Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-01-07

The first day of going to school was 6
most impartant occasion. A new suit
had been ordered, made out of riding
coat OF his fathers, which was of cafe
du tait color. He expected that it would
produce a remarkable effect, and thus
attired, proceeded, at eight o'clock on
Monday morning, to make his first
visit. The anxious mother had fitted
him out with school books, also new
the "Epitome Historic Sacre," and
others-those little primers, half-bound
in dark marble papers, familiar to all
who have had their schooling in France.
He had entered the court through the
large archway, when the door was sud-
denly closed behind him, and he found
himself among noisy mob of school
boys, who at once proceeded to make
him 60 through the new boys probation
of practical joking of a very rash kind.
He was hustled, deluged with water,
and played other tricks which had the
effect of destroying all his new fnery.
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 interest what could
be the matter with him. The abbe
pushed through the ring of little hypo-
critics, and. fixing his glass in his eye,
bent 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 Inenacing fists threat
ening from behind the master, and
checked himself with an abrupt cry.
The abbe turned round sharply, and
found them all smiling. "Tell me what
it is all about" he said. "We can't
make out" they said che has been
crying in that way ever since he came"
Indignant at this Misrepresentation,
Alexander then blurted out the whole
story of his treatment, and appealed to
the state of his new clothes in proof.
"Very WELL" said the able. II shall
punish you for all this you shall have
no recreation to-day, and plenty of fer
rules too" These were at once admin
istered amid groans of suffering 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
these symptoms; a heavy
would have to be paid for his
indiscreet revelation. Four o'clock
came and the end of school the abbe
said short prayer and dismissed the
class. Alexander for q moment thought
he would invoke his protection or get
the humpbacked sister to take him
home; but he felt that this would only
be temporary aid-the abbe or the sis
ter 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 away
home before him, and then descended
into the court. He found the whole
school gathered on the steps in sort
Of semicircle or council, evidently wait
ing for HIM, while young champion,
named Bligny, to whom had been de-
puted the duty of avenging the school,
was standing at the steps, coat off and
sleeves ready turned up. At this alarm
ng spectacle the new boy was seen to
'alter and stop short, on which yell of
burst forth. He felt himself
ready to drop, and cold sweat burst
,ut on his forehead. The situation was,
however, desperate; there was no es-
ape. With sudden impulse he re-
covered himself. Cowardice often finds
its most effectual resort, and in
many of his duels, when he was grown
Up, Alexander behaved courageously
rom much the same motive. He de-
'cended the steps, addressing his
Enemy; $50 that's the way, is it?
Yes, that's the way it is" said the
,ther sneeringly. who was son of a
,loth- seller in the town. "And so you
want to fght?" "Yes, I do" "Oh,
7ou do, do you?" "Yes, do" "Well,
hen-there r He had got to the bot
iom of the steps; in a second he had
aid down his books, stripped of his
acket, and had fallen on his enemy.
'Ah, SO you would, would you ?-take
hat, and that and that, and that ?"
Surprised and taken aback at this rea-
illness, where he expected to find
shrinking" the cloth-seller's son was
'taggered, overwhelmed, and finally
borne down, receiving blow in the
,ye, and another in the mouth. The
lay was gained, and the victor charac-
saluted by his lately hostile
with shouts of applause.
Is they respectfully made way for him
o pass out. they neard him muttering
when Fm-when I'm" which they
Interpreted significantly. He was never
AGAIN