"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."