CONCLUSION.
"I WANT to tell you something," he whispered to Kitty, "a secret, you
know."
"How nice," she answered, with her sweet smile. "Ma is busy in the
kitchen, and you can take care of me while the girls go out of an
errand."
"I used to like Jimmy Barnard first-rate," he began at once into the
subject as soon as they were alone, "but now I think he's awful mean. I
never shall like him any more."
"Why, Maurice!" exclaimed Kitty, in surprise.
"I'm going to tell you all about it," he said, eagerly. "The rule is
not to whisper, and teacher said yesterday that he must break the
habit, and he promised to ferrule the first boy he caught whispering.
Pretty soon I forgot, and asked Bob Munger for his knife to sharpen my
pencil. He's got a prime one with three blades. Teacher heard me and
made me go up to the desk, and tell him what I said. He ferruled me
a little, but I didn't cry for that, I cried because—because I never
was ferruled before. He punished Jimmy Barnard and ever so many of the
boys, too; but they didn't seem to care about it."
"This morning when teacher looked for his ferrule to rap on the desk
for prayers, he couldn't find it anywhere, and when he sat down on his
high seat, he jumped right up again; somebody had stuck some pins into
the cracks so that they would prick him. The boys and girls laughed;
but I thought it was awfully unkind when he's such a good teacher. The
tears came right into my eyes.
"What makes you look so fiery red?" whispered Jimmy Barnard; but I
wouldn't answer, because that would be breaking the rules, you know.
"Teacher asked whoever played him such a vile trick, to get up and
confess, and he'd forgive them; but nobody moved. The worst of all
is," added Maurice, with a burst of tears, "that Jimmy went up to the
teacher at recess, and told him he'd seen me around there before school
commenced and he guessed I did it; when I wouldn't do such a thing for
ever so much money."
"Of course not,—I knew you wouldn't," said Kitty, soothingly; "and what
did teacher say?"
"I know he thinks it's true, for he always speaks so kindly; and this
noon he wouldn't look at me. I ran all the way home; and I could hardly
keep from crying at dinner. Then I'd come and tell you about it. Oh, I
feel so bad!"
"Shall I advise you, Maurice?"
"Yes, please do."
"Say nothing about it, except to your mamma. Try to treat Jimmy as
kindly as you can. It will all come out right, if you will keep unkind
thoughts out of your heart."
"But I don't want to go to school when teacher thinks I'm such an ugly
boy."
"Perhaps it isn't pleasant; but I want you to go, and behave just as
well as you can. Your conscience tells you that you were not the guilty
boy, and your teacher will find it out very soon."
"But if Jimmy Barnard tells him more lies about me!—"
"Maurice," said Kitty, seriously, "I want you to reach me the Bible
from the stand. Now find the first of Peter, second chapter, and you
will see the twentieth verse tells you what to do."
The boy looked curious, and turning to the place read: "'If when ye do
well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with
God.'"
"Oh, Kitty," he exclaimed, his face all in a glow, "it seems as if
that verse was written on purpose for me. I mean to try and take it
patiently. I'm so very glad you found it for me."
There was a glad smile on the pale face, as it was turned to the boy,
who stood with his finger resting on the words he had read.
"Now," she said, "turn to Thessalonians and see what St. Paul tells us
about it."
"Is this the place, Kitty? 'Now we exhort you.'"
"Yes; that means, we 'beg or beseech you.'"
"'Be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil, but
ever follow that which is good.'"
Mrs. Seyton was not much surprised to see Maurice come bounding into
the yard, his face as smiling as ever. He had resolved to try and
banish all resentment toward his companion, all hard thoughts of his
teacher, and endeavor to please God by bearing patiently the reproach
cast upon him.
For two days he returned kindness for Jimmy's unkindness, and though
the teacher did not once pat him on the head, or say "good boy," he
went on doing his own duty, sure, as Kitty said, it would all come out
right if he would be patient.
The third day the teacher stopped the school at recess, and told Jimmy
Barnard to take his on the platform.
"I want you all," he said, addressing the scholars, "to see a boy who
was guilty of playing a foolish, disrespectful trick on his teacher,
and then, to hide his guilt, charged an innocent companion with the
fault. Last night, I was walking by the creek, partly concealed by the
trees, when I heard James Barnard boasting to a school-mate of having
hidden the ferrule and of sticking the pins into the seat. He spoke of
Maurice Seyton, too, and wondered he bore so patiently the reproach,
when he knew nothing of the crime. I have so bad an opinion of a boy
who would be so mean and wicked, that I do not wish my scholars to
associate with him; and I now expel him from the school. Maurice, as I
have said, is entirely innocent; and I here publicly ask his pardon for
having ever thought otherwise."
"There, Mamma!" exclaimed the boy, rushing into room. "It's all come
out just as you and Kitty said it would. I'm so glad I tried to be
patient. Do you think God is pleased with me now?"
"I know he is, my darling; and your mother is pleased, too."
[Illustration]