not accident, which caused the smoke. He appeared
not to notice it, however, said he was sorry it smoked, and asked the
mischievous boy, for he was sure to be always near in such a case, to
help him fix the fire. The boy supposed it was understood to be
accidental, and perhaps secretly laughed at the dulness of his master.

In the course of the afternoon, the teacher ascertained, by private
inquiries, that his suspicions were correct, as to the author of the
mischief. At the close of school, when the studies were ended, and the
books laid away, he told the scholars that he wanted to tell them a
story.

He then, with a pleasant tone and manner, gave a very minute, and, to
the boys, a very interesting narrative of his adventure, two or three
weeks before, when he rescued this boy from his danger. He called him,
however, simply _a boy_, without mentioning his name, or even hinting
that he was a member of the school. No narrative could excite a stronger
interest among an audience of school-boys, than such an one as this; and
no act of kindness from a teacher, would make as vivid an impression, as
interfering to rescue a trembling captive, from such a situation as the
one this boy had been in.

The scholars listened with profound interest and attention, and though
the teacher said little about his share in the affair, and spoke of what
he did, as if it were a matter of course, that he should thus befriend a
boy in distress, an impression, very favorable to himself, must have
been made. After he had finished his narrative, he said,

"Now should you like to know who this boy was?"

"Yes sir;" "Yes sir;" said they, eagerly.

"It was a boy that you all know."

The boys looked around upon one another. Who could it be?

"He is a member of this school."

There was an expression of fixed, and eager, and increasing interest, on
every face in the room.

"He is here now," said the teacher, winding up the interest and
curiosity of the scholars, by these words, to the highest pitch.

"But I cannot tell you his name; for what return do you think he made to
me? To be sure it was no very great favor that I did him; I should have
been unworthy the name of teacher, if I had not done it for him, or for
any boy in my school. But at any rate, it showed my good wishes for
him,--it showed that I was his friend, and what return do you think he
made me for it? Why, to-day he spent his time between schools in filling
the room with smoke,