The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-05

4 athletic. but hitherto passive, Ammi Dir,
suddenly turned the tables by obcnndir
J TO his feet like Hercules and delivcrir
= two lightning ,likc blows which sen. Jo
$ and ziby heAdlons and with tremendo'
+, force agains. the others Before they hs
! time to rally or even TO breathe the ma
ter Was out at the door and had hasped
upon them.
Never were 6se conspirators more take
sback.
"You will remain there. boys. !" said An
mi through the door. 9TH you can apprt
ciate fire.
With this parting salutation the maste
went back to the lscbool room. Afte
some delay the wad OF brush aud turf wa
removed from the chimney. and tho les
sons proceeded as usual. without tn
kaiigors.
Thanks 10 their own precautions, tn,
outer door OF the wood shed had been Sc
curely barricaded; the mutiueers wsr,
hopelessly prisoners, and erelong besar
to shiver in the cold wind which whistled
through the chinks between the logs
"Yer don't believe he means TO keep us
here all day, do yes" whined Nat, al
length.
Yes, do" snarled Ziby, rubbing q
very puffy black and blue bunch over his
right eye. "Jest like him tu. I tell ye
he's a regular blue pill, he is. just look
at my eyer
"Wal. we'd a sarved him the same sarse
II he hadn't up an got the better on us. y
But there was no comfort in that reflec.
tion with the thermometer at fourteen de.
grees below zero
"We'll be laffed at by, the hull town, y
growled Cufiy. And then each began to
lay the blame on the other.
But they soon had to bestir themselves
10 keep from freezing and after doing their
best they were soon thoroughly chilled.
After time they began to wish to bc
released but two doors intervened between
them and the school room, and high
wind was blowing.
Noon came, and the noon recess passed
No one went near them, and by three
O'Clock in the afternoon they were SO be.
numbed and so near freezing that they
were ready to accept succor on almost any
terms.
Perhaps it was for this that Master Am.
mi had waited, for not much after three
o'clock he called up little Asa Foster, and
bade him 60 to the minister's tree, as the
children called the yellow birch, to the
top Of which poor Mr.. Wentworth had
been tied by the Kaidgers, and cut ten
stick .. as big as the butt end Of whip
stock.
When these had been brought In Mas.
ter Ammi first warmed them before the
fire. place and then visited them little;
sna then he went to the door of the wood
house aud asked the captive haldgers II
they were cold. and il they would ike to
come in and get warm.
'"Yes. yes!' they roared. "Let us ont!
let W. Ont" He could hear their teeth
cE atter.
"Wall,~ replied the master, lyon can
come into the school room, one at time,
and get warmed. Do you agree to tbat?'
"Yes, yes" they tcbattered.
"Well. then dad may come first" said
the master. And be opened the door part
ly, but stood ready to force it to il the
Kaidgers showed bad faith. 4
Jad squeezed out, and the master, after
hssping the door upon the others. escort
ID him into the school room. Hall frozen,t
The youngster rushed for the stove. But,
Master Am mi laid hand on his collar.
"Not SO fast, aid he. Il did not say
you might have fire-heat. l have some
thing that will better suit your case, " and
he pointed to the pile Of big birch wlthes.
"You great boys" continued Mr.. Bray
earnestly, "have abused your teachers
here for years. Some you have maltreat-
ed. even put in peril Of their lives. those
were mean, ruflianly tricks. That was q
cruel, fendish outrage on Mr.. Wentworth
who was honestly trying to dc goa good.
You meant to uso me in the same way this
but the day OF retribut;on has
come to you. Poetic justice is about to
be executed. ] doubt il yon have muchl
appreciation of poetic justice, Jad Day,
but you Will soon feel the force Of it"
Whereupon the master selected one OF
the withes and proceeded to quicken Jads
Jad howled and squirmed.
But it was not till second withe WAS
reduced 10 mere stub in the stalwart
masters hand that there was any visible
lull in the proceedisgs
"Are you warm now, Iad Day''
SOW. owl Yes. yes, oh. never'll do
nothin' agin--neyer will never will"
Take your hat. then. and go home.'
said Master Ammi; and he now proceeded
10 let ont Jote Yates.
Jote was as tall as the mastsr. He had |
on q thick coat. After hearing a. speech
similar to that which greeted Jad ho was
uternly bidden TO take off his coat.
Sullenly he refused, and backed into q
corner; but with one jerk tho master took
the coat clean of from the fellow except
the two sleeves on his arms; and IT is
doubtful whether the annals OF old school
Al stricts can furnish an instance 10 match
The birching that Jote then received.
AMI that is affirming great deal, as
some O I our older readers with good mem.
ories will no doubt agree with me-
a Il 4