[Sidenote: Broken Show-case]
Two boys in a wild chase dashed in at the front door, turned to the left
and crashed into a show-case belonging to a historical exhibit.
The ward school principal went to the seventh grade room and made
inquiries.
“Who smashed that show-case?” No one answered. Then roll call was
ordered and each pupil questioned, “Did you break the show-case?” This
brought no further light on the matter, so the principal tried a
broadside:
“Does anybody here know who broke the show-case?” Nellie Arbaugh’s hand
went up.
“What do you know?”
“All about it.”
“Tell me who it was.”
“I don’t want to get anyone into trouble,” was Nellie’s stammering
reply.
[Sidenote: Refusal to “Tell”]
“You’ll have to tell if I get hold of you,” was the menacing rejoinder.
“I don’t see how I can,” replied the perplexed girl.
The child related her experience at home in order to lighten the load of
her troubles.
“I didn’t tell because I didn’t want to be mean to the other pupils.”
“Would you report a murderer if you saw him when committing a crime?”
“Yes; but school is different. No boy or girl in school would tell
unless he wanted to be mean. The boys and girls who are naughty want to
be let alone. They’ll settle with the teacher their own way. If the
teachers want to ask some questions I suppose it’s all right. But they
shouldn’t compel answers. What shall I do, mother?”
“Don’t lie, child. If you don’t see that you ought to tell on another
pupil don’t do it. Prove your goodwill, but turn aside these troublesome
questions.”