The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-11-18
RULING THE SPIRIT.

Hurrah for Bill 3" "Give it to hint"
"Go it, Bill l-serve him right!n
These exclamations came from the group
which had clustered around Tom Stern and
Bill Jones when the news of fight spread
over the playground, summOning the boys
to the scene of action.
"Therel" said Bill, planting a finishing
blow on his opponents breast that sent him
reeling 10 the ground.
The combat was over. Toms mouth
was bleeding; one eye was bruised and
swollen - that would tell the tale for
week to come.
Bill Jones is q regular brick"
The larger boys said so, and the smaller
ones, putting their hands in their pockets
in imitation of their example tried to look
and believe that being regular brick "
was a good thing, though they, perhaps,
would have exchanged places with Tom
very unwillingly at that moment when he
was picking himself up, rubbing the dirt
from his soiled clothes, and wiping the
blood from his wounded face. There was
little sympathy for him; the boys were
busy eyeing Bill and criticising his per
Torrance. Tom was Sinking off quietly;
none Of them offered to go with him. Bill
turned, and, seeing him walking away
alone, he shouted, " say, Tom"
Tom stopped only an instant; when he
saw who had called him, he went on dizzy
and faint, and ran against his teacher Mr..
Smith, before he knew what he was doing.
What is this2" Mr.. Smith asked, stern
ly; fighting again, boys? Who are the
offenders this time2'
No one answered There is a sense of
honor among boys as well as thieves, they
say; a tell-tale IS not tolerated. In this
case Mr. Smiths question was unnecessary;
Toms dlsOTdered appearance and Bits
torn linen coat and red face pointed out the
com batants plainly; it was more difficult
to discover how the quarrel originated.
So Come with me, boys"
Mr.. Smith took au arm of each and led
them away to his study, leaving the others
looking on in silence until they were in
the house out of sight
Won't they catch i'll Mr.. Smith said
he would make an example of the first
fellows he caught at it"
." My father saws every boy ought to know
how 10 fight How's a fellow to take care
of himself if he doesn't?"
" guess Bill viii be put up the spout
this time, if he IS a tavOrite." " said another;
and each bov gave his own ideas on the
subject, and wondered what punishment
was in store for the delinquents.
Mr. Smith sat down in his easy-chair in
the study, telling the two culprits to stand
before him whore he could see their faces.
Now. William, YOU can give me an ac-
count OF this fight. / find | must make an
example, but it pains me exceedingly to
punish two of my most promising boys,
and these two supposed were firm friends.
How did il heviu?"
Bill was cool by this time; the authori-
tative touch of his kind teachers hand and
his steady eve fixed upon him Gained his
anger: now lc stood in silence and shame
before him. looking NJ his feet and the
carpet - anywhere except in Mr. Smiths
face.
Ont with it. have only five minutes
to spend with you; let me hear the whole
story quickly, without hesitation i will
not say prevaTicatiOn, for | think neither OF
You would deceive, though you have dis
Obeyed me"
Il think it was nv fault Tom began.
"No, no." interrupted Bill, his face red
dening as he spoke hastily; q hit him
first; 1 commenced it"
Let me hearth story from you, William.
Silence, Tom" continued Mr.. Smith, as he
saw Tom making preparations for speech.
Bill looked at the carpet, then at Tom; /;
he pulled .ne sleeves of his coat down and
his pants up; then he rubbed his hands,
and finally burst out, was running over
the background; Tom saw me coming, and
/ tied a string Just across my path"
I didn't" said Tom.
William"
"Then I triDped up, of course, and fell
down. l thought it was mean trick-I
went fiat l jumped up and said, Who
did that| Tom said, i did Then l
said, Take that so l gave him a hit.
Then he doubled up his fist and ran into
me; then l got the best of it; that's all"
" | put the string there-I didn't see him
cOming-I didn't mean to trip him up"
said Tom, quickly. But he never asks a
fellow any thing, but turns round and gives
him a lick And how's a fellow TO stand
being hit? What can he do if he's got any
! spirit?"
" For shame, boys" said their teacher.
. Here are two good friends fighting like
angry beasts for nothing, wasting their
/ strength and iii-tempeT, not showing spirit
but abusing IT, and teaching the younger
. boys to regard this disgraceful exhibition
as proper show of spirit. If friendship
. comes TO this you are no better than enc
mics. The fault was yours, William"
' 1 was mad I didn't know Tom didn't
. mean TO trip me up'
An, it was not Thomas, but the evil
spirit which takes possession of yOu-you
yield to It's power. Some day it viii gain
a frighuul control. Within the last month,
. IN moments of passion, you have thrown
= stone at one boy because you fancied he
. was hiding behind q tree in order to play a
trick UpOn you; an Inkstand was knocked
over some books when you were beside
yourself with rage, and you destroyed the
Ati NV -J'fhJA VI iiitiAtt. iAO
had been making Caricatures Of you. This
fend will ruin body and soul if not
checked. | have often spoken of this, and
yet each day / hear new proofs of your un-
gOvernabie temper. Remember, my boy,
the Bible tells US He that rUleth his spirit
is better than he that taketh a city Go on
your knees and ask strength from Heaven
to overcome this besetting sin. ! viii let
conscience punish you. ! think it must
when you look at your friend who Will
carry the marks of this passionate out
break for some time, | imagine In future
| shall use harsher measures"
Tom was a delicate boy; he felt faint and
dizzy. Bllls heart smote him as he glanced
at his friends pale face. made more so by
the bruised eye and ghastly cut 1t was
all his own fault; he had used his friend
badly enough He pushed hand toward
him as he muttered, " I'm sorTy-I didn't
know didn't mean it"
You never know what you are doing
when in passion. Go with Tom TO your
room, and strive to gain the mastery in fu-
ture over this fault"
The boys left the room. Mr. Smith
sighed as they closed the door. Notwith-
standing Williams fearful temper he was
a iavorite scholar, possessing many noble
characteristics, though they were often con-
cealed and overbalanced by his besetment.
Da!Iy complaints were made against him,
which, when inquired into, could all be
traced 10 the same cause. Mr.. Smiths con-
stant reproofs were apparently unheeded,
but he did not despair of convincing his
pupil thai this dangerous enemy could be
controlled.
Tom went to his room. An hour after.
when his class was called for recitation. he
was absent, and his teacher found him suf
fering with a raging headache. When
night came he bad high fever, and Mr.
Smith appointed William to watch bv his