Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-27


are all we'll nough in their season, but in
order TO be whole man, properly devel-
oped, we must exercise the body as well as
the mind. Bragg is a coward, like all bull
| lies. lie sees that you are feeble physical
| ~, and so worries and plaques you and /
| hope ho will continue to do so till he cures
you Of your immoral neglect of your bodily
energies"
"Immoral ?"
"Ycsl There may be in morality in neg
lcct Of the body as well as the mind. II
the fault were not your own-if you were
lame or i'll, and Ethan were to tyrannize
over you'll should take great satisfaction
In furnishing him. But as it is, you have
only yourself to thank for your sufierngs.
Look you, Paul"
Mr.. Stanley finished his sentence in a
tone that Mary did not hear, and then
turned on his heel and left us.
That afternoon, for the first time, put
on pair of skates that my uncle had given
me, and passed a couple of hours in prac-
tice with them on the ice. The next day
there was snow storm, and 1 shoveled
paths all round the house. Without neg
lecting my lessons, kept in the open air a
good portion of the time. contrived some
gymnastic fixtures, and rose an hour earli-
er every morning aud exercised.
l took especial pains to develope the
muscles of my hands and wrists. Catch
ing hold of the bough of a tree, / would
lin my body up till my chin was on lev
el with my hands. l was careful, however,
In eff I
odical and regular in these habits of out
door exercise, allowing no inclemency of
weather TO interfere with them. My pa
rents soon began TO wonder at the marked
improvement in my health. My cheeks
were no longer pallid. The cough with
which had been constantly troubled LEFT
me all at once; l slept well and gained
SO in strength that could with ease, lift a
barrel Of flour into cart.
For nine or ten months bad been faith
fully at the system, when one day, as was
passing along a secluded road that skirted
our village, 1 heard loud cries, as from
some one in fear and distress. Turning a
bend in the road 10y tne ground,
with another boy over him, belaboring
him with hearty blows. The victorious
assailant was the butchers boy Of the viii
la2e, and the unfortunate recipient of the
blows was my old enemy, Ethan.
Without hesitation, l rushed to the scene
OF the combat, and pulled Master Jacob,
the butchers boy, Off from his victim. ia
cob thereupon rolled up his sleeves anew,
and remarked that he would give me "fits."
Then, like a young buffalo, he came at me.
RnI ha 40 In, La
l caught him by the wrists, as in a wise.
In vain did he struggle. l pulled him
upon his knees so that he could neither
kick nor bite; then pressed his hands till
he yelled with pain. / asked him if he had
enough. Jacob was in very great rage, 1t
was evident, but did not care about having
another turn of the screw put upon his
hands. And so, when finally inquired If
he would go quietly home, without max ing
any more fuss, he answered yes, and kept
his word.
Ethan said ], carelessly, "you see /
have turned over 4 new leaf Hereafter
any one who ventures to impose upon me,
or upon another III my presence, WIN nave
to prove that he is stronger in the wrists
than /. Do you think am right?
"Y-e-s," stammered Ethan.
"Shake hands on it, then" said I.
Ethan gave me his hand, but as squeez-
ed it with rather too cordial pressure, he
tried to pull it away, at the same time ut
tering cry of pain.
{" What is the matter - exclaimed.
"Why don't you squeeze back again p
said I, pressing his hand again, ill he ut
tered anOther cry