The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-03-02

the young men for day or two with US lit
tic show of authority MS possible. 1t was ca
~ enough to see that he would have occa-
sion for 1t before long.
The school-house was grim, old, rcd,
one-story building, perched on bare rock
at the top Of a hill-partly because this was
n conspicuous site for tho temple Of learn
ing. and partly because land is cheap where
there is no chance even for rye or buck
wheat, and the very sheep find nothing to
nibble. About the little porch were carved
initials and dates, at various heights, from
the stature IF nine to eighteen. Inside were
old unpainted desks-unpainted, but brown.
ed with the lumber Of human contact-and
hacked by innumerable jack-kniyes. 1t was
long since the walls had been whitewashcd,
as might be conjcctured by the various traces
left upon them, wherever idle hands or
sleepy heads could reach them.
One morning, an insidious silence prevail
ed which looked as If some plot were brew
ing. The boys were ripe for mischief, but
afraid. They had really no fault to find
with the master, exec, that he dressed like
a gentleman, which certain class of fel-
lows always consider personal insult to
themselves. But the older ones were evil
IDENTIFY plotting, and more than once the
warning aim! was heard, and dirty lit
tie scrap of paper rolled into wad shot
from Cne seat TO another. One OF these hap
pened to strike the stovc-funnel, and lodged
on the masters desk. He was cool enough
not to seem to notice it. He secured it, how
ever, and found an opportunity to look at it,
without being observed by the boys. 1t re-
quired no immediate notice.
He who should have enjoyed the privilege
oflooking upon Mr.. Bernard Langdon the
next morning, when his toilet was about
hall-6nished, would have had very pleasant
cratuitous exhibition. First, he buckled
the strap Of his trousers pretty tightly
Then he took up pair of heavy dumb bells,
and swung them lew minutes; then two
great " Indian clubs" with which he enact.
ed all sorts of impossible looking feats. His
limbs were not very large, nor his shoulders
remarkably broad; but If you knew as much
of the muscles as all persons who look at
statues and pictures with a critical eye ought
to have learned, you would have said there
was pretty show ofthem, beneath the white
satiny skin OF Mr.. Bernard Langdon. And
ifyou had seen him, when he had laid down
the Indian clubs, catch hold OF leather
strap that hung from the beam of the old.
fashioned ceiling, and lift and lower himself
over and over again by his left hand alone,
you might have thought it very simple and
easy thing to do, until you tried to do 1t
yourself. Mr.. Bernard looked at himself
with the eye of IN expert. "Pretty well ~
he said; not so much fallen OF as expect
cd" Then he set up his bolster in n very
knowing sort Of way, and delivered two or
three blows straight as rulers and swift rs
winks. t" That will do" he said. Then,
as il determined to make certainty OF his
condition, he took n dynamomctcr from one
of the drawers IN his old yeneered burcau.-
First he squeezed it with his two hands
Then he placed it on the floor, and lifted,
steadily, strongly. The springs cracked and
creaked and the index swept with q great
stride far up into tho high figures OF the
scale; it was good lift. lie was satisfied.
lie then sat down on the edge Of his bed and
looked at his cleanly-shaped arms. "lf !
strike one of those boobies, i am afraid l
shall spoil him, Inc said. Yet this young
man, when weighed with his class at the
College, could barely turn one hundred and
forty-two pounds in the scale-not n heavy
weight, surely; but some of the middle
weights, as the present English champion,
for instance, seem to be of finer quality OF
muscle than the bulkier fellows.
The master took his breakfast with n good
appetite that morning, but was perhaps rath-
er more quiet than usual. After breakfast,
he went up stairs and put on light, loose
frock, instead Of his usual drcss.coat, which
was close fitting and rather stylish one.-
On his way to school he met Alminy Cut
teri who happened to be walking in the
other direction. "Good morning, Miss Cut
terr," he said, for she and another young Ia
dy had been introduced to him on q former
occasion, in the usual phrase of polite socic-
ty in presenting ladies to gentlenen-"Nlr.
Iangdon, let me make y acquainted with
Miss Braowne." So he said, "Good morn.
ing; to which she replied, "Good morning,
Mr.. Iangdon. Haow 8 your health ~ The
answer to this question ought naturally to
have been the end Of the talk; but Alminy
CUTTER fingered and looked Us If she had
something more on her mind.
A young fellow does not require great
experience to read simple country girls
face as ifit were sign.board. Alminy, was
good soul, with red cheeks and bright eyes
kind hearted as she could be, and it was
out of the question for her to hide her
thoughts or feelings like fine lady. ller
bright eyes were moist and her red checks
paler than their wont, Us she said, with her
lips quivering--"O, Mr.. Langdon, them boys
III be the death Of We, you don't take care "
"Why, what's the matter my dear?' said
Mr.. Bernard. Don't think there was any
thing very odd in that "my dear" ut the
second interview with village belle; some
Of those woman tanners call girl "my dear
ut n ive-minutes' acquaintance, and 1t sounds
all right, as they sdyn. But you had better
not try it at venture.
II Sounded all right to Alminy rs Mr.
Bernard said it. "l'll tell ye what's the
mahterr, >" she said in frightened voice.
"Ahbner's goin' to car his dog, n he'll sci
HIM on yo'z sure z y'r. alive. IT'S the
same cretur' that half eat up Eben Squire'l
little 10, year come mex Faast-day."
Now this last statement was undoubtedly
over-colored; Us little 10 Squires was run
ming about the village-with an ugly scar on
his arm, il is true, where the beast had
caught him with his teeth on the occasion o
the child's taking liberties with him, rs he
had been accustomed to do with good-tem'
pcred Newfoundland dog, who seemed to like
being pulled and hauled round by children
After this the creature was commonly muI'
zled, and, as he was fed on raw meat chiefly,
was always ready for fight, which no was
occasionally indulged in when anything stou,
enough to match him could be found, in any
of the neighboring villages.
Tiger, or more briefly, Tigc. tho property
Of Abner Briggs, Jr., belonged to species
not distinctly named in scientific books, bu,
we'll known to our country folks under the
name "Yallah dog" They do not use thi,
-. -. .ha,, x-ould sav hla.l L. =.