The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-19

me last night that you was goin' to lick
the teacher
Joe Strengthened up and looked inn
portant. oval, yis, Jack, | do think
OF commencin' operations, little, in
that line. She's the delicatest little
thing, and it won't do to be very saw
age, and it won't do to have her bossin'
OF a Teller round, nuther, you know"
" See here, Joe,o said Jack, 81 don't
believe you ever had fust-class whip
PIN in your life, and I'll tell you what
I'll do; You tech a hair of that gals
head, and I'll give you a sound maulin',
as sure's my names Jack JONES'" and
Jack brought down his sledge-hammer
OF a fist with emphasis on his leathern
apron.
Joe put his thumb up to his nose and
marched ON. He did not care much for
Jack threat; he felt so sure he could
keep out of his way, and he did mean
to give the young school-mistress
scare, and this was the way he would
do it; He would break the rules again,
and she would call him out, but he
wouldn't 90. He felt pretty sure she
was gritty enough to undertake to whip
him; then he would catch the stick,
breakit, throw it over her head assume
so offensive an attitude, in short, that
she would be glad to retire to her desk
and leave him master of the field. This
was to be the programme. 1t was all
to be without bloodshed, and let Jack
Jones catch him if he could.
So, Il little while after school had
taken up that morning, he commenced
throwing spit-balls; but Rosebud, who
was attending to a class, seemed en-
tirely oblivious. When she had finished,
she walked up the aisles to do sums.
She was at work a little back of his seat,
Smith on the chin.
Al the instant, from some mysterious
fold of Rosebud's dress, flew a long,
tough, willow blue-beach, and gave
several quick slashes around the Shout
ders of Joe's linen coat before he seemed
to comprehend the position. Then he
sprang up and caught at the stick. But
the blows came thicker and faster, first
at one point then at another, until the
whole stick was worn up, and he had
not succeeded in catching it once. Joe
was defeated, but not conquered, and
he would get the better of her vet, as
sure as fate, he told the boys at recess.
So all daylong, while his wounds smart
ed, he pondered some new method of
assault; and, no doubt, Rosebud would
have been equal to the occasion had
nothing supervened. But as Joe went
home that night with head bent still
studying at his problem, he was caught
by Jack, who held him as if in one of
his own iron vises. He carried him in
to his shop and laid him across his an
vii block.
"Hand me the hammer" said Jack
to his man, who was at work at the
bellows, that pulled and snorted, and
threw the angry sparks up, swapping
and cracking. Jack turned the boy
over on the block, held both his hands
in one of his, placed his knee upon him
and raised his free arm.
Hold-hold on, Jack" blubbered
Joe. "I-I didn't do it. | never
teched 'er,. But she gin me awful
wallupin'."
Jack hesitated. GIVE hearn long
enough that Joe Thornton was the wust
boy in school, and was travelin' on s
fast S he could to the gaIlows He'd
better die a respectable death here, at
this present time, and not be lowed to
walk the airth any longer, jest for
skerge, never dewing any good what
sOmever."
Jack looked like a grimy angel of
retribution, firmly devoted to his work.
so Jack, | won't, never will ag' in!
Jest femme 90 this time, and see eff
do. I'll do all | can for mother, and
thy to be a good boy at school Do,
Jack, let me up"
Jack set him off the block and re-
placed his anvil.
"Ef you're sot on bein' a good boy,
Joe, hope you Il be reg'lar Methu-
saler, and I'll be the last man thatll
ever end yer days. But as yer present
character stands the whole community
would be glad to git red on We. Did We
ever think of that, my boy?''
81 never knowed how mean l was be-
fore, Jack. ken see it now, and I'm
goin' to change"
And. really, after this Joe went to
work with new set of faculties that
his brain appeared to have in reserve
somewhere; and that is the way it hap
pened that he lost the reputation of
being the worst boy in school.-Marie
S. Ladd, IN january Phren0logical Jour-
nal.