The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-13
OUR STORY TELLER
Old-Time Barring Out,

sasAsJ
Judge 10 G. Guild, famous In Ten
nessee as the bosom friend of Old Hickory
Jackson, has Just issued in Nashville a
book of anecdotes of Jackson. Among
the most entertaining "reminiscences
related in the book is the following
account of a barring-eut:" "My
early life was made miserable by one
Mulberry Bangs, a gentleman of the old
school, who devoted himself to reading,
writing and arithmetic, and the general
use Of the stick. Upon my head and
other parts OF my person he imprinted
himself so positively that can see him
now as plainly as If we had parted but
yesterday. He was a stout man, who
made In his figure, when made in profile,
Hogarth's line of beauty, being round
shouldered and dcrookedin the legs. He
was blonde. The hair of his head had
that sunny tinge so much admired to-day,
and when rubbed down with tallow
candle, as was his wont to dress it, was
so Tooth and straight that the boys
believed that the flies slipped down it
and broke their iegs. His eyes were
dark and fierce, and, hid Under the cav
ernous recesses made by his bushy red
eyebrows, seemed to watch like evil
spirits over his precious nose. The nose
was ruby nose, bottle in shape, and
when Bangs was angry, which appeared
to be all the time, 1t glowed like the
headlight of locomotive. His mouth
was finished without lips, and resembled
slit in a piece of sole leather.
"Old Bangs was famous for his power
of resistance, and boasted that no school
of his had ever succeeded in conquering
or barring him out. There were two
big boys in school, named Bill Henning
and Bob Strong. They were knotty-
headed, broad-shouldered and hard
listed fellows, who worked through the
summer for means to attend school dur
-s-.-s So the winter. Each in turn had been
numerically whipped by the master,
and it was understood throughout the
school that the barring out of Master
Bangs was to be accomplished and old
scores settled. The evening before
the general engagement, Bill and Bob
our noble leaders, with;a few confeder-
ates, stole back to the schoolhouse,
armed with hickory poles. Breaking
open the door, they whitfield one end ol
these tough saplings to point, and theI
hardened the points in the fire. Ther
placing these in a corner, ready for use
with stout cord, they gave orders II
the boys willing to take part in the fgh
to be on hand at the schoolhouse befor,
daylight the next morning. AT tn,
time indicated nearly all the. Lads wer,
in attendance. Some- were pale. an,
trembling, others were noisy and boast
full; but / observed the real leaders an,
reliable soldiers were quiet-so quiet
indeed, that one might doubt them.
Our first order was to cut an,
carry in enough wood to serve the gar
rison during the siege. This wa
promptly executed. The window-shuttel
were pulled to and securely nailed, th
door closed and desks and benches pile
against it. After two portfolios wei
opened by removing the chinks an
daubing, we gathered about roarin
fire in the huge fireplace, and waite
the approach of the enemy. As th
time approached for the master comm
dread silence felluponthe little crow
40 that when he did come we could he
his heavy tread upon the crushing sno'
and many o heart sunk and face whi
ened IN terror. The leaders sprang
their posts on each side of the door, an
on being ordered to surrender, bold
demanded weeks holiday and trei
Of cider and apples. This was stern
refused. Firep cried Bill and Bob, al
two poles were thrust out with all t
strength the stout arms could give thel
They took the indignant pedagogue
the sides with such force that, but
Ia1
have been made in his wicked boo
As it was, he staggered back, and
twenty minutes or more We saw him s
ting upon log, catching his breath a
rubbing his wounded sides. We ga
no end of loud cheers, claiming for o.
selves the first knock-down, if not t
first blood.
AT the end of twenty minutes [
master arose. Digging large ste
from the snow, he approached and tbr
II with great violence against the do
The stout oak batting fairly shook unc
the blow, but held is own Anotf
and another followed, amid jeers' a
laughter, encouraged by our noble LEI
ers to keep up the courage of their
lowers. The fourth stone split the do
and the fifth broke the upp n wooC
hinge, and, but for the barricade with
the breach would have been availal
The enemy, not being aware of
defense within, suddenly droppe
stone and ran at the door. We were
to be taken by surprise. Again W
the sharp lances thrust out.
retreated, and we saw him fairly da
with rage and pain. The more of
he INDUCED in the wilder grew
delight, which we testified in scream
laughter, He soon ended this exh
tion and disappeared around the sch,
house, evidently ION a ,reconnoissar
There was a deal silence, and,
realized that which we have have
often felt since, the unknown movem
Of a.silent enemy This was ended /
noise upon the roof .und soon volul
OF smoke pouring into the room .told
that strategy had taken the place
assault. We were 10 be smoked {
For moment our leaders loo
puzzled. Fortunately, in the exc
ment OF the conflict, the fire had
been fed, and now only a few ichu
and embers supplied the smoke. TT
were scattered upon the broad hea
and water thrown in to extinguish
remainder. Then Bill and Bob selec
four OF the stoutest poles, thrust Il
up the chimney, and at the worl,
gave, to use our own phrase, a bic
80 hist The consequences were ratt
.,- OF falling boardt, with the unmistak