The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-16

ClarleyjA "cOniOunu IT,, reptdteu ue, dS
he met one of his comrades, a size larger
than himself, on his way around the house,
"what shall we do, he won't treat at this
rate for month";" gol :l3I rE9J bieI
duck him." said Thomas, the one he
addressed, "dutk him, 1 say, in the creek,
and that will bring him to his feeling, l
warrant, this pleasant-like morning." and
he tucked his coat around him. as the
keen cutting blast whistled by.
Z" Duck him, duck him." was the cry
from a dozen different voices, and soon
the whole troop was in huddle. bent on
the accomplishment of the cruel deed.
"Duck him, that will cool him, after en-
joying that fire so long" "Duck him,
that will warm his heart, if it does cool
his outside' Soon the wood pile was
torn from the door, and it opened, and ia
spite of Debolt's efforts to the contrary,
he was seized and forced from the room,
and carried by main force to the creek.
about hundred yards distant, to where
some half score of boys had ran before,
and with an ak cut hole, III the ice, large
enough to admit the form of the teacher.
When others came bearing him struggling
along, shout arose from the whole clan,
and amid the crowd and clangor, the old
man was put under the chilling food, and
held aloft. all dripping, and; asked if he
was now willing to treat. He made no
reply to this rude inquiry, which exasper-
ated the boys, and they plunged him un'
der again aud again, until his clothing
was fully saturated with the chilling fluid,
when they carried him back to the house,
and drowning the fire out, again fastened
him in. Some of them mounted to the
roof, and covered the chimney, which
/ filed the room with q most sufocating
smoke from the smoulderipg FIRE. while
the others danced around like madmen.
Debolt, more dead than alive, succeeded
in crawling to one corner, where he was
hidden from the window by the wood pile,
and had the good fortune to discover a
small aperture in the wall through which
he managed to obtain fresh air, by extend
ing himself at length on the floor, aud
placing his face close to it.
huIId LUZ Jul 6iucy JCliCu OIL uiCuih,
as he sat astride the roof, to which he
had ascended to cover the chimney. "Hur-
ra for our side," and the wind cut his fac e
and ears unheeded, as he furg his cap
high in air, and clapped his hands in wild
delight "Hurra for our, side" he con
tinued to yell, as the approving shouts of
his comrades on the ground assembled to
his ears. Debolt, hearing the loud noise
they were making. prayed that some one
might be attracted by it at that unusual
time of the day; but the. highway, which
, passed close, was seldom graced by tray-
j eer, and the inhabitants were all snugly
ensconced by their fires, or far away in
the woods at work, and the tumrlt dice
$ away unnotieed. -.
: After some time. Charley mounted the
half.demolished wood pile. and in a loud
= voice commanded silence. and he would
, make a speech Obedience to the com
mand was Immediately given, and he pro
D posed to leave the old, heather, as h'
9 called him, by himself. until morning
: and then see if he would not be willing
f to come to terms. There was a genera
S shout oc approval to this wicked proposal
: and as the extreme cold had become
i pinching, the troop did not parley long
but left the scene Of their wickedness q
. fast as possible, for their different homes
e to confirm the report that they had causes
]; the smaller children TO carry, that tn
e teacher was sick, and there would be M
e school that day. 80.
r Debolt's heart sank within him, and
J aHope, the glad ray, glanc'd from eternal good
e That life enlivens, and exalts its powers
indeed despaired, as he heard the las
;. sound of their footsteps. and their voice
y y no more reached his ear. The i-e .ha
= become totally extinct, and the smoke ha
= made its escape, and tbs warm air whic
= for while pervaded the room, had be
- come chilled, and the water in his clothe
= was fast rendering them solid GOVERN
- - of ice, causing moving to be next to i'm
y. possible. He gave vent to his lungs, an
:, y hallooed as long as he could make nois
= above his breath. Blu. all in vain; n
;. good Samaritan passed that way. Deaf
: seemed inevitable, and using every exel
tion, he crawled to the hearth, which ye
ID retained some warmth from the departe
er fire, and stretching himself al length o
"A it, he commended his spirit to its Make
and resigned himself to his fate lisq
- SIT was evening bright and still el hfa4
gaI I5qaa As ever blushed Oh waye or bower,
Smiling from heaven, as II nought ill q,
Is Could happen in SO sweet an hour"
r. The, SUMS lastrays fell on the quiet co
le tage of Debolt as his good old wife stoo
~ in the low doorway and looked along Ii
at winding path for him in vain. Again an
as again she came. and went from the doc
is and the supper on the clean wooden tab
s. in the corner was growing cold, while II
er cat mewed around his favorite chair
is the most disconsolate tones, but still b
at came not. The dark shades of evenin
were fast becoming darker, and soon a
le nature would be wrapt in the dismal folG
h. Et4l