A dozen hands all around him were immediately seen fumbling in pockets and desks, and in a few minutes several pencils were reached out for his acceptance.
The boy looked at the pencils and then at the teacher; he did not exactly know whether he was to take one or not.
"All those boys," said the teacher, pleasantly, "who have taken out pencils, may rise.
"Have these boys done right or wrong?"
"Right;" "Wrong;" "Right," answered their companions, variously.
"Their motive was to help their class-mate out of his difficulties; that is a good feeling, certainly."
"Yes, sir, right;" "Right."
"But I thought you promised me a moment ago," replied the teacher, "not to do any thing unless I commanded it. Did I ask for pencils?"
A pause.
"I do not blame these boys at all in this case; still, it is better to adhere rigidly to the principle of exact obedience when numbers are acting together. I thank them, therefore, for being so ready to assist a companion, but they must put their pencils away, as they were taken out without orders."