No narrative could excite a stronger interest among an audience of school-boys than such a 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 can not 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, that he might torment his companions here, and give me trouble, and anxiety, and suffering when I should come.

If I should tell you his name, the whole school would turn against him for his ingratitude." The business ended here, and it put a stop, a final stop, to all malicious tricks in the school.