Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-31

|
Ing on slowly but steadily to prosper.
ity, and | had pleasant time among
them.
My schoolhouSc was n very primitive
affair indeed. 1t was small, implanted
ana upholstered. but had a good floor
ana fairly comfortable seats; ana my
| pupils, Of whom there were twenty
two, were mostly hearty, wholesome
| boys and girls.
One warm day in spring I opened
| the windows and doors TO let in the
| gcnlN! sunshine ana was busy with
my classes, wien in walked strange
] boy, whom | had never seen in the
/ ncighbOrhOod.
He was thickly frccklcd, had red
| hair, and WAS poorly dressed, but WAS
very clean. He came directly to my
| desk.
MAY l come to school, tcachcr:' he
| asked, looking at me earnestly.
"Whcrc do YOU live, my boy QucS-
toned
Just back hero by the edge of the
woods he replied.
what is your name" asked.
"Joc Norton" said hc adding, 1--WE
| just moved here
"Wcll, Joseph" said I. "you may
| come TO school. Come this afternoon
and bring all your hooks
\ bright look came into his face rs |
| said this, but he made no reply, and
| went out as uncercmoniously rs lie
came.
He made queer picture as he went
| down the aisle. His clothing was
| patched, his coat was too big for him,
and he carried Il large, ragged hat in
his hand. But he held up his head in
sclf-rcspccting way, and | felt sure
that Joe Morton was good and manly,
| and | resolved 10 help him all / could.
| was afraid lie might not have
very pleasant time with a certain few
Of the boys: for, although they really
were not bad boys at hearts, they were
much given to making fun of any new
conner, and sometimes made it very
unpleasant for Il boy who seemed odd
or strange TO them.
The leader of this set was Tom
Athcrton. a bright boy. but one who
had very little kindly feeling for any
one in school, excepting his little sister
Pearl.
Pearl AthcrtOn was about seven
years old and the most beautiful child
| have ever seen. Tom loved her with
n love that was almost worship; but
to the rest of the pupils he was some
thing of a tease and a torment, always
teasing and making fun of some one,
and sometimes in a most thoughtlcss,
unknd way.
l had many serious talks with him
on the subject. but as soon as he was
out of the schoolroom, he seemed to
forget, and went back to his old ways.
AS Joe went down the aisle glanced
at Tom, and saw that his eyes were
twinkling mischicvously. which | was
sure BODIED no good for Joe. but thought
he would be able to defend himself.
In the afternoon Joe came. and. after
I had assigned his lessons, took his
seat quietly.
AT recess heard Toms voice sing
ing out:
II know Il boy whose name is Joe.
With boots all out at the toe, toe, toe"
l heard no answer from Joe, and
soon Tom said mockingly:
What am I offered for the hat? Bid
quick! The only one left that came
out of the ark How much am I Of
fercd? Who'll make it one dollar!"
And so it went from day to day.
Tom saying unkind, icering things as
soon as he supposed himself out of
sight and Joe taking it quietly. Some
times 4 quick flush would pass over
his face, and his lips would culver, but
no word escaped him.
/ thought best to appear not to know
what was going on between them
thinking it would soon wear itself out.
and perhaps Joe would feel better to
think | did not know. but | kept him
with me as much as l could and grew
to like him very much.
He made rapid progress in his stud
les, and his everyday life showed
strength of character.
l could always depend on him to tell
the truth on every occasion, and look
ing into his earnest face, | would for
get the baggy clothes, the fiery red
hair and the ragged hat.
Not far from the schoolhousc was a
wide, deep stream of water, which ran
dank and turbid in the spring. 1t was
nv l,.i, lon wi
on both sides. Nearly half the chill
drcn crossed the bridge to get to
school.
On pleasant days We often sat on the
bank to eat our dinner which we
brought with us.
One lovely day in early June We We're
seated there, after eating our dinner.
I was reading a book, and the children
were amusing themselves in various
ways.
Pearl Athcrton strOlled alone across
the bridge, to look for viOlets. which
sometimes grew on the opposite side
In coming back. she stopped in the
middle of the bridge, threw some
leaves into the water, and leaned
against the railing, watching them as
they flOated away.
The railing was old md in some
manner had become so oosened that
it gave way with her weight, and, with
a piercing cry. she went down and out
of sight.
Tom stood upon the bank, white and
SOCpchlpSS with n look of agony |
shall never forget. He could not swim,
and so could never reach her.
But at the first cry Joe had stripped
off his coat. and in minute plunged
in and swan steadily toward the spot
where tn. little golden head went
down.
He graspcd lor rs she rose to the
surface the second time, raised her
head out of the water. and slowly