Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-06-14

chose. He was perfectly helpless
despite his struggles, the mOmen
you got him la the air, and then
Twas delightful after literally keep
ing him In suspense to lay him fla
on the ground in any particular
style that fancy suggested. Thi
point, however, was not lasting, fo
the cOys after tumbling to ID in va
rious attitudes generally stumbled
to II" as the slang phrase has II, anc
then its usefulness was at an end
Stiliit was always wonderful ac
complishment in u new school, and
on several occasions, although I was
a terrible coward, gained a victory
over my opponent by clinching and
hip. locking him and then pummel.
ing him In such rapid succession
that the fight was over before he
thought it had begun.
Although the boys will fight like
tigers among themselves, Ii Is rare
that one of them summons up cour.
age enough to attack their common
enemy, the teacher. Only once in
my varied experience as a school.
master did boy set out TO thrash
me, and that occasion l shall never
forget-and / don't suppose he ever
will either. ~, -i .''
| / taught wild school in back.
woods district one winter when,
physically, was scarcely able TO
teach. / had had severe illness
and was back at my desk again be-
fore I had fully recovered my
| strength. / have often been pain
ed to observe that the average boy
has little consideration for the weak
and my school seemed to think that
because Wasn't able to give them
their regular rations OF birch they
might do pretty much as they pleas
ed--and they did. One day / felt
that my control Of the school was
gone. The noise that was unable
to quell kind OF dazed me, as ! sat
there feeling completely III and
helpless. / felt that I had better
resign and get into q saw-mill or
boiler-maker's shop, or some such
occupation, that was quieter and
more soothing than the one l was
In. All at once the noise ceased
and on looking up saw that Bill
Trimmins. the biggest and worst
boy in school, was sitting on desk
with his feet on the seat ne ought
have sat ON. This was direct de-
fiance OF authority that could not
be ignored. Bill was the only son
of his father and Old Man Trem-
minis had no more control over him
than had. Bill could have thrash
ep me quite easily, and knew II.
"William," 1 said, somewhat
wearily, "would you oblige me by
sitting down on the seat" .lsm
THANK you,' said Bill, Ppm quite
comfortable where 1 am," aI
There was liter around the room
at this remark, which was doubt
less considered the very choicest OF
wit. s l.-'if
ssWilliam," said, rising. "I will
have to punish you If You don't
take your seat as you ought" Atf
He grinned at this absnrdity and
aWen. / guess you'll never have
q better chance" ~
I walked to where he sat In his
elevated seat. .LIiaI
"Hold out your hand" .as
He laughed. p" n-
1 struck him smart rap over the
knuckies with the ruler. This 30
enraged him that he threw down
his slate, jumped into the aisle, and
with an oath flung off his coat. /
retreated back to the desk and he
followed. With all bis bravado he
was afraid TO hit me a square blow |
which would have settled the mat
ter there and then. He was not |
afraid OF me personally, but rep
In a way the authority OF
the district-was the einbodiinenti
as it were, OF law and order, and
that indefinable something he was
just enough afraid Of as 10 hesitate
about striking, 50 he ciinched me
instead. OF course / quite agree
with you that there could not be a
more demoralizing sight for a school
to see than a fight between teacher
and pupil, but there 1t was, and i
had not time to see my way clearly
out OF it. Events had followed each
other too rapidly.
The moment Bill clinehed, as
they call 1t, I felt he had made mis-
lake. Old memories OF by gone
fights rose up, and as they rose
elevated William on my hip and
dropped him Gathering on the floor,
much to his own establishment and
that Of the school,.
"Rise up, WillIam," / said, sand
hold out your hand" -u
"He sprapg to his feet and cried
you must try that again"
Once more we ciinched once more
ne lost his feet, and once more he
ay on the floor. .rUl
''There, 7 have Accommodated you.
Now oDiige me by getting up and
holding out your hand" a-
This time he tried to strike me,
Jut lodged that, clasped him lov-
ngly again and flung him lovingly
igain, and flung him at full length.
He evidently regretted that he had
aken off his coat, for the floor was Il
hard. He made for the door, but
ost time by going around for his
discarded coat. 1 reached the door
irst, locked it and put the key in
ny pocket. Some of the girls had
,egun to cry, and all the boys sat
Bill looked flurried and
the worse for wear.
"Hold out your hand, William"
said, as he approached. To my
he held out his hand.
,ut he instantly thrust 1t further
md took me around the body, com
,letely to my surprise. He raised
ne from the floor and only a grape
zine twist around his leg saved me.
We surged back and forth a mo-
nent, till I got my feet ON the floor !
md instantly / had him on the hip |
,nce more. / felt my strength
'apidly leaving me, SO with final
upreine effort flung him without |
mercy on the hard floor, and there
le lay while / leaned painting
against the wall. AS he showed no 1
igns of getting up, took dipper
rom the pail which always stands I
rear the door in "A country school
house, and threw the cold water in
ais face. r-,.
He raised himself and leaned
With one hand on the floor, dying
Gladiator fashion, and seemed at a
oss to know just where the discuss
on had left off. 1 helped him To
collect his ideas by saying:
civilian, get up and hold out
your hand" u.a
He rose somewhat painfully as Rip
Van Wrinkle did after he OVERSIGHT
and. dusting OF his clothes,