St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-03-13
CHILDREN'S STORY.
A Prince of the Blood.

called him, rose up angrily, with face
as red as his head
"All right" said Martin Stone, laugh
ing Go ahead and drink; III pump
easy for YOU"
Louis bent over again, and put his
thirsty lips to the spout. This time his
tormentor moved the pump handle
about as fast as the hour hand of
watch, and about three drops trickled
out"
Pump, will your" cried Louis.
20 yes | will, roared the other, and
that instant Louis was suffering in
perfect rush of the bright water, while
the group OF boys exploded with laugh
ter.
This was too much for Louis's fiery
temper, and he sprang at Martin, shak-
ing his wet head like a Newfoundland
dog. and graphing him fercely But
after all it was friendly tussle. Louis
had lar too much sense to take the rough
joke seriously, and by the time he and
Martin had rolled about on the grass
awhile, each trying to get the other un.
der; by the time they had thumped one
another a time or two, in boyish fashion,
the bell rang, and they all went back
into the schoolroom as good friends as
ever.
But something had happened in that
sham battle, unknown to anybody ex-
cept Bustle, the pug, and even he did not
know much about it. Martins bag
strap gave way in the scuffle, his books
tumbled out on the ground, and closely
written sheet of paper, caught by a
breeze in search of a playlellow, began
to play hopscotch over the grass. Bus
tie gave chase at first, but soon came to
the conclusion that the thing had no
wings, and went back to bark his inter
est and applause at the wrestling match.
Away went the paper, across the
schools tennis court, through the iron
fence ratings ont into the road, there
to be tramped deep into an carly grave
by great drove of cattle passing that
way.
Meantime the school routine went on,
and presently the teacher said: Put up
your books, boys; l ON going to let you
decide now who shall get the English
prize for the quarter. Martin and Louis
as some of you know-got the same
mark on examination, so ! gave them
each a composition to write last night,
and now am going to read them to the
English class, without the name, of
course, and let the class award the
prize"
There was great excitement among
the boys, much shutting of feet, embar-
raised coughing, conscious grinning,
while Louis got his paper ready and
stood waiting to march up to the desk
with Martin.
But where was Martins paper? You
and know that it was being trampled
under dusty hoofs, but Martin was per-
lectly sure that it was in his algebra.
No. Well then, in his history of the
United States; and so he went through
every book in his desk, OF course, with
out finding it, while Major Prices brow
grew darker every minute.
Now the major, having received mil
itary education, thought carelessness a
much more serious matter than stupid
ity, and perhaps he was right. At any
rate he was patient with dullness, but
carelessness always met with prompt
punishment.
well, WELL" he said shortly, "where
are the papers?"
Il have lost mine, sir, said poor Mar
tin, wishing that boys were allowed to
cry like girls.
Then there will be less trouble about
awarding the prize" said the angry
teacher. Louis, where is yours?"
There was an instant of silence in the
schoolroom; everybody in the class held
his breath. Louis turned red and then
pale; then, with quiet air of determi.
nation, he tore his paper slowly across
the middle, and said in a respectful tone:
II have none to hand in, sir"
Instantly the class broke into irrepres-
sible applause.
"Silence!" Numbered the major, and
Louis braced himself against the desk
behind him. These boys were tolerably
afraid OF the major, and if he took this
as an indication of characterization he
would be severe. For some reason the
teacher did not speak for a minute, and
then he said in tone they had never
heard him use before:
Boys, would rather see a generous
thing like that among you than to have
prince of the blood in my SCHOOL, That
is what l call loving your neighbor as
yourself, and you know who gave us
that command and set us the great ex-
ample"
You may be sure that the boys APP
plauded long and loud after that
Morning Star.
"Her beauty" observed the silk worm