Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-08
convicting smell of vinegar

0oh'lc1lhS ohiell OF vinegar
Yes" said his mother dolefully.
81 ohnny's been fighting again. That hor-
r1d Barnabee boy (who is eight years old,
II he IS day. won't let the child alone"
Well" said |, 81 hope Johnny gave
that Barnabee boy thrashine."
Didn't L though ? :" cried Johnny, from
the sofa q bet!''
so Johnny" says his mother.
Now several days previous to this ad-
dressed the general in the following terms ::
Johnny, if ever catch you in another
tight of your own seeking, | shall cane YOU. y
In consequence of this declaration, it
became my duty to look into the circum-
stances Of the present affair, which will be
known in history as the battle of the little
20 Cart. After going over the ground
ver7 carefully, l found the following to be
the state of the case
1t seems that the Barnabee boy-I
speak of him as he were the Benecia boy
is the Oldest pupil in the primary military
school, Il think it must be military
school, of which Johnny is a recent member
This Barnabee, having whipped every one
of his companions, was signing for more
boys to conquer, when Johnny Joined the
institution. He at once made friendly
overtures of battle to ohnny, who, oddly
enough, seemed indisposed to encourage
his advances. Then Barnabee began
series Of petty prosecutions, which had
continued up to the day of the fight
On the morning of that eventful day.
ths Barnabee boy appeared in the school
yard with a small go-cart. After running
down to Johnny several times with this use
hl vehicle, he captured Johnny's cap,
lied it with sand, and dragged it trium-
ohantly up and down the yard in the GO
cart This made the general very angry,
of course, and he took an opportunity Of
kicking over the triumphal car, in doing
waich he kicked one of the wheels so far
irto space that it has not been seen since.
This brought matters to a crisis. The
blttle would have taken place then and
| there; but at that moment the school bell
rang, and the gladiators were obliged to
give their attention to Smiths Speller.
But a gloom hung over the mornings ex-
ercise-a gloom that was not dispelled in
the back row, when the Barnabee boy
stealthily held up to Johnny's vision a
STATE, WnereOn was lf1ScTlDeu lHiS ledrlui
message
ime Going to Lick you at recess.
Johnny got it put down in writin 3"
this time
After hasty glance at the slate, John
ny went on with his studies composedly
enough Eleven O'Clock came, and with
it came recess, and with recess the inevi-
table battle.
/ Now L do not intend to describe the de-
tails of this brilliant action, for the suffi-
cient reason that thongh there were seven
young gentlemen connected with the pri-
mary schoo) on the field as war CORES
pondents, their accounts of the engagement
are so contradictory as to be utterly worth
less. On one point they all agree-that
the contest was short, sharp and decisive.
The truth is, the general is quick, wiry,
experienced old hero, and ii didn't take
him long to rout the Barnabee boy. who
was in reality a coward, as all bullies and
/ tyrants ever have been, and always will be.
don't approve of boys fighting; don't
| uorO,r,. ~s...,, - - WON'T,
an extra ration or two of preserved pear,
he shall have it
/ 1 am well aware that, socially speak
ing Johnny is a black sheep. l know
that | have brought him up badly. and
that there is not an unmarried man or
woman in the United States who wouldn't
have brought him up very differently. It's
great pity that the only people who
know how to manage children never have
any At the same time Johnny is not a
black sheep all over. He has some white
spots. His .sins-if wiser folks have no
greater are the result of too mnch ami
NAL life. They belong to his evascent
youth, and will pass away; but his gener-
osity, his bravery, belong to his character,
and are enduring qualities. The quickly
crowding years will tame him. A good
large pane of glass, or seductive bell
knob, ceases in time to have attractions
for the most restless spitit. And | am
quite confident that Johnny will be great
statesman, or valorous soldier, or, at all
events, a good soldier, after he has got
over being a young desperado.-T. b. AZ
drich. IN Atlantic Monthly for December.