The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-10-12

i G0M CBDcsft, aud stupid idea uf nutn-
NIX 10 particular excepting to stand up
Ga the contrary side ~ everything
dared 70 OF course ! ignored the idea
II summer schools aud school ol-marms
and small boys sith satchels, and little
girls With piAnAtores, were my aversion,
Z because / bad contested the ground
pretty cfiecluAlIy with masters before
nov. aud didn't care 10 begin back and
nix up with the small fry But an un-
iucky sprain Of the wrist. that prevent
Cd me from "rakiug after and appear
lng generally useful aud pre-emptory
command from tue head governor OF
our home institution not to be "idlne
my lime, sent me back one fne day in
summer to the little brown schoohouse,
and Likewise 10 the future dictation OF
a sixteen-year old scboolmarm
Miss Lucy Buxton. at sixteen. was
what might safely bo denominated a
smart one She was handsoms too, a
regular Venus ~ petticoats, but that
made no difference to me in the open-
ing Of the campaign, for, like most oy-
ergrown boobies, determined to re-
gard the little woman in the tight Of an
enemy aud dospoL She was kind, to
begin with, though she frowned nov
and then, ana called me by name when
she surprised me in the act of throw
/ ing paper wads at smaller boys, and
when at last was drummed up 10 re-
este, with al. my imperiectons on my
head, instead Of pronouncing me IN in
eorrigible blockhead as she had a right
to do, she took hold very patiently and
assisted me over the stumbling-blo
But this only showed me my inferiority,
and rendered me more disposed to reb-
q than ever. So the first day passed,
aud cudgelled my brains all night il
plotting mischief for the morrow. The
next day | was FIRST at school, and be-
twixt filing up the inkstands with wa
ter, distr butlng crooked pins points up
IA the scholars seats, aud manufactur-
ing straw etIigy Of the schoolmarm to
show my contempt, my time was pretty
we'll occupied till school hours.
A little before nine, A. NJ, the schol-
ars came in, the larger and boldor on S
shouting and dancing round the straw
image as though they enjoyed the fan,
and above all the surprise II store for
the schoolmarm, while the younger and
more timid looked scared and amazed
at such willfu temerity At last Miss
Lucy Buxton arrived, and the children
scattered helter-skelter for their seats,
dumped down, and then came up like
Indian rubber balls, with "Oh's~ and
''ahs' and various exclamauons OF cleo
tlical surprise perhaps pain, though /
didn't feel it, being too obtuse TO sym
pathize in the affections OF others. But
they bore their martyrdom, with the
exception Of some of the smaller ones,
who whimpered little, right manfully,
staring at mo ia body as the inansi-
tor
"What does this mean ?" cried Miss
Buxton, looking from one to another,
while flush OF anger and perplexity
swept over her features,
"Pleath, mum" broke in little miss
who had no doubt felt the sharp point
of the joke, "thombody has stuck pins
in my seat.
The schoolmarm appeared to be who'll
ly unconscious of this pointed declara-
ton, for she had caught sight Of the
straw Image stationed behind the desk
and stood regarding it like one petri-
fed At length her astonishment sub
sided, d look that BODIED no good to
the delinquent famed out Of her eyes.
With sweep OF the hand she dashed
aside the image, and turning, with an
imperious gesture, declared in quiver-
ing tones tnat he who did this should
rue it.
A series Of questions and cross-ques-
tons ensued. resulting in the disco cry
ofthe delinquent party, and was forth
With desired to step into the floor. This
| declined TO notwithstanding, how
ever, to laugh defantiy in her face. =
/ This | thought it safe to do, for was
taller and heavier than she, and didn't
believe she would have .he courage to
attack me. But reekoned without my
host.
Once more she stamped her little
foot imperiously, and commanded me
to come out. / was confident from that
moment sue was fight TO the back
bone, aud though doggedly refused 10
obey orders, my respect Tor her went
up accordingly. For one Instant only
she stood Surveying me, her eyes ght-
tering and her lips working into mus
cular spasms, and the next, with a leap
Ike a young tiger-cat, she fastened on
my head aud shoulders, pounding my
thick skull almost to ielley, before
began fully to wake up 10 the reality II
my defeat
AT tlis iuneture she caught hold Of
my .sprained arm, with the determine
ton nu doubt Of dragging me into the
floor, whether would or no. But that
was more than human nature could
bear. 1t was like probing an old sore,
and ! knuckled onto my knees aud
roared out murder right Justify. | bad
no further idea Of fight. The pain
she bad stirred up was too exquisite r
Crooked pins we're nothing in conpar-
isou. In word, / was completely
cowed. II ever . BOBBY wsB.
Bat tie schoo!marn was sensible OF
her cruel hastlness almost as soon as /,
aud seating herself in char, she fell
TO crying, and ge both cried in concert
At last she came and sat down beside
me, saying she MAS sorry. bat she new
er once th0nght Of my poor arm. and
she woald u.uch rather have hurt her
own arm than mine, especially as mine
was lame; and hadn't doubt of her
sincerity.
There is an cid saying, "Tbe more
you whip dog, the better bell like