Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-07-07
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THE TYRANT OF THE SCHOOL.


THE TYRANT OF THE SCHOOL.
1t happened that our district school was
kept one year by young EugliShman, ma
med Stanley. He had some peculiar opin:
ions on the subject of the management of
boys. Whether he was right or not, | can
not say. l only narrate my own experience.
Among the scholars was Ethan Bragg, a
stout, overgrovn boy, who was a terrible
Ounce in school and terrible tyrant out of
doors. For some cause, of which I was ig-
6orant, he took particular pleasure in NAL
treating and annoying me. I could not
come within his reach that he would not
either knock my hat down rudel7 over my
face, or..trip me up, or soil my clothes with
a kick from shoe we'll charged with mud.
Whether it was that he saw my physical
inability to resist him, or that he had a
grudge against me because | was always a
bove him in our class, do not know. l
was full year his elder, which made it all
the more notifying to me to be obliged to
submit to his ill-treatment. =.
One day, when had been particularly
annoyed by his: catching me and slappipg
my face, and then throwing my hat into a
by-lane, weeping ard miserable wher, as l
turned to 60 home, I met my sister Mary
Why, what is the matter, Paul?' she ex-
claimed. You have been crying
Thus appealed to, was obliged to make
a confession of my griefs. When l had
finished, sWell, my dear Paul. said Mary,
syou must return good for evil. will tell
you what to do. Give Ethan your bag of
marbles. 1 do not believe he will hurt you
after that
sBut Mary l replied, lis there not some
thing cowardly and selfish in trying 10 buy
peace in that way? I would like to return
good for evil, but to do it in way that
should let Ethan know | do not do it from
fear. I think will talk with Mr.. Stanley
on the subject
Hardly were the words out of my mouth
ere we'met Mr.. Stanley approaching, twir-
ling big stick, as if to keep his hands in
practice. |
what now, Paul? p said he. Your eyes
are the color of beets
Mary answered his inquiry by telling my
story for me and then asked him to inter-
fere, and prevent any further annoyances on
the part of Ethan Bragg
'Nonsene! Paul is old enough to protect
himself!
sBut he is not strong enough said Mary.
That is his own fault, replied the school
master, 'and for that he deserves all the
punishment that Ethan can inaict.'
I began to open my eyes and my ears too.
What do you mean, sir ? l exclaimed.
Il mean said the master, sthat instead of
trying to iuvigorate your body by healthy
out-ofdoor exercise, this fine weather, you
keep in the house over the fire, contenting
yourself with indoor games, books and pic
lures These are we'll enough in their sea-
son, but, in order to be whole man. prop
erly developed, you must exercise the body
as we'll as the mind. Bragg is a coward,
like all bullies. He sees that you are feeble
physically, and so he worries @and plaques
you; and l hope he will continue to do 80
till he cures you of your immoral neglect of
your bodily energies
.Immoral?'
yes There may be immortality in neg
lect of the body, as well as the mind. If
the fault we're not my own-ifyou we're lame
or i'll, and Ethan were 10 tyrannize over
you-I should take great satisfaction in
Furnishing him. Bu', as it is, you have on
ly yourself to thank for your sufferings.-
Look you, Paul
Mr.. Stanley finished the sentence in a
tone that Mary did not hear, and then turn
ed on his heels and left US.
That afternoon, for the first time, 1 put
on pair of skates that my uncle had given
me, and passed couple of hours in practice
with them on the ice. The next day there
was snow storm, and I shoveled paths all
around the house. Without neglectiug my
lessons, 1 keptin the open air good por,
tion of the time. l coptrived some gymnas.
tic fixtures, and rose an hour earlier every
morning and exercised.
took especial pains to develop the mus
cles of my hands and wrists. Catching hold
of the bough of the tree, I would lift my
body up till my chin was on level with my
hands. was careful, however, not to over
task my strength. l knew that l must be
very gradual in my efforts l was mcthodi
cal and regular in these habits of outdoor
exercise, allowing no inclemency of weather
to interfere with them. My parents soor
began to wonder at the marked improve
ment in my health. My cheeks were nc
longer pallid. The cough, with which