Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-05-02

What is, is,' said Jickling. doggedly.
'You can't unmake yourself, and you
can't do what's impossible
And whaI's impossible?' asked Ashe-
ten.
Why, erred JicAling, brea. sing out.
and throwing down the poker with =
clatter. its impossible to be this aud
that imply because YOU are told Ia be
it; and ms impossible to do this or that.
when you've not strength enough
What should YOU saw il l told YOU to
w'n The football-match against the Col
legers this year? 1t seems you're in the
Eievcn--and they're stronger than Won.
You know it, So let me alone
There was moments silence: then
Asheton walked straight up to Tickling.
lite had become very pale, but locked at
his unhappy tag with a steady and earn
est expression in his eyes.
Il know the Collegers are stronger
than we,' he said, but will YOU promise
me'-(he paused)-' will YOU promise
me, Jickling, that if win the N atch for
our sidc-you'll changer
Jickling looked growlingly surprised.
and glanced at him with sullen suspic.
ION. Its not much to PROMISE he said
at last, 'tor YOU WON'T
But sciN you promise? asked Ashe-
ton.
Well then, yes said Tickling. with
dry laugh and shrug.
Very WE'LL answered Ashetou, and
he left the room
The match. Collegers Oppidans.
played every year on st. Andrews
feast, 30th November, was the great
event OF the football season. Al the
time OF which al. writing it was not
usual for the Oppidaas TO win every
year, as has later been the case. The
match was played at the WALL pecul-
lar sort of football, which the Founda-
ton boys practised more thau the On
pldans, or town boye, and as a result
the College team (although the Collegers
had only seventy boys to choose from
as against nearly six hundred on the
other side) was extremely powerful
and difficult to beat. On the day of the
match, JIG King and |, who had not vet
been out OF doors since our accident,
OBTAINED leave TO go ont for two hours.
just 10 see the match and return.
PIav began at hali-past twelve, and
there was always an enormous crowd
every boy in the school, every master
and masters family, and some hundred
or more of old Etonians, being gener-
ally present. Jickling and | took up
our position at that part of The ropes
where the lower boys congrcgated, max
ing frighttul hullaballoo in response TO
the gown-boys, who, at every advance
OF their side. shouted like fanatics. a. if
the safety of tue three kingdoms were
being staked. For those VINO have new
er seen wall football PLAYED. descrip-
ton OF the game would scarcely be in
telhgIbie; and for those who haze seen
II, 1t would be useless. Let me only
say, therefore, that the point. TO be
scored are goals and 'shie..' a single
soal outnu'obering any quantity of
shlcs. By the end of three quarter, of
an hours play. thr,e shies had been
scored by the Colegers' Eleven. The
game was going dead against the OPP
pidans, who, opposed 10 a formidable
trio OF Collegers, named Bullockson,
Huxley, and Drsvman, were overweight
ed, borne down, and forced back into
their own ground, or calr, every mo-
ment. Notwithstanding all their gallant
~. Ashet0n had been performing pro-
digies OF valor in the Oppidan cause,
but 10 no purpose. Five minutes Vet
remained before the game finished; and
the conclusion seemed ioregone. Jick-
ling, WHO had been watching the game
with curious, silent interest, said with
a short laugh Out rather softly as
thoug lt,) 'Ashetcn's PLAYED we'll but.
he won't win.'
Did Asheton hear him! Did some Sc
cret voice, l mean whisper to him that
some such words as these were passing
Jlckling's lips: ANYHOW, he glanced
towards us, or al least towards the mass
OF yelling lower boys Qor he did not
knew where we personally were). and
with determined guesture took his cap
on and threw it on TO the ground. 1t
was tho action of a man who is prepar.
ing to fight.
Then this Is what We saw. The ball
was then within the Oppiaan calx, but
sudden movement brought it before
Asheton foot. Hestuck 10 it, and from
that momeut it did not leave him.
Crouching, stumbling, running over it,
playing with feet. elbows and head all
together, he 'bullicd' it right down the
whole length OF the ground, unheeting
KICKS, pushes, mobbings, or ANYTHING
else. Huxley, the College post Skinned
him savagelv; Dravman bore down M
on him with his shoulder. like batter
III few yards of the COLES ger calx, Bull
loekson, the captain, made rush a, of
thunder, aud both rolled over .ogeti,-r.
heads first, in the mud. There was a
moments breathless lull in the whirI- |
wind of shouts. TO see who would rise
first with the ball. Ii was Asheton.-
Limping and bleeding, for the blood
was flowing i'll torrents from his nose
he still crouched over the ball. and. with
something like superhuman energy. shot
II over the calx-line, followed it, raised !
II with his foot against the wall, and
touched il with his hand, whilst the UNI
pre- in loud voice, and amid de,irious
excitement, shouted 'Shy?'
shy means the right TO take q shot |
at the goal with the football, the whole |
rival eleven standing inyour wav To OBJ |
struct YOU. Not boy or man spoke. AS
Asheton. white as a sheet, poised he
ball, raised it. and, with another look
towards US, threw il straight forward
There was thud, a disInaye ed shout.
aud then the Oppidan umpire, throwing
his hat III the air, cried. Goal!
Al that moment the College clock
changed out halt-post one-the time for
play to stop. The Gppidans had won
the match.
wan roaring--loud, deep, and con-
tinuous as the waves of the sea-,bs
oppidans burst the ropes, and rusned
on to the ground, scamperiag towards
Asheton TO carry him in triumph. lick
ing and were borne along with the
rest, adding our own voices to the tu-
mutt mechanically. Asheton seemed TO
expect us. just as the mighty Bullock
son was taking him to lift him on his
shoulders, he made a step forward. and
holding our his hand (ths first and last
time he had ever done such a thing TO =
lower boy in pnblic), said: You see,
young man, it scas possible
Tickling said nothing. and walked
along by my side back to our tutors
house without opening his lips. He
was pale and moody, and rememb Der he
kicked q particular pebble before him.
as he went, with a strange and absent
expression. At dinner lime he said he