Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-06-28
THURMONT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday June 70, 1900

| puU 1IODCl ih'o DocNt AoANON - a
all sorts Of mischevlous tricks on Willie
Lindsay. He scattered ink on Willie's
clothes and his books, he distracted his
marbles, and he once tripped him up
when running, but only once, as he got
in return such severe thrashing that
he feared to do it again.
1t happened one day that Willie was
about to join a party who were playing
ball, when jamie Crawford called out,
We don't want any bakers sons here;
we are all gentlemen sons
>Pelt Will with your balls, boys, cried
Robert Foster, and take the flour out
of his jacket
Willie, burning with Indignation,
caught the ring leader, but the other
boys defended him from the summary
punishment intended, and feeling he
was safe continued his abuse, saying:
There's the price Of penny roll for
YOU
YOU rascal said Willie, you shall
not escape; III break every bone in
your body
when you catch me you may beat me
to dough, Willie Crawford shouted al
ter the retreating boy.
About an hour after one of Willles
companions came to hlm and said: You
have got your revenge now; Crawford
has scrambled to the top of that new
house that's building, and some of the
scafoldng has given way, so that he
cannot get down. and there he sits
perched like an owl and bowling like
one too. Do come and see him.
Lindsay willingly accompanied his
friend, and sure enough, he saw Craw-
ford in a very dangerous predicament,
lie stood on a piece of the broken scaf-
folding about thirtyfeet from the ground
he clung to the wall, crying, >Oh, 1 shall
be killed l shall be killed, l N getting
go giddv.'
Willie was first rate climber and IN
"A few moments was at Crawford side.
Cant you manage to come down after
me, and III show you where to place
your feet%
No, no; I'm so giddy: I'm falling
now and he began to totter.
About ten feet under them, part of
the scatIold stood firm; aud rs Willie
was considering how he could assist
Crawford down in safety to this scatlold,
Crawford lost his balance and both boys
fell in heap on the flooring ten feet
below. 1t was easy TO get down from
this spot, but Willie had twisted his
ankle and could not move. by this
time number of people had assembled
and amid the hurrahs of his companions
the lame boy was carried home. 1t
was some weeks before he was able to
return to school; and long before that,
Crawford, wretched, penitent, and oyer,
flowing with gratitude, had become his
sworn friend; and his friendship was
put to the proof. Robert Foster hated
him for being Lindsay's friend, and
Lindsay more than ever, for every boy
spoke loudly of lis noble generosity,
Foster was left in the minority. Mel
ther OF the boys had previously been
very diligent scholars; but Foster, de-
termined to get ahead in some things,
studied hard, and was soon at the top
of his Class. Lindsay, with equal tai
ent, had less bodily vigor; and from this
moment a contest began which sapped
Lindsay g strength. The two boys soon
outstnpped all other competitors; the
parents of both entered keenlY into the
competition. When Lindsay gained the
prize his father and mother felt they
had gained victory FAR beyond the
paltry one of having given finer din
ner, but when Foster WAS successful,
then old defeats seemed doubly di3a-
greeabe.
The classes were examined every six
weeks, and paren is might be present II
they chose;lt rarely happened, there
fore, that the LindSays or Fosters were
absent. This Was an additional spur
to both the boys; to Foster, because his
fathers allowance of pocket. money was
proportioned to the degree in which he
was superior or inferior to his cousin;
and to William Lindsay, because no
delight was equal to the maternal love
and pride which he saw beaming from
the dark eyes of his mother. He was
happy boy when, on the evening OF
those days in which he had excelled
Foster, she would, when saying good
night press him to her bosom, and
, whisper:
BLESS you, my darling; you'll be a
greater man yet than ever Bob Foster
will be, though they think themselves
; so much grander than we are