Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-04

IL,
for he was one of the natural class of the sex.
subduers, and had had many a smile without
asking, which had been denied to the feeble
youth who try to win favor by pleading their
passion In rhyme, and even to the more formi-
dable approaches of young officers in volunteer
companies, considered by many to be quite
irresistible to the fair who have once beheld
them from their windows in the epaulettes and
plumes and sashes of the "Pigwscket Invinci-
bles, " or the "Hackmatack Rangers"
Master LangdOn took his seat and began the
exercises of his school. The smaller boys re-
cited their lessons we'll enough; but some of the
larger ones were negligent and surly. lie no.
ticed one or two Of them looking towards the
door, as if expecting somebody or something in
that direction. At half past O'Clock, Abner
Briggs Junior, who had not yet shown himself,
made his appearance. He was followed by his
'yaliah dog. without his muzzle, who squatted
down very grimly near the door, and gave a
wolfsh look round the room, as if he were con-
sidering which was the plumpest bog to begin
with. The young butcher, meanwhile, went to
his seat, looking somewhat flushed, except
round the lips, which were hardly as rcd as
common, and set pretty sharply.
Put out that dog, Abner Briggs" The
master spoke as the captain speaks to the
helmsman, when there are rocks fosming at
the lips, right under his lee.
Abner Briggs answered as the helmsman an
a
round him that mean to run the ship on the
reef, and Is one of the mutineers himself Put
him aout y 'rself, f ye d Mt afeard on him.
The master stepped into the aisle. The great
cur showed his teeth, and the devilish instincts
of ms old wolf ancestry looked out of bis eyes,
and flashed from his sharp tusks, and yawned
in his wide mouth and deep red gullet
The movements of animals are much quicker
than those of human beings commonly are, so
that they avoid blows as easily as one of US
steps out of the way of an ox-cart Ii must be
avery stupid dog that lets himself be run over
by fast driver in his gig; he can jump out of
the wheels way after the tire has already
touched him. So, while one is lifting stick
to strike, or drawing his foot TO kick the beast
makes his spring, and the blow or the kick
comes too late.
1t was not so this time. The master was q
fencer, and something of boxer he had played
at single-stlck, and was used to watching an
adversarys eye, and coming down on him
without any of those premonitOry symptoms
oy which unpractised persons show long be-
forehand what mischief they mediate
Out with you" he said fercely,-and ex-
planned what he meant by sudden flash of his
foot that clashed the yellow dogs white teeth
together, like the springing of bear-trap.
The cur knew he had found his master at the
first word and glance, as low animals on four
legs, or smaller number, always do, and the
III
curled him up In an instant, and he went bund-
ling out OF the open school house door, with a
most pitlable yelP. and his stump of tail shut
down as close as his owner ever shut the short
stubbed blade of his jack-knife
1t was time for the other cur to find who his
master was.
Follow your dog, Abner Bripps' ~ said
Master Langdon.
The stout butcher youth looked round, but
the rebels were all cowed, and sat still.
"I!l 60 when L IN ready" he said-ss'n I
guess won't 60 afore IN ready"
" You're ready now," said Master Lansdon,
turning up his cuffs so that the little boys no.
tlced the yellow gleam Of pair of gold sleeve
buttons, once worn by Colonel Percy Went
worth, famous in the Old French War.
Abner Briggs, Junior, did not apparently
think he was ready, at any rate, for he rose in
his place and stood with clenched fists, defiant,
as the master strode toward him. The master
knew the fellow was really frightened, for all
his looks, and that he must have no time to
rally SO he caught him suddenly by the col
lar, and, with one great pull, had him out
over his desk and on the open floor He gave
him sharp fling backwards, and stood looking
at him.
The rough and tumble fighters all citach. a.
everybody knows; and Abner Briggs, Junior,
was one Of that kind. He remembered how he
had foored Master Weeks, and he had lust
cPuEh OuouSu icll III MIN 10 Try To rCpcat
his former successful experiment on the new
master: He sprang at him open-handed, to
clutch him. SO the master had to strike-once.
but very hard, and just in the place to tell. No
doubt, the authority that doth hedge a school
master, added to the effect of the blow; but the
blow was itself neat one, and did not require
to be repeated.
Now go home, " said the master, ANA don t
let me see you or your dog here again And
he turned his cuffs down again over the gold
sleeve buttons.
This finished the great Pigwacket Center
school rebellion. What could be done with a
master who was so pleasant as long as the boys
behaved decently. and such a terrible fellow
when he got riled," as they called it In a
weed time, everything was reduced to order,
and the school committee were delighted The
master, however, had received proposition 30
much more agreeable and advantageous, that
he Informed the committee he should leave at
the end of his month, having in his eye SEN
sible and energetic young college graduate,
who would be willing, and fully competent to
take his place.