Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23
Educational
Column.
GUY STANTON FORD, Editor.

L
Prof. Guy S. Ford departed for Madi-
son Monday night and left with the edi.
tor an original story, written by Nellie
Vincent, and several short letters, ad.
dressed to Santa Claus by the smaller
children, to fill up his educational col
umn.
"THE DUCKBURY SCHOOL"
1t was said in the little village Of
Duckbury, Michigan, that Fred Thomp.
son was the model boy of the district
And all the parents were tying to gel
their boys to associate with him, but
this the young people did not like and
they called him "goody-goody-boy,'
and such names as boys always hate
But this Fred was different kind of q
boy and did not mind the sneers and
taunts which were given him every day
but only answered them with his cheer.
ful smile.
This made the boys still more angry
and they resolved to ruin his reputation
if they could. So when the fall term OF
school opened, with a Mr.. John Roderio
for teacher. they resolved to make him
take a front seat before the end Of the
term instead of the seat of honor which
he usually had.
When the school did begin, Fred, as
usual. had the seat farthest back. All
went we'll with him for the first two
weeks, and then something happened
which he remembers yet, and he is now
a respectable old gentleman of seventy.
Fred usually sat in his seat after he
had eaten his dinner, which he brought
to school as did most the other children,
and studied; but one noon he went on
an errand for his mother, and then was
Frank Rarper's chance to ruin Fred,
for he was the chosen leader in this de-
termination. When Fred was gone out
of sight he went to the teachers desk.
| Mr.. Roderic had book with most beau
tiful illustrations Of which he was very
proud, in his desk, Frank went to his
| desk, took out the volume carefully,
and went down to Fred's desk and left
the book there.
At noon, when school was called,
Franks heart began to quake. "What
if one of the boys should tell?" he
thought; "Or might not the teacher have
been standing near the window watch
ing?" At last the awful moment came.
Mr.. Roderic entered, slowly opened his
desk, and with the smile he always put
on when going to get bis precious book
reached for the volume, but did not
find it; then looked again and again, in,
on, under his desk, all the while becom-
ing more angry. At last, being con-
vinced it was gone, he turned his face to
the school with look of such anger in
his eyes that everyone quailed.
"Who-has-my-booh?' he said, en-
phasizing each word and pausing to look
at the scholars after each emphasis.
| The school was so quiet you could
| have heard pin drop.
| "Well, / shall search the desks and
see who has it," With these words he
went to every desk and searched it to
Now he is in the aisle where Fred sits.
Fred is sitting with confident air for,
that the book is in his desk is farthest
from his thoughts, he would have
laughed if any one had said such a
thing. Now the master is searching in
the seat in front of Fred. and now he is
searching Fred's. Now he slowly
brings the book forth-the next mo-
ment Fred is taken from his seat by the
collar of his coat, without a word on the
part of the master.
Mr.. Roderic's eyes fairly blaze with
anger, surprise and indignation to find
that this boy whom he had most trusted
should have taken the book. AS for
Fred, he was so surprised and bewil-
dered at the book being found in his
desk that he could not utter syllable
But at last he was conscious of being
upon the platform and the teacher was
getting his store of birches which he
had always in readiness in little cup
board near his desk. Then and then
only could Fred stammer out, "I-I did
not take the book. I don't know how
it got in nv desk, but / did not put it
there. Oh! believe me, did not take
your bookw The teacher looked at the
boy, and there was such an honest ex-
preston in the blue eyes turned up to
him that he paused, not knowing what
to do, but at last he slowly said: "Well,
l will give you until tomorrow to clear
yourself, and then if you have only
your own word for it you will get the
punishment you deserve, sr!"
When the school was dismissed that
night, Fred went home with sorrow
full face and without his usual CHEEKY
whistle. He told his mother about it
and she told him to always tell the
truth no matter what happened.
The next day Fred went to school
with a heavy heart. All the scholars
were already there and were standing
around the red-hot stove getting warm.
All at once one of the legs of the old
stove gave way, just as Frank Harper
was putting more wood in the stove and
the flames leaping out as the stove
lurched toward him caught on his
jacket Fred, who was just taking of
lis overcoat. ran up to the stove, closed