The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-05
The Eighth Commandment.
py upS GEORGE 4. PAUL..

BY MRS. GEORGE n. fNoi'h'
A new boy had entered Professor
poIn,er,s school. and he had not been
there more than few hours before the
Teacher observed that there seemed
~ NO a strong feeling of dislike to the
newcomer manifested among the other
hoys in school. Atnoon lie calied one
of ftbn older boys to him, and asked
Iir, whv the pupils were not more
courteous to the new boy, and why
there had been so many meaning
dances cast at him, and no kindness
shown him.
"Well, sir, to tell the TRUTH" eS-
nlained Nevins, lone Of the boys says
he used to know of him, and once 1t
was said that he had taken some mon
ey that did not belong to him. lt was
never proved exactly, but still we
don't feel as if we wanted TO associate
with thief"
Pm afraid he may feel that in that
case he has some reason for not
wanting to associate with you," said
Professor Palmer.
"Wbat do you mean, sir ?" asked Ne
wins. his face flushing hotly with
anger, and his voice trembling as
he tried to speak respectfully. You
don't mean that any of us are thieves,
do you?" .so, .,s p,oso.sor
Palmer.
"Anyone who takes what does not
belong to him." answered Nevlns,
promptly.
'"Then can you plead not guilty in
that regard? ?" asked the professor
gravely.
piled, hastily. "Why you can't mean
you don't think surely. you don't
mean that I am thief, do you?" he
asked. "What reason have l ever
given you for thinking any such
thing as that, Professor Palmer r?'
"Nevins, I have been wanting to
have a talk with you for some days
and this is good opportunity" said
his teacher.
"You say a thief is one who takes
that which does not belong to him.
Now are you aware that not day
passes that you do not lay yourself
open to accusation of stealing, even
though you may not take any money,
or anything or marketable value?"
mo, sir" Nevins responded. II
don't understand, you at all, sir"
"Well, we will begin with your
gravest offense, then," said the profess
or. "What do we do the first fifteen
minutes of school time every morn.
ingm
awe have prayers" Nevins an
swered, in a puzzled tone.
"Yes, and so that time is set apart
for Gods worship. We give him that
time, and consider it his each day, do
we not?"
eyes, sir" Nevins answered. He
was beginning at last to have some
idea of what his teacher meant.
"When see boy during that time,
either studying his lessons, or looking
about the room, or trying to attract the
attention of'some of his schoolmates,
am T not right in saying that he is
taking something which does not
belong to him ?"
"Yes, sir" answered Nevins.
"That is surely grave offense, and
one which / do not believe you will be
guilty of again, now that you realize
that it is," went on Professor Palmer.
II do not think you would willingly
take from God that which we have set
apart for his service. But beyond
that, what does your father send
you here to school for ?"
''To learn" Nevins answered.
eyes, he sent you here to get an ed
uacation, and he pays me to provide
you with opportunities of instruction.
When you spend the hours of school in
diverting your schoolmates by mis-
chievous pranks in studying your
lessons just as little as possible to avoid
disgrace and being kept in after school,
do you not think that you are robblng
your father of what is justly his due?
Has he not q right TO expect from you
that you will make the best Of yourself
during these hours that he wishes yon
to study"
Eyes, sir" Nevins answered, again
feeling his face grow hot with embar-
raSSment.
"Then when you certainly have laid
yourself open to the charge of having
violated the commandment, Nevins,
even although you may have done
it thoughtlessly, without full realiza-
ton of what you were about, do
you not think it would be we'll to
suspend judgment upon stranger,
at least until you are quite sure that he
is guilty Of the charge you prefer
against him? There are many ways
of being guilty of the same fault, and
do not think you will say that it is less
wrong to rob ones fellowman, that
is more dishonest to defraud stranger,
than to defraud ones father who loves
and trusts you so perfectly that he
never doubts that you are fulfilling his
wishes, and making the bestof the
opportunities that he has given you.
am grieved that you should have been
the leader in making the first day
50 uncomfortable for stranger, my
boy, and hope that you will try
the rest of the day to atone for
your hasty judgment. I am sure that
when the story you have heard
shall be more fully investigated
you will find out that it is a mistake,
for know the boy too we'll to believe
that it can be true. Now hope
you will turn over new leaf, Nevins.
my boy. Remember that l know that
you are not Intentionally guilty Of
actually robbing another, but you see
it amounts to the same thing when
you come to consider it,"
"All right, professor" Nevins re-
turned, looking up honestly at him, Il
shall not set myself up above a boy
again in a hurry unless am quite sure
that / am not as bad. or worse than
he is. And Pm sorry anyhow that we
have acted so to that new fellow. I'll
make him have good time this noon,
and as you say, very likely we will
find ont that ctOry iS a m oiStaka ~