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Page 16
"What good is grammar going to do a mechanic, I wonder?" said Richard,
contemptuously. "What use will the double rule of three, or fractions, be
to him?"
"They may be of a great deal of use. Father says we cannot learn too much
while we are boys. He says he never learned any thing in his life that did
not come of use to him at some time or other."
"Grammar, and geography, and double rule of three, will never be of any use
to me."
"Oh, yes, they will, Dick! So come along. The bell is nearly done ringing.
Come, won't you?"
"No; I'm going out to the woods,"
"Come, Richard, come! That will be playing truant."
"No; I've made my mind up not to go to school to-day."
"You'll be sorry for it, Dick, if you do stay away from school."
"Why will I?" said the boy, quickly. "Are you going to tell?"
"If I should be asked about you, I will not tell a lie; but I don't suppose
any one will inquire of me."
"Then why will I be sorry?"
"You'll be sorry when you're a man."
Richard White laughed aloud at the idea of his being sorry when he became a
man, for having neglected his school when a boy.
"If you are not going, I am," said William Brown, starting off and running
as fast as he could. He arrived at the door of the schoolhouse just as the
bell stopped ringing. In stopping to persuade Richard not to play truant,
he had come near being too late.
As soon as William left him, Richard White got up from the cellar door
where he had been reclining lazily, and throwing his satchel over his
shoulder, started for the woods. His books and satchel were in his way, and
rather heavy to carry about with him for six or seven hours. But he did not
think it prudent to leave them any where, for the person with whom they
were left would suspect him of playing truant, and through that means his
fault might come to the knowledge of his parents.
After thinking over this, as he went on his way, it occurred to Richard
that the satchel was as likely to betray him if carried along as if left at
some store to be called for on his return. Finally, he concluded to ask for
a newspaper at a shop.
With this he wrapped up his satchel, and taking it under his arm, went on
without any more fears of betrayal from this source.
As soon as the foolish boy reached the woods, he hid his satchel, so as to
get clear of the trouble it was to him, beside a large stone, and covered
it with leaves and long grass. Then he felt free, and, as he thought,
happy.
But it was not long before he got tired of rambling about alone. He
listened, sometimes, to the birds, and sometimes tried, with stones, to
kill the beautiful and innocent creatures. Then he thought how pleasant it
would be to find a nest, and carry off the young ones; and he searched with
great diligence for a long time, but could find no nest.
Once a little striped squirrel glided past him, and mounted a high tree. As
it ran around and around the great trunk, appearing and disappearing at
intervals, Richard tried to knock it off with stones. But his aim was not
very true. Instead of hitting the squirrel, he managed to get a severe blow
himself; for a stone which he threw very high, struck a large limb, and,
bouncing back, fell upon his upturned face, and cut him badly.
From that moment, all the pleasure he had felt since entering the woods was
gone. The blood stained his shirt bosom, and covered his hand when he put
it up to his face. Of course, the wound, and the blood upon his shirt,
would betray him. This was his first thought, as he washed himself at a
small stream. But, then, all at once it occurred to him--for evil
suggestions are sure to be made to us when we are in the way to receive
them--that it would be just as easy to say that a boy threw a stone, which
struck him as he was walking along the street, as to say that he got hurt
while in the woods. And, without stopping to think how wicked it would be
to tell a lie, Richard determined to make this statement when he got home.
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