Richland beacon., 1873-08-16
Dumas at School.

The first day of going to school was
a most important occasion. A new suit
had been ore cred, made out of riding
coat of his fathers, which was of cafe
au-lait color. He expected that it would
produce remarkable effect: and, tins
attired, proceeded at 8 o'clock On Mon
day morning to make his first visit The
anxious mother had fitted him ont with
school b. oks, also new, the Epitomt
Historic Sacra and others, those little
primers half-bOund in dark marble pa
pers. fami lar to all who have had Their
schooling in France. He had entered
the court through the large arch-way,
when the door was suddenly closed be-
hind him, and he found himself among
noisy mob of school boys, who at once
proceeded to make him 90 through the
new boys probation of practical Joking
of very rash kind. He was hustled,
deluged with water, and played other
tricks, which had the effect of destroy
ing all his new tinery. Utterly mortified
at this reception, he could only sit down
and cry bitterly. Presently entered the
abbe, having come from saying mass.
He found all his pupils gathered round
the new boy, who was sitting crying on
the steps, and asking each other with an
appearance of genuine wonder and in
terest what could be the matter with
him. The able pushed through the ring
Of little hypocrites, and, fixing his glass
in his eye, bent down over the sObbing
child to ask what allied him. Alexander
looked up, and was about to tell, when
he suddenly saw a whole range of mena-
cling fists threatening him from behind
the master, and checked himself with
an abrupt cry. The able turned round
sharply, and found them all smiling
"Tell me what it is all about" he said.
"We can't make out they said; he
has been crying in that way ever since
he came" Indignant at this misrepre-
sentation, Alexander then blurted out
the whole story of his treatment, and
appealed to the state of his new clothes
in proof. every well," said the able,
81 shall punish you for all this; You
shall have no recreation to-day, and
plenty of ferules, too" These were at
once administered amid groans of sIf-
fering; but there were fierce glances
directed at the new boy, while muttered
denunciations of Informer," "Spy,"
came to his ears, and began to alarm
him. There was no mistaking these
symptoms; a heavy reckoning would
have to be paid for his indiscreet revela-
tiOn. -Four O'Clock came and the end of
school; the abbe said short prayer
and dismissed the class. Alexander for
a moment thought he would invoke his
protection, or get the hump-backed sis
ter to take him home ; but he felt that
this would only be temporary ait; the
able or the sister could not always see
him home. The school poured out into
the street. With a beating heart he
gathered up his books as slowly as he
could, in the faint hope that they might
have gone home before him, aud then
descended into the court. He found
the whole school gathered on the steps
in a sort of semicircle or council, evil
IDENTIFY waiting for him, while young
champion, named Bligny, to whom had
be, n deputed the duty of avenging the
school, was standing at the steps, coat
off, and sleeves ready turned up. At
this alarming spectacle the new boy was
seen to falter and stop short, on which
yell of execration burst forth. He
felt himself ready to drop, and a cold
sweat burst ont on his forehead. The
situation was, however, desperate there
was no escape. With sudden impulse
he recovered himself. Cowardice often
finds bravery its most effectual resort,
and in many of his duels, when he was
grown up, Alexander behaved courage
Ouslv from pouct tho oop,a motive He
descended the steps, addressing his
enemy, $50 that's the way, is it?
Yes, that's the way, it is" said the
other sneeringly, who was son of
cloth-seller in the town. "And so
you want to. fight ?" Yes, 1 do"
20 you do, do you 2. "Yes l do. "Well
then, there !" He had got to the bot
tom of the steps; in a second he had
laid down his books, stripped off his
jacket, and had fallen on his enemy.
"Ah, so you would, would you ?-take
that, and that and that, and that y
Surprised and taken aback at this readi
ness, where he expected to find "shirk-
ing" the cloth. sellers son was stag
gered, overwhelmed, and finally borne
down, receiving blow in the eye, and
another in the mouth. The day was
gained, and the victor Enthusiastically
saluted by his lately hostile companions
with shouts of applause. As they re-
spectfully made way for him to pass
out, they heard him muttering, "When
I'm when Pm-" which they inter.
preted significantly. He was never per-
secuted again.