Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-11-17
THE HOOSIER.
s SChoo1-Master.
BY EDWARD EaGLESTON.
CHAPTER XIV.
A CRISIS WITH BUD.


The mastor sat still at his desk. The
school had gone. All at once he be-
came conscious that ShOcky sat yet i'm
his accustomed place upon the hard
backIcss bench.
why, Shocky, haven't you gone
yet?'
No-sir-I was waitin' to see if you
warn't goin', tool"
"Weil?"
"I thought ii would make me feel as
if God warn't quite so faraway to talk
to YOU. 1t did the other day"
The master rose and put his hand
on ShOcEy's head. Was 1.-THE broth
erllOCd in atflictiOn that made Shocky'S
words choke him so? Or, was it the
weired thoughts that he eXpressed?-
Or, was il the recollection that Shocky
was Hannal's brother? Hannah
50 far, far away from him now! AT
any rate, ShOcky loooking up for n
smile on which he fed. saw the relax
ing of the masters face that had been
as hard as stone, and felt just one hot
tear on his hand.
"P'r'aps Gods forgot you too" said
ShOcky in q sort ola half-sOllOquy.-
Better get away from Flat Creek.
You see God forgets everybody down
here. Cause most everybody forgets
tod, 'cept Mr.. l5Osaw, and l lowed
God don't no ways kecr to be remem-
bered by sich as him. Leastways /
wouldn't if were God, you know
wonder what becomes of folks when
God fOrgets 'em ?" And ShOcky,
seeing that the master had resumed
his seat and was looking ahsently into
the fire, moved slowly out of the
door.
"Shocky!" called the master.
The little poet came back and stood
before him.
"Shocky, you mustn't think God
has forgotten you. God brings things
out right at last" But llalph's own
faith was weak, and his words sound
ed hollow and-hypOcritical to himself.
Would Go1 indeed bring things out
right?
He sat musing a good while, trying
to convince himself of the truth of
what he had just bgen saying to
Shoc&y-that God would indeed bring
things out right at last. Would il all
come out right if Bud married Han
nah? Would it all come out right if
he were driven from Flat Greek with
a dark suspicion upon his character? :?
Did God concern himself with these
things? Was there any God? 1t
was the same old struggle between
Doubt and Faith, AMI when Ralph
looked up Shocky had departed.
In the next hour Ralph fought the
old battle of Armagcddon. i shall
not describe 1T. You will fight in
your own way. No two alike. The
important thing is the End. IL you
come out as he did. with the doubt gone
aud the trust in God victorious, il
matters little just what shape the
battle may take. Since Jacob became
Israel there have never been two such
struggles alike, save in that they all
end either in victory or defeat.
II was after twelve o'clock on that
Christmas day that Ralph put his
head out the door of the sch0ol-house
and called out: bud, I'd like to see
you"
Bud did not care to see the master,
for he had inward4y resolved to
thrash him" and have done with
him. But he couldn't back out, ccr-
tainly rot in the sight of the others
who were passing along tile road with
him.
II don't want the rest of you," said
Ralph in decided way as he saw that
Hank and one or two others were re-
solved to come also.
Thought may be you'd want some
body to see fair play" said Hank as
he went Offsheepishly.
"If did YOU would be the last one
/ would ask" said Ralph. There's
no unfair play in Bud, aud there is in
you" And he shut the door.
Now. looky here. Mr.. Ralph
Hartsook," said Bud. "You don't
come no gum games over me with
your saft solder and all that, I've
made up my mind. You have got to
leave these ere diggins, or have got
to thrash you"
you'll have to thrash me, then, ~
said Ralph, turning Il little pale, hut
remembering the bulldog. "1sut
you'll tell me what it's all about, won't
you?"
"You know well enough. Folks
say you know more 'bout the robbery
of the Dutchman's than you orter.-
| But don't believe them. Fer them
as says il is liars and thieves their
se.vcs. 'Ta'n't fer none of that. And