The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-08-05


on, still talking of the new teacher, III
e aware of the proximity of delicat
looking stranger, apparently about twei
ty years old, who was walking in tl
: same direction with themselves. The
approached the school house, and whe
they got there they became conscious {
the presence of the pale young man i
their midst
GOOD morning, my lads" he sal
smiliugly; 1--WE are to begin new ca
reer together to-day, and 1 sincerel
hope we shall like eac other. 1 shal
try everything in my power to pleas
you that is consistent with duty, and
shall expect the same from you. wisl
you to regard me as your friend at th'
commencement, and L shall certaiul,
act from friendly feeling 1 like YOU
appearance and believe that we shall fnc
but little ti ouble in agreeing"
The speech evidently made an i'm
preston, but Bill Brown went rounc
whispering, That's all bosh, for L see
the shape of a cowhide in his pocket,
which awakened as he intended it should
a com batlve spirit ia all he spoke to-
They went into the school; the boys
took their places, and the master mount
ed his tripod. But little was done in
the morning. The restIessness of ar
rangemeI the getting used to the
school house -prouuced confusion, and
the commencement of business was de-
ferred until the next day. The school
was dismissed at noon, and master and
sch holars eparated-the former with an
Impression that he had vigorous and
bright set of boys to manage-a little
nard in the mouth, perhaps, but who
could be made trac,able-and the latter
that the teacher couM be managed by
the persuasive force of strong arms, but
that it was best to wait and see how
things would work
They came together with the same
feeling the next morning; classes were
formed and all preliminaries settled,
aud everything commenced as hap
PLY as need be desired. The teach
er's heart was happy in the thought of
his success, when, glancing down through
lane of boys,.h detected an improp
er gesture from Bill Brown, and saw it
repeated, even though the boys eyes, he
knew, were fixed upon his own.
Young man, come up here" he said,
in gentle, but firm tone.
Brown looked round upon his com
panions, aud with fierce movement of
bravado left his seat and approached his
master.
81 expect spirit of obedience in my
school, my young friend" said the teach
er, "aud shall insist upon it
Il dou't care what you expect"
growled the young rufian i" 1 should
like to see you help YOURSELF
The teacher bit his lip, while his face
whitened, especially as he heard spick-
ering laugh spread around among the
scholars; but he showed no other signs
of temper, unless it might have appear
ed in bis eye.
"Will you return to your seat and be-
have yourself?' said he, @ and thus re
move the necessity for helpi g myself"
"No I won't was the reply.
"Then" said the teacher, "you shall
be made to obey me-"
He reached to his desk as be spoke,
and took his ruler therefrom, when.
turning to the rebel, be told him to hold
out bis hand. The boy, with a surly
and impudent brow, kept his hands per-
81. tently in his pockets, looking at the
same time around the school for encour-
agement He evidently regarded the
master an easy conquest, and felt suf-
fcient strength within himself to cope
with the school master.
"Hold out your hand, sir" the teach
er repeated, in a more commanding tone.
Refusing to obey, ne received smart
rap on the knuckles from the ruler, when
drawing his right hand suddenly from
his pocket, be gave the teacher severe
FLIP on the side of the head, and then
''pitched in In moment the school
was in confusion. The bolder boys
mounted the benches to see the progress
of the row, and the timld sat trem bling,
waiting the result very anxiously.
The master, when thus assailed, did
not hesitate for amoment. His delicate
frame seemed to dilate with the spirit
evoked by the young rufian, and a |
sinewy strength to pervade him. He
was smaller than his antagonist, but had
by judicious training developed his mus
Gle in powerful degree. He threw
his ruler away and grappled with his
antagonist, and the struggle for mastery
commenced In earnest-science against
strength. The boys evidently thought
their associate needed no assistance, for
hey did not move to aid him, and thus
.he field was left to the two combatants.
They swayed this way aud that. way,
back and forth, hither and thither, strain
ng and striving, pulling and jerking.
ill, with master stroke of science, the
MASTER hrou0ht his runil forUard on b;S |