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A SCHOOL-BOY'S STORY.

JOHN TUBBS was one day doing his sums, when little Sam Jones pushed
against him; and down went the slate with a horrid clatter. "Take care
of the pieces!" said the boys, laughing. But Mr. Brill, the master,
thought it no laughing matter, and, believing it to be John Tubbs's
fault, told him that he should pay for the slate, and have his play
stopped for a week.

John said nothing. He did not wish to get little Sam into trouble: so he
bore the blame quietly. John's mother was by no means pleased at having
to pay for the slate, as she was a poor woman, and had to provide for
several other little Tubbses besides John.

"I tell you what it is, John," said she, "you must learn to be more
careful. I shall not give you any milk for your breakfast all the week;
and by this I shall save money for the slate, which it is right you
should pay for."

Poor John ate his bread with water instead of milk: but somehow he was
not unhappy, for he felt that he had done a kindness to little Sam
Jones; and the satisfaction of having rendered a service to another
always brings happiness.

A few days after, Mr. Jones came to the school, and spoke to Mr. Brill
about the matter; for little Sam had told his father and mother all
about it. Sam was a timid boy; but he could not bear to see John Tubbs
kept in for no fault, while the other boys were at play.

"What!" said the master, "and has John Tubbs borne all the blame without
saying a word?--Come here, John."

"What's the matter now?" said John to himself. "Something else, I
suppose. Well, never mind, so that poor little Sam Jones has got out of
his little scrape."

"Now, boys," said Mr. Brill, "here's John Tubbs. Look at him!" And the
boys did look at him as a criminal; and John looked very much like a
criminal, and began to think that he must be a bad sort of fellow to be
called up in this way by his master.

Then Mr. Brill, the master, told the boys all about the broken
slate,--that John did not break it, but bore all the blame to save Sam
Jones from trouble, and had gone without his milk and play without a
murmur. The good schoolmaster said that such conduct was above all
praise; and, when he had done speaking, the boys burst out into a cheer.
Such a loud hurrah! it made the school-walls ring again. Then they took
John on their shoulders, and carried him in triumph round the
playground.

And what did John say to all this? He on