The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-25

"Wal. we'd a. sarved him the same
sarsc eff he hadn't up an gut the better
u.s." Joe.
Bnt there was no great comfort in that
reflection, with the thermometer at four
teen degrees below zero.
Wen be Taft at by she hull town."
grcwled Cuffy; and then each began to
lay the blame on the other.
But they soon had to bestir themselves
to keep from freezing, aud after doing
their best they We're soon thoroughly
chilled.
After a time they began shouting to be
released; but two doors interveneI be-
tween them AMI the school-room, and a
high wind was blowing.
Noon came, and the noon-recess
passed. No one went neal them; and
by three o'clock in the afternoon they
were so benumbed and so neal freezing
that they were ready to accept succor on
almost any terms.
Perhaps it was for this hat Master
Ammi had waited; for not much after
three o'clock he ealledup little Asa Foster
tree, as the children called the yellow
DllSl W bhC OOp vi L pool ~ -
worth had been tied by the Kaidgers,
and cut ten sticks, each as big as the
butt-end of a whip-stock,
When these had been brought in,
Master Ammi first warmed them before
the fireplace and twisted them a littlei
and then he went to the door of the
wood-house and asked the captive Kaid-
gers if they were cold, and whether
n .-~1l IL a1H rot
warmed.
"Yes! yes!' they roared. "Letu us out!
Let us outr He could hear their teeth
chatter.
"WeIl," replied the master, '.you can
come into the school-room, one at a time,
and get warmed. Do you agree to
that?"
..Yes, yes" they chartered.
"Well, then, Jad may come first"
said the master. and he opened the door
partly, but stood ready to force il to if
the Kaidgers showed bad faith.
Jad squeezed out, and the master,
after hasping the door upon the others,
escorted him into the school-room. Half
frozen, the youngster rushed towards
the fireplace; but Master Ammi laid a
heavy hand on his collar.
mot so fast" said he. 81 did not
say you were to have fire-heat. 1 have
something that will better suit your
case." and he pointed to the pile of big
birch withes.
..You great boys" continued Mr..
Bray, earnestly, ..have abused your
teachers here for years. Some you have
maltreated, I'VE put in peril of their
lives. Those were mean, ruffianly tricks.
That was a cruel, fiendish outrage on
Mr.. Wentworth, who was honestly try
ing to do you good. You meant to use
me in the same way this morning. But
the day of %retribution has come TO you.
Poetic Justice is about to be executed.
1 doubt if you have much 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 circulation.
Jad howled and squirmed.
But it was not till a second withe was
reduced to a mere stub in the stalwart
MASTER hand that there was any visible
lull in the proceedings.
care you warm now, Jad Dayp"
SOW, ow! Yes! yes! o, [ naver'nd do
nothin' agin you agin-naver will
naver willF'
Take your hat, then. and go home,"
said Master Ammi; and he now proceeded
to let out Jote Yates.
Jote was as tall as the master. He
had on a thick coat. After hearing a
speech similar to that which had greeted
Jad he was sternly hidden to take off his
coat.
Sullenly he refused, and backed into
a corner; but with one jerk the master
took the coat clean off from the fellow
except the two sleeves on his arms; and
old school districts can furnish an in
stance to match the ''birching'' that Jote
then received.
And that is affirming a great deal, as
some of our older readers with good
memories will no doubt agree with me.
Completely cowed, smarting from
head to heels, but efectually warmed,
the r~ingleaderof the Kaidgers was in his
turn sent home-behind Jad. And then
Cutfy, Nat and Ziby were in their turn
admitted to their equitable share of the
yellow birch stimulant.
The ten witheS were used up, the floor
literally sprinkled with the bits, and the
five kaidger5 were sent homeward, in
Indian file, all arm
A good job had been done. The back
bone OF riot and rebellion at Kaidger Hill
was efeetually broken.
Jote left the place in a few days and
went to work in the logging swamp"
After a week had passed, the other four
boys came back to school, and were made
to study. Odd as it may seem. they came
to be on pretty good terms with Master
Ammi before the twelve weeks of school
We're past; and later in life Jad Day often
said that Master Ammi was the best
teacher he ever had.
Mr.. Bray taught the schools at Kaidger
Hill for thee winters in succession, and
from being the worst school in the coun
ty, he made it one of the most orderly
| and best.-Y0nkn,s Com