t
once knew by his grave and stern countenance that he had heard all that
had passed between them; and they knew him too well to doubt that their
guilt would be brought to light in a most humbling manner. Had they
paused before committing the act to consider the possibility of
detection it is probable they would never have done the deed; but it
was too late now, and they must meet the consequences of their own
wrong-doing. After offering the morning prayer, by which our school
invariably opened, Mr. Oswald addressed us, saying: "I happened this
morning to overhear a conversation between two of my pupils, which (as
nearly as I can recollect it) I wish to repeat in presence of you all."
Mr. Oswald then repeated, word for word the above-related conversation,
without giving the names of the boys, till he said by way of conclusion,
"If I have made a wrong statement, or varied in the slightest degree
from the truth, Reuben Mayfield and Thomas Pierce will please come
forward and point out my error, for it was between them the conversation
took place." It would take a more able pen than mine to describe the
countenances of those boys as Mr. Oswald ceased speaking. Reuben did
attempt to stammer out a denial, but Mr. Oswald silenced him at once. "I
will not allow you, in my presence, to add to your sin, by repeating a
denial. So base an action never before came under my notice. You must
surely have forgotten the overruling Providence which allows no sin to
go unpunished. Had your plot succeeded according to your wishes you
would have ruined as fine a boy as ever entered this school, both in my
eyes, and his fellow pupils, as well as the community at large. But,
from the first, something seemed to whisper to me that he was innocent
of the crime of which, to all appearance, he was proved guilty. When I
listened to your conversation this morning I fully decided in my own
mind to expel you both from school in disgrace; but I have since
reflected that even justice should be tempered with mercy; and, if you
are willing both to come forward in presence of all the school and ask
my pardon, as well as that of your deeply-injured school-mate, and
promise good conduct for the future, we will allow the matter to rest,
and you can remain my pupils. I would, if possible, spare your parents,
as well as yourselves, the disgrace which would follow your being
expelled from school under such circumstances, and I would also grant
you the opportunity