"Will you give us some specimens of his stories?" said the officer.

"I will," responded Henry, "but I can do it best by asking him some questions."

"Very well," said the officer, with a polite bow. "Pursue the course you think best."

"Arthur," said Henry, addressing me directly, "did you ever tell me that, when you and your father were on the way to this school, your horse went so fast that he ran down a black fox in the middle of the road, and cut off his tail with the wheel of the chaise, and that you sent that tail to one of your sisters to wear in her winter hat?"

"Yes, I did," I responded, with my face flaming and painful with shame.

"And did your said horse really run down said fox in the middle of said road, and cut off said tail; and did you send home said tail to said sister to be worn in said hat?" inquired the judge, with a low gruff voice. "The prisoner will answer so that all can hear."

"No," I replied, and, looking for some justification of my story, I added: "But I did see a black fox, a real black fox, as plain as day!"

"Oh! oh! oh!" ran around the room in chorus. "He did see a black fox, a real black fox, as plain as day!"

"The witness will pursue his inquiries," said the officer.

"Arthur," Henry continued, "did you or did you not tell me that when on the way to this school you

overtook Mr. and Mrs. Bird in their wagon, that you were invited into the wagon by Mrs. Bird, and that one of Mr. Bird's horses chased a calf on the road, caught it by the ear, and tossed it over the fence, and broke its leg?”

"I s'pose I did," I said, growing desperate.

“And did said horse really chase said calf, and catch him by said ear, and toss him over said fence, and break said leg?" inquired the officer.

"He didn't catch him by the ear," I replied doggedly, "but he really did chase a calf."

"Oh! oh! oh!" chimed in the chorus. "He didn't catch him by the ear, but he really did chase a calf!"

"Witness," said the officer, "you will pursue your inquiries."

"Did you or did you not," said Henry, turning to me again, "tell me that one day, when dining at your aunt's, you saw a magic portrait of a boy upon the wall, that came and went, and came and went like a shadow or a ghost?"

As Henry asked this question he stood between two windows, while the lower portion of his person was hidden by a table behind which he had retired.

His face was lighted by a half smile, and I saw him literally in a frame, as I had first seen the picture to which he had alluded. In a moment I became oblivious to everything around me except Henry's face. The portrait was there again before my eyes. Every lineament and even the peculiar pose of the head were recalled to me.

"Did you or did you not tell me the story about the portrait, Arthur?"

"Yes," I responded, "and it looked just like you. Oh! it did, it did, it did! There- turn your head a little more that way-so! It was a perfect picture of you, Henry. You never could imagine such a likeness!"

"You are a little blower, you are," volunteered Jack Linton, from a corner.

"Order! order! order!"

Looking around upon the boys, and realizing what had been done and what was in progress, I went into a fit of hearty crying, that distressed them quite as much as my previous mood had done. At this moment a strange silence seized the assembly. All eyes were directed toward the door upon which my back was turned. I wheeled around to find the cause of the interruption. There, in the doorway towering above us all, and looking questioningly down upon the little assembly, stood Mr. Bird.

"What does this mean?" inquired the master.

I flew to his side and took his hand. The officer who had presided explained that they had been trying to break Arthur Bonnicastle of lying and they were about to order him to report to the master for confession and correction.

Then Mr. Bird took a chair and patiently heard the whole story. Without a reproach further than saying that he thought me much too young for experiments of the kind they had instituted in the

case, he explained to them and to me the nature of my misdemeanors.

"The boy has a great deal of imagination," he said, "and a strong love of approbation. Somebody has flattered his power of invention, probably, and to secure admiration he has exercised it until he has acquired the habit of exaggeration. I am glad if he has learned, even by the severe means which have been used, that if he wishes to be loved and admired he must always tell the exact truth, neither more nor less. If you had come to me, I could have told you all about the lad, and instituted a better mode of dealing with him. But I venture to say that he is cured. Aren't you, Arthur?" And he stooped and lifted me to his face and looked into my

eyes.

"I don't think I shall do it any more," I said.

Bidding the boys disperse, he carried me downstairs into his own room, and charged me with kindly counsel. I went out from the interview humbled and without a revengeful thought in my heart toward the boys who had brought me to my trial. I saw that they were my friends, and I was determined to prove myself worthy of their friendship.J. G. Holland.

NOTES

1. If possible read Holland's "Arthur Bonnicastle."

2. High Court of Inquiry. So called because the boys in “Boyville” are imitating their elders who organize just such courts for the settlement of difficulties.

3. Find, from any good lawyer, the difference between this trial and the ordinary court trial.

4. Be prepared to give the meanings of the following words and expressions: peremptorily, staves, august tribunal, misdemeanor, romance, dignified severity, dependence, amiable, veracity, desist, stunning stories, impulse, chaise, magic portrait, literally, oblivious, lineament, volunteered, instituted, approbation, power of invention, exaggeration, kindly counsel.

EXERCISES

1. Just what was the High Court of Inquiry?

2. Why did Arthur Bonnicastle obey the summons of the officers?

3. Why did the officers speak of the high court as an "august tribunal,” an "honorable society"?

4. How was Bonnicastle impressed with the situation? Why does he speak of this as a "grand occasion?"

5. What charge was brought against Bonnicastle?

6. What was his plea to the charge?

7. What did Henry Hulm testify as to Bonnicastle's character?

8. Why had not Bonnicastle deceived Henry Hulm?

9. In what manner was Bonnicastle made to confess his guilt?

10. What broke the spell of Bonnicastle's testimony regarding the

portrait?

11. Why did Bonnicastle break into a fit of crying?

12. What effect did the change of mood have on the boys?

13. What interruption occurred at this time?

14. Explain "I flew to his side and took his hand."

15. Just what kind of master was Mr. Bird?

16. Was Mr. Bird fair in the final settlement of this case?

17. What new determination came to Arthur Bonnicastle as the result of the experiment?

ADDITIONAL READINGS

IAN MACLAREN: Bonnie Brier Bush A Lad o'Pairts.

EGGLESTON: The Hoosier Schoolmaster.

ARNOLD: The Jolly Old Pedagogue.

TROWBRIDGE: The Little Master.

HUGHES: Tom Brown at Oxford, Tom Brown at Rugby, Tom Brown's

School Days.