The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-08-31

AAOts
Alice had no appetite tor dinner.
She leaned her throbbing head on |
the desk and ueHderrd wearily hox |
long she could endure this.
She was roused by one Of The liz.
tie girls xha rushed ap TO her ex-
chung, '.Teacher, teacher, the big
boys are hghungr' She followed
the child sxelaiming, .sOh, why did
lever come TO such den Of Wild
beasts r.
At the rear OF the school house
stood Jim Turner engaged ia a
hand.to.h hand combat with Nose
Brady and his two brothers, both
OF whom were grown. AS Alice
stepped around the corner Jim sent
Nose reeling to the ground and
then turned like a lion upon his two
remaining assailants. They rushed
upon him from two sides, but Jim
was as active as panther, aud
Bill Bradley fell as ii shot, from
lett handed blow, aud his brother
followed him in an instant. By
this time Nose had secured a ball
bat aud rushed upon jim, but the
latter evaded the blow, wrenched
the b..t from his hands, aud knock.
ed Nose headlong with a blow OF
bis tst.
AS this discounted trio rose Jim
laughed lightly aud asked them
show they liked 1t as far as they
had got,n picked up the bat he had
wrenched from Nose and called out
"Come on, boys, let's have a game
OF ball.
The combat ended so quickly that
Alice had no chance 10 interfere,
but she felt that il would not do TO
let this open violation OF school
rules 60 unpunished, NO she rang
the bell. When the pupils were as
senbled she called the culprits up
to the desk, aud asked what the
6ght was about aud who began it.
The Bradley's stood sullen and 81.
lent, but Jim answered, 81 would
rather not tell what it was about,
but began it by knocking Nose
Bradley down. Alice knew the
light was the result OF Jim's es
pOusal OF her canse in the reading
class, and her voice faltered as she
sand: "Then 1 shall have to punish
you; hold out your hand"
Jim obeyed her instantly. She
took up the ruler with u trembling
hand and began the punishment
Jim's f,ce never changed muscfe
The look upon it was one OF quie
obedience in which there was u,
trace OF bravado or sullenness. Al
Alice inflicted the blows upon tb'
hand 50 quietly held out to her, til,
thought rushed upon her mind tina
she was smiling the only hand tina
had been raised to bef' lend her il
all that lawless region.
Her face grew deadly pale, he
blows fell falteringly, the tears be
gan to run down her cheeks, th,
ruler fell from her hand, she sanl
into her seat, buried her face In be-
hands, aud bust into u storm o
sObs.
] Then Jim's countenance changed
His lips quivered, he dashe, BIZ
hand across his eyes:to clear then
of all unnatural diInnes and th
, great lump in bis throat seemed t
, choke him. A chuckle from Mos
Bradley recalled his self.possession
however, and he took step or tw'
toward the latter with eyes tba
fairly blazed with hot Indignation
Nose rapidly retreated step o
; two, aud his chuckle died au un
; timely death, and for full minut,
silence reigned over the school
, room. At last Alice raised he
head, aud in a broken voice dis
missed the pupils to the play ground
As the children passed ont sh'
! heard some Que say, $50 y0u got
whipping after all, Jim,' aud Jim
reply was, ayes, aud l got euvug
to pass some of it around, ii any
: body is anxious aboutit.'
At l O'Clock Alice rang the bel
, with feeling Of utter despair; bu
]. no school ever moved more smooth
: ly than did her school that aftel
} noon. Quiet, Obedience, stud,
good lessons aud respectful attel
1 tion were universal. Bnt Alice ha
determined to quit the school sll
] felt as ii she had rather be th
poorest washerwoman than be bat
U gered, bullied and tortured fc
y months at a time, by set of bruti
2 ruffians, whose parents employe
her for the sole purpose OF endurin
I this martyrd0Dl.
!, SO when Alice locked the schoo
8 house door that evening, it WI
n with mingled feeling Of relief all
1 humiliation that she started to o
i fer her resignation to the director
8 As she left the building she sa
Jim Turner a few rods ahead tt he
e walking rapidly toward home. Sl
;, called his name and he stopped an
It respectfully waited until she ha
It oyertaken him. s
l. "Mr. Turner" she said, ~ Al
going away in the morning, aud
& wish to thank you for the brave d
1t feUse OF me at school today AT
10 ! ask your forgiveness for the pu
/: ishment | so nnjnstly inflict, d {
10 you,r and iu her earnestness ALI
y held out her trembling little han
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