CHARLES DURAN AT SCHOOL.
Charles was now old enough to go to school. He was accordingly sent to
the district school, not far from his father's house. Teachers say that
they can tell whether children are good and obedient at home by their
conduct in school. Those children who mind their parents will generally
obey their teachers; and those scholars that are obedient generally
learn well.
How was it with Charles Duran at school? Did he obey his teacher? At
first, as all things in the school were new and strange to him, he was
somewhat restrained. He soon, however, became acquainted with his
teacher and the scholars, and as soon learned to break the rules of the
school. He became disrespectful to his teacher, and caused him much
trouble.
Charles was also very inattentive to his books. The teacher did the best
he could to make him learn; but his lessons were never more than half
learned, and the greater part of the time they were not studied at all:
and, though naturally he was a bright, smart boy, he seemed determined
to grow up a blockhead.
The next thing I notice in the school history of this boy is the
unkindness which he showed his school-fellows. If he played with them,
he was quite sure to get offended before the play was through. He was
surly, self-willed, and disposed always to have his own way in
everything.
One day Samuel Howard, a boy smaller than himself, was flying his kite.
There was a fine breeze, and the kite floated beautifully in the air.
Charles seized the twine, and began to pull in the kite. Samuel
remonstrated with him; but the more he remonstrated the more ugly was
Charles. He pulled in the kite, tore it all to pieces, and broke and
snarled the twine. Samuel cried at the loss of his pretty kite, and
Charles Duran was mean enough to mimic the boy whom he had thus injured.
At another time, a little girl, whose name was Helen Fay, was returning
from school: Charles threw a stone, and hit her on the cheek-bone. It
cut a great gash in her face, and made the blood run freely. Had the
stone struck a little higher, it would probably have put out her eye; as
it was, her face was badly scarred.
A poor widow lady lived some distance beyond Mr. Duran's house. She had
two dear little children, John and Louisa, whom she sent to school. This
poor mother was industrious and very neat, and her children were always
dressed in neat, clean clothes. Charles Duran, who was out of his
element when he was not in mischief, seemed to take delight in
tormenting these little children. On their way from school one day, when
they had on their nice clothes, he covered them from head to foot with
dirt and mud. In that sad plight John and Louisa went home crying. Their
mother felt as badly as they did, when she saw the ugliness of her
neighbor's spoiled child.
So constantly was Charles injuring the smaller boys and girls in the
school that none of them loved him. If he got hurt, none of them pitied
him. The whole school seemed glad, one day, when he had shoved a little
girl into a mud-puddle, and upset an inkstand on a boy's writing-book,
and spoiled it, to see the master give him a severe whipping,--such as
he deserved.
It is not agreeable to dwell longer upon the conduct of this boy in
school. He became so quarrelsome and disagreeable that no one was
willing to sit next to him. He was always spoken of as the worst boy in
school.
Mr. Spicer was now his teacher, and he had borne with him till he could
bear with him no longer. He had pretty much made up his mind that he
would turn him out of his school. Before doing that, however, he was
desirous of knowing the minds of his scholars. He called the school to
order, and then told Charles what he had thought of doing; reminded him
of his disobedience, of his unkindness to his school-mates, and of his
general neglect of his studies. He told him if he did not do differently
he would grow up without friends, and, in all probability, in
consequence of his sins, come down to an early grave.
Mr. Spicer then addressed the scholars, and said, "All of you who think
Charles Duran ought to be expelled from the school for continued bad
conduct, raise your right hands." In a moment every right hand was
raised up!
Then Mr. Spicer said, in a solemn and affecting manner, _"Charles Duran,
with the voice of all your school-mates, you are expelled from this
school, for bad conduct."_