The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-07
Il BR4TE BOY.

I was teaching n school in little town
in a Westers State several years ago, and
during the winter many farmers sons and
fieldboys entered, who were not able to
come at other times of the year. Some of
them were dull scholars, but nearly all
were anxious to learn, and they did not
give me near so much trouble as the few
SONS Of wealthier parents who were also
under my charge.
There was one among the sunburnt
faces of these boys that always struck me
as especially intelligent 1t belonged to
Henry Chalmers, a lad OF fourteen.
He worked for neighboring farmer nine
months in the year, in order to attend
school during the remaining three but it
was evident he had other sources of iustruc-
tion besides those given in the school, for
he often came to me with questions which
showed knowledge beyond what could
expect from one no further advanced in
his studies.
Most of the scholars we're younger than
Henry, or else about bis age, but there
were four or five boys and several girls who
were older. There was one boy of nine.
teen, slow and stupid, but good hearted
fellow, and another of sixteen, George
Cassell, whom I never quite liked. If he
was not selfish and unprincipled, he was at
least very silly.
He always wore exceedingly fashy neck
ties; he cooked his has on one side, and
displayed a cheap ring, of which he was
evidently very proud, on his stubby little
finger.
Moreover, he carried cane wherever he
went, even to and from school, which
seems to me very foolish and conceited for
a boy with sound legs TO do under any cir.
cumstances, but especially so in his case.
However, that cane proved itself Of ut
most service to me and to the scholars, if i
was not of service to Casseil, and met it
end in a very extraordinary manner.
L was one of the last days Of the spring
term, and I was just re&dy to hear the frs
recitation, when : little girl burst into th,
school-room all out of breath with crying
and running, and exclaimed, as soon a
she passed the door, go Miss Franklin
! there's a mad dog right out in the road -
/ The scholars all laughed. Mad dogs ar
a favorite terror with little girls.
Maggie" said I, "come here;' and
( took of her hat aud cloak. Glow do 20,
know the dog is mad ?''
/ "Wby, he was running down the roat
as fast as could be, and he looked awfu
mad, and Mr. Atkins says he is mad, an,
oh, did you hear that ~
/ 1t was the loud report of gun directl
in front Of the school house, followed by
chorus of "Oh's' from the scholars, an,
some shrill screams outside.
! Then another little girl ran along th
walk near the side windows, screauain
/ with all her might, and opening the rea
door of the building, rushed, just as Mag
/ gle had done, into the room where We wer
all seated
/ Closely following her, aud at one tim
almost seizing her dress, came large dog
without doubt in a rabio condition.
/ He had been shot at in the road, an
was apparently but very slightly wounded
( If the girl had closed the door benin
her, which she could easily have done, th
dog could not have entered but as it was
/ she let the mad creature directly into tn
room where we were.
The door was behind and on one sido {
me- As I turned and looked my hear
stood still, for beheld what / hope l ma
never again sea- really mad dog, ht
mouth dripping, his eyes glaring, and h
hair bristling.
He stopped at the doorway for an ii
slant; then, with growl, he started int
the room.
1 have heard people tell about tbinkin
quickly in times of great danger, but f
my part, I can say that on this occasion
did not Think at all. Hardly KNOWN
what I did, I seized ruler, grasped tt
two little girls and drew them to me.
The dog advanced towards Us, but
had not taken three steps when boy
form suddenly interposed. 1t Was Hem
Chalmers.
He ha6 picked up the first weapon tn