Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-05-28

blows, would be freely dealt out. Edda haC
just taken the bat, and was ready to give the
ball warm reception, when Halliday, walking
up behind him, exclaimed: you are outside
your ground, Clark.
Edda paid no attention to the boy, but hit
the ball fair and square, sending it flying over
the heads of the farthest players. But just as
he started to make his run, Halliday seized him
by the arm, and pulling him round SO as to
face him, said: ''You didn't play fair. Why
didn't you change your ground when [ told
you"
Crank Haskell is umpire-not you," said
Edda, struggling to get free,
"None Of your sarse, said Halliday, evident
ly desirous of picking quarrel
By this time all was confusion on the ground.
The game was broken up, and the players gath
cred in a ring around the two. just at this
moment Frank Haskell seemed to have come to
9, sudden determination; for, stepping inside
the ring, he said, in clear voice, Richard
Halliday, you have no right to interfere with
our game 1t was for me, not you, to decide
whether he played fairly or not.
Halliday turned pale with anger. Evidently
things were coming to such pass that he must
do something or lose his power What that
something was he did not seem to doubt tor a
moment for he doubled his fist and drew back
his hand to strike Edda; but before he could
accomplish his purpose Frank sprang forward,
and seized the upraised arm and exclaimed,
We've had enough of that, Dick Halliday
Strike Edda again, and you'll be sorry for 1t.
"Be careful, said Halliday, wrenching his
| hand away, ''or you may get dose yourself.
But things had gone too far for Frank to
back out now, and pushing Edda back into the
circle, he threw Of his jacket, and said, in a
calm, yet firm tone, 'I'm not much used to
| fighting, but if you bully either Edda or me
again, it will be after you have whipped me
fairly and squarely."
Halliday threw off his jacket, and almost be.
| fore any one expected it, struck well-dlrected
blow at Frank face but the latter was well
prepared, and by a lucky rather than intention
| al parry, struck the blow aside. To every one
surprise, the combatants were about equally
matched, and for some time all were doubtful
as to the result. But at last, well given blow
| stretched Frank, stunned and bruised, upon the
ground. No one supposed that after that the
fight would be renewed and SO confident was
Halliday of victory that he turned to Edda and
said, with an expressive nod OF his head
Your turn next, young one:
Had they been scientific fighters or specta.
| tors, the cry of Time, time would probably
have been raised but as it was, the boys con
tented themselves with helping Frank to his
feet, and exchanging regretful glances with each
other. To the surprise of all, as soon as Frank
had recovered himself, he expressed his inten-
ton of continuing the fight, and accordingly the
boys again went at it. For full half hour the
struggle continued Once more Frank was
| down; but instead of discouragng him, 1t only
seemed to nerve him to greater exertions; and
| at last Halliday fell; but he also had good
! pluck, and for some time more the result re-
mained doubtful At last, however, he was
down again-twice in succession; and the last
time, bleeding at the nose, and with face black
ened and bruised he was obliged to acknowledge
himself beat Then what shout of gladness
did the boys put up But did Edda join in it
Not at ALL Glad as he was of the victory, he
was too generous to rejoice over the victory; he
was too generous to rejoice over fallen enc
my; and Fastening to spring near by, he
brought his hat full of water for Halliday to
bathe his face in. What mattered it to him il
the offering was received with surliness? He
had not done it for thanks or commendation,
but from the promptings of his own kindly
heart and certainly he had his reward.
From that time great change came over the
scholars of 'Thurston School. Democracy
henceforth reignea there; no king or ttyrant
was acknowledged, but all had equal rights
Even Halliday, now that he had been whipped
in fair fight, submitted to the new order OF
things, and became withal much more of ia
vorite with the boys than before. Frank re-
ceived many praises for his manly efforts for
the schools liberties but all declared that to
Edda, the odd boy, belonged the honor chiefly,
for he had been the first to resist the bully
Thus it is always. in the moral as we'll as the
physical world, that fair and square resistance
will break the power of habit that has as
sumed an undue influence and power over us
And while we do not approve of fighting, as a
general Or scientific thing, there are times when
it is far more commendable than tame submis
sion.- Ow Boys and Girls