The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-04-11
The quarrel was now fairly kindled,
and did not stop to reflect that / was

4u6 qudII6l Was uOW ldlIly kluQl6Q,
and did not stop to reflect that / was
entirely to blame.
"You've spoiled my hatl" / cried. at
was contemptibly mean in you to throw
it into the water"
You beganit. You tossed mine into
the tree. It's fair play, and you've got
as good as you gave"
"No, it isn't fair play. If plunge
bath is good for my hat, it's just as good
for yours" and, with spiteful quick
ness, I snatched his cap again, and ran
and threw it into the brook. Jasper saw
it float down the stream, but made no
attempt to regain it.
"Tm not going on FOOLS errand," he
said, as came back.
"Then leave it there if you want K"
Yes, I'll leave it there, and take that
for your meannessp cried Jasper, strik-
ing me blow on the cheek.
This reused me to fury, and dealt
him heavy blow in return. 81 won't
bear a blow from you, nor fifty like
youw I shouted.
He was not slow to retaliate, and in
another minute we were fighting like two
maniacs. We struck and pounded !;
aimed at each others eyes and noses,
and in our rage tried, of course, to make
every blow hurt as much as possible.
Sometimes it was / who got the worst of
it, and sometimes Jasper. We were SO
evenly matched that the combatpromised
to be a long one.
"If you'll stop, Pll stop!" shouted
Jasper at last.
"Neverl Pll lick you till you begp
cried in return.
The words were hardly spoken when
] stepped on a rolling stone. and fell yio-
lently to the ground, with my right arm
twisted under me. l felt sharp pain,
and lay faint and helpless. My fighting
was over.
al give up,a was all 1 could say.
Then / grew dizzy. Objecs began to
swim and darken before my eyes. knew
that I was becoming unconscious, and
thought was going to die.
What happened during my uncon-
scious moments, l do not know, but
when / revived from the swoon into
which the severe pain had thrown me,
Jasper's frightened voice was calling my
name.
Poor Jasper! His fierce anger was
all gone, and distress and tenderness
had taken its place.
"I though you we're dead" he gasped.
Z" I thought / had killed you. 0 dear, /
am SO sorry. What shall I do?"
"Take me home. Oh, my arml tits
brokenp
Jasper half-supported, half-carried me
to my fathers house, and l was laid on
the bed in my own room. My parents
were greatly alarmed to see me so white
and faint, and a messenger was at once
sent for the doctor.
The operation of setting my broken
bone was terribly painful, and ! swooned
again before it was over. Jasper re-
mained in the house, but was unable to
witness my suffering. After my arm
had been splintered and bandaged, and
1 had recovered consciousness, / asked
for him.
Ny father called him. He came to my
bedside and burst into tears.
40 Roy, this is dreadful You saved
my life, and / have been fighting you
and broke your armp He covered his
face with his hands.
"Never mind now, Jasper. was to
blame. I began the quarrel"
And I got mad and struck you in the
face. shall never forgive myselfp'
I" What's done can't be undone," re-
piled, in as cheerful tone as I
could. "But we won't fight again, will
weT
"Ah, boys" said my father, seriously,
"you have had a sore lesson, both of
yeu. Royal sees now, to his sorrow,
what thoughtless teasing may lead to.
Remember that 'anger rests in the
bos IN of FOOLS and take care neither to
indulge it nor provoke it,"
Great was the astonishment of our
school friends when the newswent abroad
that Jasper and / had been fighting, and
that I was seriously hurt.
1t beats all creationI" exclaimed
Joseph Harrington.
eliot love is soon cooled. When l
saw Jasp and Roy such thick friends, ]
knew 'twouldn't last" said Philip
Montague.
In a few months my arm was strong
as ever, and was in my old place again
in the same seat with my friend at
school. In time we entered college to.
gether in the same class, and occupied
the same room. After graduation, we
travelled together through Europe; and
on our return, began business under the
sign of Hooper & Monroe.
The lesson of our childhood has re-
manned with us; and even could it be
forgotten, we are too thoroughly united
in interest to have any falling out now.
Boys, remember that " fast and loose y
frolic may end in a fight, and fur
that hurts will often divide the best
| frianda