The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-19
Answering Questions.

er's" entertaining column IN the Dos
ton Transcript teaches that informs
ton should be sought by questions tina
60 to the heart of the matter to be in
vestigated
Dear Listener-I listened myself
day or two ago to very good anecdot
of grammar school youngster whom
you know, and whom for the purposes
of this communication l will call Sur
rev. The elements for understanding
are these: Surrey has married sistel
| living, let US say, in Buffalo. Surrey
himself lives with his parents in one Of
the outlying districts of Boston and at
tends grammar school there. About
ten days ago Surveys sister was at
tackled by measles and has been very
ill-in fact, her mother was quite anx.
ious about her and daily reports came
from Buffalo to Boston. 1t happens
that at the same time small epidemic
of measles and of scarlet fever has
been raging in little district not far
from where Surrey lives. The Board
of Health has been trying to stamp out
the disease which exists in the district
where Surveys school is located. A
few days ago Surveys teacher raped
to call attention of her pupils, and re-
marked upon the fact that there were
some cases of measles and scarlet fever,
and that it was quite important that
they should not be communicated in the
school, and concluded by asking any
one in whose family there was a case
of either disease to rise. Surrey
promptly stood on his feet. The teach
er, who happened to know Surveys
mother, was quite surprised, and asked
"Who in your family is sick?"
My sister,"
Have you sister,"
"Oh, yes"
What's the matter with her?"
Measles"
"How long has she been sick?"
"Four or five days, and she's been
out of her head"
"Well," said the teacher, $50 right
up to Mr. Parker and tell him about
this"
Surrey went boldly to the room of
the master of the school and knocked.
Well, what is it?" asked the mas
ter"
=" Miss Bailey told me to come and
tell you that my sister has the mea-
sles."
How long has she had the mea-
sles?'
Almost a week"
care you sure it is the measles?"
ooh, yes, the doctor said 30, and
she's been delirious."
"And do you mean to say that your
mother, knowing she had the measles,
has sent you to SCHOOL,"
eyes, SIR"
well, you 90 straight to your room,
and when the bell rings take your books
and 60 home, and don's come back to
school for three weeks"
Yes, SIR"
Surrey returned and reported to Miss
Bailey what Mr.. Parker had said, and
took his seat. A few minutes later he
timidly raised his hand.
"Well, what is it, Surrey?"
81 didn't tell Mr.. Parker that my sis
ter lives in Buffalo,"
The scholars shouted, and Miss
Bailey had difficulty in keeping her own
countenance as she said
"Well, you had better 60 up and tell
Mr.. Parker now"
Surrey returned and communicated
the intelligence to Mr.. Parker, who
could not help noticing the twinkle in
Surveys eye, but said to him quite
sternly:
"Don't try that again. Return to
your ROOM"
When Surrey reported at home what
had occurred he was demonstrated
with, but he replied that he only did
exactly what he was asked to do, and
only answered the questions that were
put to him, and that he had been told
many times not to volunteer explana'
tons.
"The "Listener' supplements this
tale by another OF kid whose religious
instruction had been somewhat neg
lected; and who was proper subject
for home missionary labor: The List
ener can tell story of small boy who
met an emergency with great success
the other night. The boy is five years
| old, and his name is Donald. Lately
his parents had to 60 away from home
without the boy, and left him in charge
of particular friend. 1t happens
that the boys parents had never taught
him to say his prayers, and, indeed, he
had never seen or heard anyone saying
a prayer. But the lady in whose
charge Donald was left is very good
lady, and has her own children say
their prayers every night. The first
evening he was in the house Donald
overheard these prayers, and, having
none of his own to say, he had sense
of not being sin it" at all, and went ia
bed quite melancholy. The second
night came, and Donald heard the
children once more go through wha,
was to him their remarkable rigmarole
ending in "Amen;" and when they
were done he said:
"Auntie, I want to say my prayer
| too"
"Very well, Donald-go on" she
answered. The boy went down pretti
ly on his knees, and ratified off:
"First in war, first in peace, and first