“No, but it’s somebody’s,” said the good-hearted boy, as he brushed off the dust, and put the lining back into its place.  He was about hanging it up, when Benny Wright appeared, and claimed it as his property.

Had Oscar known that the cap was Benny’s, he would not have made a foot-ball of it.  He remembered the kind epistle he received, when sick, and the amusement it afforded him, when amusements were scarce.  Since his recovery, he had treated Benny with much more consideration than before, and quite a kindly feeling had sprung up between them.

Oscar’s inattention to his studies was not his only fault at school.  His general behavior was worse than it had ever been before.  Vexed that he was compelled to return to school so near the expiration of the term, it seemed as though he was determined to make as little improvement in his studies, and as much trouble for his teachers, as he could.  He not only idled away his own time, but he disturbed other boys who were disposed to study.  He was repeatedly reproved and punished, but reproof and punishment did no good; on the contrary, they seemed rather to make him worse.  The teachers at length gave him up as incorrigible, and consoled themselves with the thought that his connection with the school would cease in two or three weeks, at which time his class would graduate.  They still aimed to keep him in check, during school hours, but they ceased spending their time and breath in trying to bring about a reformation in his conduct.

One day as the scholars were engaged in writing, the master, while passing along among the boys, and inspecting their writing-books, noticed that somebody had been spitting what appeared to be tobacco juice, near Oscar’s seat.  This was a violation of the rules of the school, and the teacher concluded not to let it pass unnoticed.  Having no doubt, from several circumstances, that Oscar was the offender, he said to him: 

“Oscar, what are you chewing tobacco in school for, and spitting the juice on the floor?”

“I have n’t chewed any tobacco this afternoon,” replied Oscar.

“What is it, then, that you have been spitting upon the floor?” inquired the teacher.

“I have n’t spit upon the floor,” replied Oscar.

“Who did that?” continued the teacher, pointing to the puddle upon the floor.

“I don’t know,” said Oscar; “it was there when I took my seat.”

It was possible that Oscar told the truth, but the teacher had his doubts.  He might perhaps, have settled the matter at once by putting a question to one or two of the boys who sat near the supposed offender but as he always avoided the system of making one boy inform against another, when he could properly do so, he took another course.  He told Oscar, if he had any tobacco in his mouth, or anywhere about his person, to give it up to him.  Oscar declared that he had none.

“Let me look into your mouth,” said the teacher.