Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-01
a Cow ard.
A STORY FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

ScnOOl cOulu ma no answer.
He had allowed himself to be "backed
down" by Dick Corson, stout and stumpy
Kentucky boy, who was given to bullying.
And fellow who could be "backc cd down"
must be a coward, so the boys said.
Corson had dared him to cross certain
line drawn in The sand, and Finlay, though
the equal Of the Kentuckan in size and
strength, had turned on his heel and walk
ed away. Besides, he had violated all those
principles of "honor" which school boys
respect so highly, ty appealing 10 the
school master for protection.
Corson, in order to provoke fight, had
broken Finlay's slate. "Old Green" as
the teacher was disrespectfully called 10y
the boys, was accustomed 10 whip hard
when lie had occasion to fog; and so, when
the master proposed to Corson that he
should pay for the broken slate or "take
off his coat" the valiant Kentuckian pre-
ferred 10 pay for the slate. But this "run
ming under the matters wings" as the
boys called ii, convinced them that Finlay
was a coward.
Aud yet, on the other hand, bo did not
seem much afraid of them. He did not
get in anybody's way he interfered now
aud then in favor of smaller boys; but lie
contented himself with declaring that If
anybody troubled him he would not make
bully OF himself by fighting, but that he
would just appeal 10 The claw OF the school
for protection. If that were not sufficient,
he would take the case before justice.
This was a most unheard-of course, and
one That disappointed the boys of seeing
trial of strength between the new boy Fin
lay and Corson. Some of the boys had
made bets on the day Of Finlay's advent,
that he could ''lamm" Dick Corson, who
had been liking" Of the school. Now they
we're to be disappointed OF a trial.
But Corson grew bold in proportion as
he thought he saw cowardiee in Finlay.
He told the boys he would have a fight out
Of Finlay somehow.
Corson had 10 cross the Ohio River every
day to reach the school. During most of
the year he came over in a skiff, but there
had been unusually cold weather and the
river was frozen so that large wagons even,
could cross on the ice.
Dick Corson had for three weeks walked
across on this natural bridge. He now
proposed to the boys that they should con-
ceal themselves the next morning behind
a certain great pile OF drift wood on the
shore Of the river. He would then so time
his arrival near the drifl- pile as to intercept
Finlay, who had TO walk two miles along
The shore TO reach the school. As Finlay
would not know there were any witnesses,
In, ha al In 10 inl e.,
assault, and Corson could tell his own sto-
ry TO the master.
Some of the school boys had qualIns
about engaging in this conspiracy, but they
were overborne by the others, who declar-
ed that such coward ought TO lie taught
TO fight. OF course, there were some boys
in the school who were not let into the Sc
cret at all. Their disapproval of the
scheme was assured beforehand.
The weather had been warm for two or
three days, aud the school-master began to
feel uneasy about the ice, knowing that
some of the boys were accustomed 10 cross
on it. 4 sudden rise in the river during
the night bad been reported 10 him by a
fisherman who lived on the bank, and Mr..
Green thought II best 10 go down and ex-
anime the ice.
He walked along the shore until he was
stopped by the old pile of drift-wOOd. In
the open spaces beneath this great, loose
heap of trunks OF trees, boughs and boards
he heard smothered voices, and he soon
saw several of his own pupils hidden here,
so intent on watching something beyond
that they did not see him.
He turned up the bank till be cached a
place where he could see over the top of
the drft. There stood Corson with his
coat off, confronting Finlay.
you've got to fight now," said Corson.
"You can't tell the master, for my story
will be as good as yours"
"You mean to whip me first, aud then
lie about it," said Henry Finlay, quietly.
''But what do you want TO fight for? What
harm have done your"
"You're a coward and a tell tale. Get
ready now, for you've got to stand your
ground"
Flnlay quietly laid down his books aud
the slate Corson had been Obliged to buy in
place of the old one, and stood prepared to
defend himself, with his back 10 the bank.
This give him a little the advantage OF
ground.
"Why don't you come down here, you
coward, and fight On a level ?" cried Dick.
"If you don't like uiy way, what do you
fight forH" retorted Finlay. ~ am peace
able fellow. You are a bully. You have
picked this lonesome place TO attack me.
1 do not want TO fight, and / won't stand
out and fight like a rooster, or a bulldog
or a prize-fighter. If had a stick or a
stone, would not hesitate to use ii to de-
fend myself. 1 shall not fight you as a
man, but as would a bad dog. l shall
stand here. If you walk away, shall go
on. II you attack me like a highwayman,
l shall knock you down, II there is strength
enough under my roundabout, and think
there is"
This was more than Dick Corson had
bargained for. He saw that Finlay utterly
rejected his code, and took all the advan-
tageS of his defensive position. And Fin
lay had never seemed to him quite so
strong as at this moment.
The fellow was not exactly coward af-
ter all. He was as cool as could be, and it
gradually dawned on Dick that IL he struck
at Finlay once, he might give the boys un-
der the driil-heap the pleasure of seeing
his own defeat.
For the present, therefore, he contented
himself with taunts, which did not seem to
disturb his big, good-natured antagonist.
Finlay sat down on log near by, while
Corson continued 10 exhaust his breath,
conscious all the time that the boys under
the drirt-pile must begin 10 lose patience
| soon.
Suddenly Henry Finlay arose and start
ed forward, saying, "Get out OF the way,