St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-10-29
concluded from Last Week.1

concluded from Last Week.l
/ could not have felt the solemnity
of the hour more deeply if I had been
on the eve of great battle upon the
tented field, with almost certain death
staring me in the face. hardly heard
or saw anything during that afternoon,
and all the school seemed to be in full
sympathy with my feelings. The chill
dren looked and acted as though some
impending calamity hung over them.
Some were crying, but none could
study. And it seemed as though that
afternoon would never end. When the
school was dismissed and had passed
out into the frosty air, L breathed freer.
Wishing for solitude, 1 went a round
about direction through the woods to
my boarding house. That week l was
boarding at the house of Captain Wal
bridge, the miller. The miller was an
excellent good man, but one of those
honest, blunt men, like Uncle George,
that said just what he meant, and also
believer in calling things by their
right names.
His little daughter had reached home
ahead of me, and her distress had NOV
ed the old gentleman deeply. He came
and met me and poured out his real
sentiments over the situation. When
| asked him what ought to do if Zeke
A. laid violent hands on me, he calmly
replied "Kill him as you would mad
dog" That night could eat no sup
per. l drank but one cup of tea and
went to bed early, but not moment OF
sleep did have during the entire night.
And though bitter cold one, 1 often
got out of my bed and walked the
chamber floor, occasionally looking out
upon the cold, unsympathetic moon and
stars. 1t is now more than thirty years
since those dark hours, and yet re-
member every little incident and
thought of that time as though it were
last week. felt, indeed, as one does
just before a great battle, and my feel
ings were wrought up almost to frenzy,
did so long for the end and to know
the worst. thought of that dear moth
er who was so happy over my success
and whether in joy or sorrow knew
had her prayers, and this of itself was
quite sustaining, and above all the
gloom my faith did not desert me. But
did so long for the daylight and fol
the early "candle light" breakfast hour
The good miller's family all seemed
to be oppressed as though some i'm
pending ruin hung over them. Scarce
ly word was uttered during that silen
breakfast. So soon as it was over,
started across the woods to nv little
fortress, to my gloomy little schoo
house. The day before had taken tn.
precaution to take the key from th,
boy whose turn it was to build the fire
1 told him since he lived so far away
would see that some one else built tn,
fire for him. On my way to schoo
on that particular morning, 1 cut
young hickory about four feet long ant
the size of a rake handle. After haC
built the fire, put my hickory stick il
the big stove long enough to take tn
frost out of the same. then ben
it so both ends met, and felt that l hat
most serviceable weapon. then raj
it down into knot hole, which was ou
of sight, being under my desk. 1t fitte,
in nicely, leaving about three inche
out of the hole, and where no one woult
! be likely to notice it. Then I took car
to place the heavy, old-fashioned tong
out of sight, directly under the stove
where could grasp them at once in al
emergency. l knew could count upol
them for trusty and effective blud
geon.
Feeling that come what might, th,
ruffians would not find me unarmed,
calmly waited for the school to assem-
BILE. A sadder and more disconsolat,
school it would be hard to find than
beheld that morning. None of the chill
dren seemed inclined to study. 1 have
forgotten to mention that / found all o.
the books belonging to Miss Jones Gu
to pieces and scattered over the floor