Year: 1860

the schoolmastcr, he was in the midst of a
crew of children, who were, with thoughtlcss
and horrible brutality, tormenting the poor
little imp to laugh at him when he screamed
and jumped up and down, and slapped his
own face, and pulled his hair out | had
been in my place at the school only few
days, but | recognized some of my own
scholars among these young heathens. |
scattered them pretty promptly, and made
such a prcachmeiit about it from my desk
that the practice was at once discontinued -
But Billy was thenceforth my fast friend


Billy is the most acutcly nervous little fib-
rtigibbet-hutterbu Mrs. May calls him
that ever saw, and absolutely restless He
hardly sleeps three hours day, and then as
lightly as a watchdog. But he is always
dancing gayly about, and ready for laugh,
unless he is vexed. Mrs. May has longing
sort of hope that his poor lost wits may some
how come back to him out of the moon, or
wherever they are bottled up. had not the
heart to undeccive her; so have permitted
him to sit in the schoolroom, and even to
ramble therein, provided only he is dccorous
and quiet; which he does, ever and anon
scrawling on a slate, or peering quantity into
a book as wisely as bird, and once in each
few minutes he comes up to my desk after a
smile or pat On the head, which having
been received, off he trots again, glgglng,
and whispering to himself, Good Billy,
good Billy" / have watched him good
deal, and an odd subject he is. 0E.#


| shortly discovered that one ofhis strong
est traits was an instructive love of ascend
ing. Every bean-pole, fence, tree, ladder,
rope, or other accessible upward road what
ever, he would Immediately try; and his
poor mother used to be in constant fear and
circulation about him; sometimes finding
him up at the caves of house ON the light
ming rod, laughing and chattering or squirm-
ing about in high tree, or astraddle on a
ridge-pole Since his entry into school she
had much less trouble with him, especially
since he used to follow me about also at all
times like dog; holding by my finger, gab-
bling to himself, looking up to giggle in my
face, and to get a pat and a smile of approv-
al. ~ ~E a ..E . ..7.#


Meeting Mr.. Allyn one afternoon last win
ter, near the new Baptist Church at the low
er end of the city, | stood and talked over
various school matters for long time, and
at last, turning absorbedly about with him,
took his arm and walked toward his house
still covcrsing earnestly left him at his
gate, and crossed the street to Mrs. Mays,
where | had been lodging for few weeks
only. Entering the little parlor, found my
pale and feeble little hostess sitting near the
window, At my entrance she looked up
and asked,


where's Billy, Mr.. Dclano?"


:" don't know" answered; isn't he
here? ~


And as | spoke the truth flashed upon me,
that he had gone down the street with re,
and had his usual hold of my finger when
stopped to talk with Mr. Allyn. And also
reflected that he might very probably have
slipped away into the new church, ard have
taken it into his fiighty head to 20 scram
bling up inside the unfinished spire. Al
though quirk. and ;.vliye. he was feeble and
easily fat,gued; and could not help feeling
that if he should succeed in reaching the
narrow platform at the top, there was emf
nent danger lest his weak Little brain should
be dizzied with the exertion and the poor
half-life be brought to terrible end by the
tremendous fall. AS the thought that if this
should happen it would be my own careless
ness came into my mind, l think l turned
pale. For the weak minded and timid wild
ow, watching my features intently and see
ing me change countenance after answered
her, imbibed know not what of vague fem
mime fright; and springing up in her anguish,
she cried


"Oh, Mr.. Delano, whore is Billy? is he
dead? ?"


And she wept bitterly so that was fain
to comfort her by seeming to remember
where had left her half-witted boy, and to
promise to bring him home in few minutes ;
with which assurance Immediately left the
house, and fastened towards the church.


Work on the building was suspended for
the winter; so there was nobody there to in
terfere with the execution Of Master Billy's
scheme, if such he had. NV doubts were
speedily solved. AS drew near the build
ing saw halfa dozen rowdy boys standing
on the further side of the street and laughing
and swearing together, as they gazed intently
at the summit Of the spire. Now could
discern small figure up there; now L could
distinguish the apish gesticulations and quick
fantastic movement of Billy May. He could
not have been there more than very few
moments, for already men and women began
to gather in the street and look up, some
with laughter and some with sympathy and
fear. -


There was nothing for it but to hasten up
after him; and no one could do it so safely
as | his favorite; for his spiteful headless
passion would surely send him screaming
over the nimsy scaffold at the approach Of
any distasteful person. Throwing off hat
and coat, hurried to the door, 1t was fill
led in with a barrier of heavy two-inch plank.
The simpleton must have scrambled up an
inclined joist which led to narrow window
in the side Of the lower story of the tower
There was no time to lose. | picked up a
heavy block of stone and drove in the door.
As did so, heard Mrs. Mays shrill voice
outside. She had followed me to the church y


OH ho-ho," she sobbed, Billy, Billy !!
Come down, come down. .f


A sharp high scroech from the top of the
spire answered her, and indicated the rising
of Billy's fitful anger. heard it as | en-
tered the dark and chilly interior Of the great
stone spire; and at the same time heard a
murmur Of voices outside. This as / after
ward learned, was the smothered cry of the
gathering crowd, at the insane dancing of the
idiot upon his airy perch; for his mothers
cafac 8cy,y- had In f,ct tIo <e sx,p,.,