The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-02


manliness. After his vexatien was
somewhat spent he tried to reason out
to himself the foolishness of maintain
ing ones honor by brutal force; and he
was not long in deciding that a victory
over the heart is much harder, but also
much better, than to conquer with the
fists. Henceforth he adopted under
standingly the sentiments he had hon
ored, because they were held by one
whom he respected.
The following Monday, as he APP
preached his schoolmates, a subdued
shout greeted him: ALAS for Deacon
Webb!' and he knew at once the bows
had spread the story of Saturday, with
their own comments. His dearestfriends
avoided him, and the girls bowed cold
ly, or passed without recognition.
Many, jealous of the teachers partiality
for him, took this occasion to show
their spite in mean tricks and Jokes.
At recess he was left alone, and what
ever the ingenuity of fifty boys and
girls could devise was tried, to provoke
him to fight. He felt their fortunes in
every fiber of his being, but maintained
his composure and forbearance. Aside
from principle, his pride was reused; as
if the school could laugh him into yield
ing to their notions!
1t was a severe lesson, however, for Il
boy of thirteen to be thus Deserted
lesson he never forgot, and one that
would have destroyed his faith in hui
man nature but for the increasing kind
ness of Mr.. Loring, whose keen eye and
ear had OWNED both the trouble and its
cause, and only wanted an occasion to
make the school ashamed of this treat
ment of their comrade.
1t came most Unexpectedly. The
Wednesday after Jamie Webb'S loss of
popularity he stood alone watching q
game of marbles, when suddenly into
the group of players dashed dog
foaming at the mouth and swapping
right and left. There was a perfect
panic on the playground. The girls
flew into the school-room and the BOYS
scattered, only intent on saving them
selves, leaving the smaller children,
paralyzed with fear, right in the path
of the mad dog. Jamie was entirely
safe. The rabid animal had seized
Frank Knox's sisters boot, and his
sharp teeth would have soon penetrated
to the flesh, when Jamie, snatching q
wooden scarf and winding it round his
hand, caught the Infatuated beast by
the collar and crammed his hand down
his throat. Now ensued a struggle be-
tween the animal and his captor, in
which Jamie began to feel his strength
failing and the poisoned fangs pricking
through the wooden shield. Loudly did
he beg some one to knock the terrier
en- the head, yet not one of the boys
dared come to his aid, but watched him
in abject terror-the very boys who ac-
cused him of cowardice The most
dreadful death seemed now certain. He
could not keep his grasp much longer,
and if he relinquished it the maddened
beast would tear him in pieces. A sob
from the girls told him his mates re-
allied the danger, and yet louderhe cried
for help. At last his hand slipped from
the collar and he closed his eyes in
petition to meet bravely the coming
horror, when, with one powerful blow,
the dog was felled to the ground, and
the exhausted boy had just time to re-
move his hand before those death-laden
jaws closed in a dying gasp.
Jamie turned to thank his rescuer,
and found Mr.. Loring, who inquired
anxiously if he was bitten. An exami-
nation showed one spot on the hand
where the skin was broken, and the
teacher advised that it should be cauter-
lied. The intrepid boy went at once
to the doctors office and bore the oper-
alton without a groan, although when it
was over he tainted quite away.
As soon as Jamie had recovered the
shock of this affair sufficiently to bear a
visit from his schoolmates, they repaired
en- neaSSe to apologize for their past
rudeness and express their gratitude
for his bravery.
When Jamie Webb, pale and with
bandaged hand, rejoined the school,
Mr.. Loring requested his pupils to listen
to these remarks:
"9ou will agree with me, my dear
scholars, that we can never suitably
thank James Webb for his courageous
act last Wednesday. How many of us
he rescued from the most frightful acct
dent we know not, but of this we are
certain: that to save our lives he risked
his own, and with such calm prepare
ton as proved he understood his peril.
w no udreS call MIN coward now!
The whole school hung their heads.
"No onen' he continued 81 thought
so! Yet few days ago he endured
your contempt, and the most humiliating
insinuations possible to cast on boy,
for what he considered right, and you
did not hesitate to question his courage.
Tell me, which was the harder trial to
Jamie-controlling Ibis temper under
your provocation, or fighting that fren-
zied animalP"
Again the school, moved by one
spirit, answered in humble tones: "To
bear our contempt"
Yes, my children" he concluded,
"many man can face the worst form
of death, and yet dare not be true to
principle for fear of the sneer of friend,
and will fight hand to hand alone
strong enemy, and yet fail to control
his temper. The wisest earthly King
once wrote: He that is slow to anger
is better than the mighty; and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a
| city,
This incident is the true reason of the
change of the code of honor among the
Greenvale boys. Instead of fighting,