Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-08-04

the office, and enriched with the emolu-
ments pertaining to no less dignitary
than justice Of the peace.
But we are getting ahead of our story:
and with the readers permission, we will
go back few years, and introduce them
to the wife of Master Paul. She too, was
an uncommon character-a great, good
naturcd, and handsome romp, who used
to tend school, on purpose, to use her
own phrase, to plague, master jerry
And verify she was plague! She used
to bounce in and out, whenever she pleas
ed; she pinched the boys--inked the faces
of the girls-and finally to such pitch
did her audacity arrive, that she even
presumed to lay hands on the nicely pow
dered cue of the Dominic himself.
Jeremiah was leaning over his desk in
a musing attitude, engaged in profound
mathematical calculation respecting the
probable tenant ofhis lordship,s pig-stye,
when this outrage took place. lie had
already placed the subject in half doz-
en- different attitudes before his minds
eye, and was Oh the point of committing
his lucubrations to the fragment of slate
upon which his elbow was resting, when
a vigorous jerk at the hairy appendage of
his pericranum, started him bolt upright,
in an instant, and drew from him cry
not unlike that of the very animal which
was the subject of his scientific cogita-
tions
Jeremiah did not swear-he was an
exemplary and church-going pedagogue
but his countenance actually blacken-
ed with rage and anguish; and as he gaz-
ed hurriedly and sternly around him, the
i'll suppressed laughter of his young disci-
pies added not a little to the former.
''Who ?-who?--I say!' He could ar
ticulate no more. He was choked with
passion.
THAT are great ugly girl there, that
pinches me so, said little ragged urchin
with streakcd face.
Jeremiah confronted the fair delinquent
but it was plain from his manner, that
he had much rather have undertaken the
correction Of his whole school beside,
than the incorrigible offender in question.
His interrogating glance was met by a
look in which it would have been diff
cult to say whether good nature or inn
pudence predominated. did you med
die with my cue said the Dominic, but
his voice trembled, his situation was Pc
culiarly awkward, T-I-what do you
suppose l want of your cuen and queer
smile played along her pretty mouth; for
pretty one she had; and what is more,
the Dominic himself thought so.
Jeremiah saw that he was about to lose
his authOrity-he hemmed twice-shook
his head at such of his rogues as were
laughing immoderately at their masters
pcrplcxity-and reached his hand to his
ferrule
Give me your hand, Miss!' His heart
misgave him as he spoke.
The fair white hand was instantly prof
fered, and as gentle too, as that of a mod
ern belle at cotillion party. Jeremiah
took tit was a pretty hand-a very
pretty hand-and then her facc-thcre
was something in its expression which
seldom failed to disarm the pedagogue's
anger He looked first at her hand, then
at her face, so expressive ofroguish con-
fidencc; and then at his ferrule, rude
heavy instrument of torture, altogether
snfit to hold companionship with the soft
fair hand thus held in durance before
him.
Never in all the annals of the birchen
authority, had jeremiah Paul, experien-
ccd such pcrpIexity. He lifted his right
hand two or three several times, and as
often withdrew it. 'You will not strike
me" said the girl.-There was an art
less confidence in these words, and the
tone in which they were uttered, went to
the very heart of the pedagogue. Like
Mark Anthony before the beautiful Gle
opatra, or the fierce leader ofthe Volscii
before his own Virgilia-the Dominic re-
Tented. IfI pardon you for this offence,
will you conduct yourself more prudent
ly in futurei' q hope l shall, said the
hopeful young lady ,and the master evinc-
ed his affectionatc solicitude for the well
fare of his pupil, by pressing the hand he
had imprisoned; and its fair owner ex-
pressed her gratitude for such conde-
scension by returning the PRESSURE
They were married just six months after
wards. So much for lenity in school dis.
cipline.