The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-06
WoODsFELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO TUESDAY,


pleasing or satisfactory condition. Ap-l
parently the chimney had refused its or;|
dinary junction. There was no draught.f
TEe room was full of smoke, and the1
children stood shiyering and coughing
about the Fireplace.
The Eve large boys alSeye mentioned
were sitting on the forward benches,
pretending to study; but something inl
their manner caused the master to feel
that mischief was intended.
@F6is Is bad Ere for so cold morn
ing he remarked. "Who laid it r.
s.Jote Yates exclaimed Sally Briggs,
spitefullY, sand it seems to be stuffed
up Bat 1t can't be that anything's in
the chimney" she added, sarcastically,
"forI see Jote on the roof looking into
| is come along TO school," -
t&onething in the chimney Pr repeated
the master innocently. "What can it
be 2',s
he saw the trap at once, but for rea-
sous Of his own he choose to walk into
Fit. and stepping forward be got partly
I dbwE on his knees, with his hack to the
boys, and essayed to look up the broad
aae.
This was the very thing the Kaidgers
were lyingii wait for. With shout
they all sprang ppon him, pulled bim
backward on the aoor, and then began
dragging him through the door and
along the covered way opening into the
log wood-shed, or "trap."
1Somewhatto their surprise the master
did not ofiers much resistance Don't
be so rough With me, boys" he SAID, in
what they thought rather queer tone.
| 1 In moment more they had him in
the wood house--just where they want
ed him, they thougbt-but just where
he wanted them, really.
| Nc sooner were they all inside than
the athletic, but hitherto passive, Ammi
bray. suddenly turned the tables by
bounding TO his feet like Hercules, and
delivering two lightning like blows
which sent Jote and Ziby headlong, and
with tremendous force against the 9th
err. Before they had time to rally or
even to breathe, the master was out at
the door and had hasped it upon them.
N-yer were five conspirators more
compete taken aback.
sYou will remain there, boys" said
kmmi, through the door, "till you can
appreciate good FIRE
With this parting saiutation the master
went hack TO the school-room. After
some delay the wsd of brush and turf
| was removed from the chimney, and
lessons proceeded ss ususi, without he
Ksidgers.
Thanks to their own precautions the
outer door of the wood-shed had been
securely harricaded the mutineers were
hopelessly prisoners, and ere long began
to shiver in the cold wind which whis-
lied through the chinks between the
logs.
SssYer don't b'lieye be means to Keep
as here an cay, 90 yer whiled Nat, at
length.
''Yis, l du,' snarled Ziby, rubbing a
very puffy black and-blue bunch over
his right eve, "Jes' like I'm tu. I tell
ye he's reg'lar blue-pill, he is. Look
at nv eye!"
"Wal, we'd a. sarved him the same
sarse eff he hadn't up an got the better
on us, said Joe.
But there was no great comfort In
that reflection, with the thermometer at
fourteen degrees below zero.
"We'll be latt at by the hull town."
growled Cuffy and then each began to
lay the blame on the other.
But they soon had to hestir themselves
to keep from freezing, and after doing
their best they were soon thoroughly
chilled.
Alter time they began shouting to
he released; but two doors inteEvened
between them and the school DOM, and
a high wind vas blowing
Noon came, and the noonrecess pas
sed No one went near them; and by
three o'clock in the afternoon they were
so benumbed and so near freezing that
thev were ready to accept succor on al
most any terms.
Perhaps it was for this that Master
Ammi had waited for not much after
thles O'Clock he called up little Asa
Foster and babe him 60 out to the
"minister's" tree, as the children called
the yellow birch to the top of which
poor Mr.. Wentworth had been tied by
tie Eaidgers, and cut ten sticks, each
as big "a the 5utt-end of whip-s!ock.
When these had been brought in,
Master Ammi first warmed them before
the fire place and twisted them little !;
and then he went to the door of the
wood house and asked the captive Kaid-
gers if they were cold, and whether
they would like to cone in and get
warmed.
"Yes! ycs!" they rosred. ''Let us
cut! Let us out" He could hear
their teeth chatter.
"Well." replied the master, "you can
come into the school-room, one at o
tine, cnd gel warmed. Do you agree
to That 2"
"Yes, yes" they chartered.
"Well, then, Jad mae come first" !"
said the master, and he op2nei the door
partly, but stood ready to torce it 10 if
the Kaidgers showed bad fsth,
Jad squeezed out, and the master, af-
ter hssping the door upon the Others,
escorted him into the school-room.
Half-frozen. the youngster rushed t.
wards The Fireplace; but Master Amui
laid heavy hanl ON his collar.
"Not so FAST" said he. 81 did no.
say you we're to have 1re-heat. l have
something that will better suit your
case" and be pointed to the pile OF big
birch w.thes.
''You great hoys." continued Mr.
Bray earnestly. shave abused your teach
ers here for years Some you have nal
treated, even put in peril Of their ives.
Those were mean, rufIianly tricks. That
wss cruel, fiendish outrage on Mr..
Wentworth, who was honestly trying to
10 you good. You meant to use me in
the same way this morning. But the
day of retrihution hes come to you.
Poetic justice lie about to be executed.
l doubt if you have much appreciation
os poetic justice, Jad DaV. but you will
soon ieel the force of 1t
Whe,eupon the master selected one of
the withes and proceeded to quicken
Jad's circulation.
Jsd howled and seairmed.