Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-22


so used to scenes Of violence and severe
chastisement, that such things made but lit
tie interruption in the tenor Of their way.
Now, while the intervening hour is pass
ing we will clear up the mystery of the bag,
and Of young Barker being under the gar
den fence the preceding night. The boys
mother was widow, and they both had to
live in the very narrowest limits. His fa-
ther had died when he was six years old,
and little Tim was left sickly emaciated
infant, whom no one expected to live many
months. TO the surprise Of all, however,
the poor child kept alive, and seemed to
recover his strength, as he certainly did
his size and good looks. This was owing to
the kind Offices Of an eminent physician,
who had a country seat in the neigh borhood,
and who had been interested in the widow s
little family. Tim, the physician said, might
possibly outgrow his disease, but everything
was uncertain. 1t was mysterious and
battling malady land it would not be wonde-
full if he should in some moment Of apparent
good health, be suddenly taken away. The
poor widow was at first in continual state
of uneasiness, but several years had now
elapsed, and none of the impending evils
had fallen on the boys head. His mother
seemed to feel confident that he would live,
and be help and an honor to her old age;
and the two struggled on together mutually
happy in each other, and enduring much of
poverty and discomfort without repning,
each for the others sake.
Tins pleasant disposition made him many
friends in the village, and among the rest
young farmer named Jones, who with his
elder brother worked large farm in the
peighborhood on shares. Jones very fire.
quently made Tim present Of bag of po-
tatoes or corn, or some garden vegetables,
which he tool; from his own stock but as
his partner was a parsimonious hlgh-tem-
pered man, and had often said that Tim was
an idle fellow and ought not 10 be helped
s.rs1sc rc a '.-- -c--. c-cs'- ';-ss,-..I
made his presents in such manner, that no
one knew anything about them except HIM
self and the grateful objects Of his kindness.
1t might be too, that the widow was loath
to have it understood by the neighbors that
she received food from any one; for there
is often an excusable pride in people Of her
condition which makes them shrink from
being considered as objects Of charity, as
they would from the seyerest pains. On
the night in question, Tim had been told that
Jones would send them bag of potatoes,
and the place at which they were to be wait
ing for him was fixed at Mr.. Nichols gar
den fence. 1t was THIS bag that Tim had
been staggering under, and which had cauS-
ed the unlucky boy to be accused and con-
yicted by his leacheras a thief. That teach
CT was one little fitted for his important and
responsible office. Hasty to decide, and in
Aexiblv severe, he was the terror Of the lit
tie world he ruled so deSpotically. Punish
ment he seemed 10 delight liz. knowing
little Of those sweet fountains which in chill
dren's breasts open quickly at the call of
gentleness and Kind words, he was feared
by all for his sternness, and loved by none,
| would that he were an ISOLATED instance
in his profession,
The hour of grace had drawn to close,
and the time approached, at which Lugare
was to give his school joyfully received
dismission. Now and then one ofthe schol-
ars would directa furtiye glance at lin, and
sometimes in pity, sometimes indifference
or ENQUIRY, they knew that he would have
no mercy shown him, and though most OF
them loved him, whipping was too common
thereto exa t much sympathy. Every lnqW-
rag giacc however, remained unsatlShed.
for at the enu of the hour Tim remained with
his face completely hidden, and his head
bowed doWnin his arms, precisely as he had
leaned himself when he first went to his
seat. Lagare looked at the boy occasional
lv with scowl, which boded vengeance for
his sulkiness. At length the last class had
been heard, and the last lesson recited, and
Lugare seated himself behind his desk en-
the platform with his longest and stoutest
rattan before him.
"Now, Barker" he said, ''we'll settle that
little business of yours. Just step up here.
Tim did not move. The school room was
as still as the grave Not a sound was to be
heard, except, occasionally, long drawn
breath
"Mind me, sir, Or it will be the worse for
YOU Step here and take of your JACKIE"
The boy did not str any more than If he
had been wood. Lngare shook with pas
SION. He sat still a minute, as If consider
inc the best way to wreak his vengeance.
That minute passed in death-hke silence,
and was fearful one to some Of the chi-
dren, for their faces whitened with fright,
1t seemed, as it slowly dropped away, like
the minute which precedes the climax OF an
exquisitely performed tragedy, when some
mighty master of the histronic arts trt aiding
the stage and you,and the multitude around,
are awaiting, with stretched nerves and sus-
pended breath, in expectation OF the terri
be catastrophe.
Tins asleep, sir," at length said one of
the boys who sat near him.
Lugare, at this intelligence, allowed his
features to relax from their expression Of
savage anger with smile, but that smile
looked more malignant, ifpossible, than his
former scowls. 1t might be that lie felt a
unused at the horror depicted on the faces
Of those about him, Or it might be that he
was gloating in pleasure on the way in
which he intended 10 wake the poor little
slumberer.
"Asleep! are you my young gentleman,
said he, "let us see if we can't find some
thing to tickle your eyes open. There is
nothing like making the best of a bad Gaze
bows. Tim, here, is determined not to be
worried in his mind about little hogging,
for the thought of it can'teyen keep the llt-
,;o ,lroI we ln y