Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-05-09

F~r disOheyed the one injunc.
ton about which the mas
~ vi ter was peculiarly insist
!N *! ent. That was To drop all
play when the bell telling the opening
OF the school session sounded When
the ruler fell upon the desk before that
august perSOnage-the teacher--Tom.
as well as the rest of the scholars,
knew they must be at their desks ready
for business. Several times had the
new teacher reminded the boys of this
rule: Quit play ut the sound of the
bell and make for the SchOolhouSe
don't bother about finishing the game
of marbles, ball or whatnot; when this
ruler falls every one must be ut his
desk. That is all
Tom Lawton had overlooked that rule
once too often; twice the new teacher
had forgiven him-he was Il hoy ONCE
but when Tom cam in and slipped to
his seat after the ruler had fallen. the
master crooked his finger at the second
desk from Che left front and softly
said:
"LawtOn, please step this way"
1t was n way the new teacher had,
always particular about small things.
and very polite when he wanted any
thing done as. for instance. a przzling
problem in figures. he would say: IF
You will be so kind as TO show us how
to solve this problem on Page 60,
fnnrtI from tbn I 1nI L., ,II
to you.' Or, he had taking manner
of saying to a chap whose fingers tin
g!ed because of a personal cnga cement:
Beg pardon my friend. for troubling
you-bu it has been coming your way
for some time: very sorry to have an
noTcd you. but it annoys me most
Tom felt n tritip uneasy when he
walked up to the desk. leaned against
1t and heard a soft voice say in low
tones:
please he so kind rs to remain after
school for punishment. | am sorry to
bother You about it-but it must come
Return to your seat
AS the boy turned a glance from his
left eye sized up the new teacher who
was so painfully affable. MY. but
he'll break my hand" was Toms
thought as he saw the strong wrist and
goodlv forearm
When recess came all the boys and
girls. except Tom filed out. Tom To.
maincd at his desk with eyes fixed upon
the book before him. The young man
on tie platform took book from
drawer and started TO read when his
eyes fell upon the boy at the desk. A
curious smile came upon his face. and
a goodbye feeling seemed to make his
nerves Jingle. He laid the book down.
keeping long finger in it to mark the
place. and said
"LawtOn, why do you not 20 ont with
the rcst:"
Tom looked up through misty eyes
"l'm staying after school. sir
But it is recess now
Il might cut sticks and run away;
others dO-and l have"
But not with me. Mr.. Thomas Law
ton. You have too good Il face to let
ME believe YOU would do such thing
now. Did the other teacher keep the
fellows in at recess when punishment
hung over them?'
always"
"Well, run out to your game, my
friend"
Maybe I'll not come back to get that
punishment after school, said Tom
with a grin as he rose.
"ieS. you will; know you would not
deprive me of The pleasure of giving
you few pleasant moments after
school; and then, l can trust fellow
W IN such face rs You have"
II am sorry | stayed
"Run along Lawton; we'll talk that
over after school"
Il may not come back
"Ies you will Now go out and have
good time. Recesses are as short to
me as they are to the rest of you"
And the young man plunged into his
book and forgot all about Tom Lawton
for tie time being.
To stay after school for punishment
was. in the eyes of the girls. something
heroic though painful. hence Tom came
in for large share of their pepper
minis, candy balls and little attentions.
WHY don't you cut sticks and scoot?
wouldn't stay for n lambastng from
him. suggested Il playfellow to Tom
Il could punch your nose for saying
that, Jim Brown; its mean thing to
say to me. I've got licking coming,
and I'm going to take what's coming
to me. You never did enough to de
serve a whaling, so you know nothing
about it, anyway"
Il only thought you'd he glad to get
out of it. | would"
Il know you would; you'd get out of
anything coming your way that might
hurt you"
And Tom plunged into the games and
forgot all about the matter. He was
up to the top notch in his lessons dur
ing the afternoon session, and he
spelled down the entire first class mt
the close. 1t required but few mo-
ments to clear the room when the DAYS
work was ended. Tom sat with his
cheek resting on his hand rs he waited
for the long figure at the platform desk
to move. Suddenly the young man
looked at Tom and said:
'Lawton, may trouble you to 90 to
the closet at the right of the blackboard
and bring me the long parcel laid
across the upper hooks here is the
key"
Tom brought the desired article to
the desk and gave n start as a fine
jonted fishing rod was revealed when
ness, is he going TO lamhaste me with