New-York tribune., 1902-06-23
WITH THE PROBATTONERS.
FHEIR CHANCE TO FORSAhE CROOKED
WAYS-LECTURE AT TONIBS'
SCHOOL.

Perhaps you would like q story before school
begins this morning, gentlemen" said Nj Willard
one day last week. It David Willard, and the
young men whom he so courteously addressed were
those composing the school in the boys department
of the Tombs. Mr.. Willard never by any chance
addresses them IN any way but as Gentlemen.
and he likewise prefXes the title Mr." when he
speaks them individually. He waited minute
before beginning the story Then, IF Mr.. Kelly
will sit over here in the front seat he said,
suavely, we will proceed with the story. Mr
Kelly changed his seat, and there sudden quiet
IN the where he had been. Then Mr. VIII
lard began:
''Once upon a time there was boy who lived in
q foreign country with his own people. He lived
with his people as other boys do in that far
try until being well grown. Il was time for him
TO earn his living. Then he left his home and
travelled many days. until he reached this country
And. being come TO this country. he Went to
live with lady. And during his residence with
this lady he did something which contrary 70
the laws Of the country TO which he had come.
will not say whether il appropriating some
thing which not his, whether il Gre
ating a disturbance in the house. something
else. However that may be, the lady went to the
officers Of the law and besought that he should he
apprehendcd-technically termed 'pnched.' " said
Mr.. Willard, serenely. The boys much.
though silently tickled this sudden transition
their own language. Mr Willard addresses them
either in the strctest English or else in the YER
EacUlar, Of which he Is past master when he
chooses TO be It is hard 10 tel which his auditors
like best
And thereupon..' continued the raconteur the
boy was taken into durance."
"Wots durance?" whispered Mr. Kelly to his
neighbor
The station house" replied the neghbor.
And when he had oeen brought to the prison, -
continued the story teller. he encountered there
Z man OF friendly DISPOSITION who knew the
officer who had apTrehended him and the magis-
trate before whom he was about TO come for trial.
And the boy went To this friendly disposed man
and besoUght him speak the officer. and to
commune with the judge the end that he might
be placed upon probation. instead of suffering the
penalty of his m:sdeeds. The friendly disposed man
acceded to this request. and the proved the
wisdom Of the boys appeal. He was released and
T~nt away with the friendly disposed man This
man asked the boy where he lived. The boy re
piled that he had home and no friends. The
friendly then said: I viii be responsible for
you You "a home with and stay in my
house UtIl you get work. You won't have to pan
handle TO beg or carry the banner Ito walk
about all night because you place to Sleep
What do You think this boy sad?" inquired Mr.
Willard, musngIy.
Said he'd get and look for woik,' respond
ed the class inierestedly.
No" replied Mr.. Willard: he said. Wait 4
minute while / go round the corner and see some
body know What do think happened them"
He never showed back"
No said Mr.. Willard. bringing out the denoue-
rnent sharp and strong But he showed back here
all right That was three days ago. and here he is
this morning again
The class, with one accord. turned around.
No. you needn't look around TO find him No
one in the except myself and that boy knows
who h. Is. But you would have thought wouldn' [
YOU. that when he mad found friend and got 4
chance he would have been glad stop being
crooked"
The story ended. Mr.. Willard gave the lecture OF
the morning, which the skeleton. He lect-
ured any professor would DO before any elemen-
tary class. with skull for the object lesson teach
Ing the pupils how the approximate
the departed owner by means of the teeth He
passed the relic about allow the boys the
one little milk tooth, which proved that the owner
OF the skull less than years OF age. He
used the blackboard TO record names and figures.
and dealt big boy playful but resonant taps upon
tne chest TO illustrate how the bony covering pro-
tects the delicate therein. And the class
Asteneo, thoroughly interested.
AT The end OF a hour and half they took books
from the library and went away TO their hot little
cells Few Of them read the books through. 1t re-
cures q too concentrated and prolonged effort OF
attention They read about the pictures. and picked