Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-10-10

Master Horton, His inward feelings sym
pathized with the outward act; and after John
had been soundly whipped, Master Horton
looked as if he would rejoice to have another
victim. So he turned towards Charles:
Snow, don't think to impose upon me with
your affected kindness. | have dealt with
too many boys for that! l wiH know the
whole. Now tell me why you did not come
to me and complain, when John struck you,
or why you did not try to defend yourself?
Are you fool, or a cowardl"
any father,'' replied Charles, ''when he
sent me to this school, told me never to
fight"
"All right" said the Master; che is wise
man! l gave the same rule to my scholars.
! have just whipped a boy for fighting. But
did your father tell you not to defend your
self"
"Please, sir,' said Charles, "he forbade
me to strike any one, for any purpose; he told
me kindness and forgiveness were the best
Defense"
ais your father a fooll" exclaimed the
Master "Take your seat"
The master was very angry. The veins in
his forehead swelled, and his nostrils were
dilated, because of the presumption of the
boy in bringing such fanaticism into the
school. But very wisely knowing his frailty
of old, he dismissed the subject, say ing:
81 shall, at the opening of the school this
afternoon, explain what is the duty of BOYS
in this matter. Now, attend to your les
sons"
In the afternoon he gave us the promised
light. When he began his sermon he affec-
ted to be very calm; he spoke slowly and en-
phatically:
Boys" said he, "you know | am for
peace. There is nothing | so much insist
upon as that there shall be no fighting among
you. Have | not this very morning fogged
a boy for striking another! l shall always
do so. There must be no fighting while |
am MASTER Here he clenched his fist
"a should like to catch any of you a fighting.
You would have me to reckon with!
"But," he continued, 81 have another most
solemn duty to perform" Here his voice
became subdued and impressive. 81 must
warn you against the foolish notions which
modern fanatics are striving to establish
What absurdity! They would overthrow all
government. Don't you see It'll We read of
injunctions to fight in the very scriptures!-
One great Teacher said if he were of this
world he would fight. 1t is very clear.
81 am for peace; and because | am for
peace | cannot let the new ~fanatical opinions
come into my school. War is the worlds
emphatic curse; and to prevent icar it is nee
essary to fight. | mean, to fight sometimes,
on proper occasions. My conscience will
not permit me to say more in favor of war
than this. Nor is it necessary; for you have
no temptation to fight, except when you deem
it important for you to fight. The cause of
Peace is injured by fanaticism! For instance,
if were to tell you all lying was wrong, l
mean in every case-all :ftghting' l mean
them say, then--."
Here the Master got entangled in his
own argument, and came to an abrupt stop.
But feeling that something more was nee
essary, he called up WILLIAM WHITE, and
desired him to say what he thought on the
subject. Now, William was a very strait
forward boy; he was all logic, without the
least tact or poetry in his composition; he was
the best mathematical scholar in the school.
Master Horton made a bad choice, for Will
liam had been puzzling his head over the
Masters language, and could not make head
or tail of it. When ordered, however, he
marched down to the desk, and stood like a
post, with his mouth open, and his eyes fix
ed on that of the Master.
"Tell me-" said Master Horton, "what |
have been saying about war and peace. |
know you understand me-"
"Ges sir; | think you said, fighting was
always tUrOng, Observation-Disclosures"
81 said no such foolish thing" exclaim-
ed the Master, in a towering passion. "Try
again."
William was very anxious to please his
Master, and to acquit himself we'll before his
school fellows; so he spoke again with great
care and deliberation.
"You meant, sir that war was not always
wrong; of that | am certain; and ] think you
said that it was always unchristian."
The Master was confounded, and lost all
his presence of mind; determined to get a
proper answer from William, he roared out:
"Sirrah! if you do not Immediately give
me a proper answer, l will fog you!"
William WIS frightened, and could not re-
member a single word the Master had said
on the subject, except the last sentence a.
bout lying; and the Masters doctrine about
war was so p~uzzling that he thought he
would shift the ground:
"Sir, you said that all lying, except when
necessary, was very wrong"
At this juncture-the boys could not help
1.-THE whole school broke out into a roar of
laughter, and Master Horton, having no 9TH
er resource, laughed himself.
After the uproar had subsidized, Master,
Horton remarked that he would more fully
explain his opinions on the subject on some
future Opporunity--but such opportunity
never came.