schooI2 Led by such thoughts his
couceit rose higher and higher, until
it covered all his better self.
All went we'll at school. The boys
praised his clothes, and even the teach
er noticed them; so, by the time be
was ready to 60 home, he was feeling
as if he were great deal of conse-
quence, and worthy of more notice
than common boy.
A river lay between the school and
his home. Half mile above the
school a large bridge spanned it, but
down at the school the people usually
crossed ON long piece of square tim
Der which they called "foot-stick." !"
As Walter was about to step on this
bridge he noticed that George Gereau,
tile son of man employed by his IA
lher, was part way over.
He called loudly, "George, 60 back
| want to cross"
George pretended not to hear, and
continued looking in at the fish which
were playing in and out among the
stones.
Augered by his indifference, Walter
called again, "Go back 1 tell YOU"
"Go back yourself" was the surly
reply. Dis bridge is as much mine
1T isn't your bridge" responded
Walter, with more than usual vigor,
"and if you don't 60 back, I'll tell my
father"
"What do I care for your fader? Dis
bridge isn't his.'
III show you whose it is, you little
Frenchy, If you don't 60 back"
A contemptuous curl of the nose was
his reply.
Enraged at this, and forgetting him
self entirely, Walter stepped back,
picked up small stone, and threw it,
saying at the same time:
"I'll teach you to make faces at me,
you little pea-soup."
Dudging the stone, George started
on, and met Walter half way over.
Of course neither would give way,
and In shifting, both fell into the Wa
ter. Getting wet was, to George only
q passing diversion; he could easily
dry himself in the sun before going
home, but to Walter it was an unlock
ed for misfortune.
When his dripping, dirty figure ap-
peared at the door, his mother said
reproachfully, "Oh, Walter, what
have you been doing? Is this the re-
turn ] get for letting you wear your
new suit?"
II couldn't help it, mother.
George Gereau pushed me into the wa
ter, and | dirtied myself coming up
the bank.n
why did be push you in 2"
Because l wanted to go across the
foot-stIck."
"That is strange. George is not
While she took Off his wet clothes
and dressed him in the suit he SO much
despised in the morning, she contin-
ued her questions.
"Where, Oh the bridge, were you
when George met you"
Nearly halfway over"
"Ah, 1 see. Who was Oh the bridge
first ?"
"George, but I told him to 60 back"
"Indeed And he would not?"
said Mrs. Glenn dryly.
"No. He is just a hatefal boy. ]
wish pa would send his father away.
l never want to see him again."
II do not WONDER" said Mrs. Glenn,
at is hard to meet those we have
wronged."
II didn't wrong him. it was he that
was so hatetnl."
"You tried to steal from him."
'Oh mother, you know he has noth-
ing worth taking, besides wouldn't
steal from anyb dy."
"Indeed. Yet he was on the bridge
first, and had the right to cross first,
and you wanted to take it from him."
"He is only u little, poor Frenchy,
anyway"
Poor or not he has rights and you
are bound to respect them, if you are
honest. Acting such mean part has
hurt you much more than he, and If
/ thought my boy would continue
through life thus to insult and misuse
the unfortunate, would wish | had