The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-05-16

but kept his eye on Nose, as 1t watch
ing for any delinquency. After this
little episode the exercises proceeded
without interruption till noon.
Alice had no appetite for dinner.
She leaned her throbbing head upon
the desk and wondered YEARLY how
long she could endure this.
She was aroused by one of the little
girls running up to her, exclaiming
Teacher, teacher, the big boys are
fightingr She followed the child, ex.
claiming, "Oh, why did l ever come
into such den of wild beasts I" At
the rear of the school house stood Jim
Turner engaged in hand-to-hand
combat with Nose Bradley and his
two brothers, both of whom were
grown. AS Alice stepped around the
corner Jim sent Nose reeling to the
earth and then turned like lion upon
his two remaining assailants. They
rushed at him from two sides, but Jim
was as active as panther, Bill Brad
ley fell as if shot, from ft.handed
blow, and his brother Tom followed
him in an instant. BY this time Nose
had secured ball bat and rushed for
Jim, but the latter evaded the blow,
and wrenching the bat from his hand
knocked Nose headlong with blow of
his fist.
AS the discomftted trio arose Jim
laughed lightly, and asked them show
they liked it as far as as they had got"
picked up the bat he had taken from
Nose and called out, "Come on, boys,
let's have game of ball."
The combat ended so quickly that
Alice had no chance to interfere, but
she felt that it would not do to let this
open violation of school rules pass I'M
punished, so she rang the bell. When
pupils were assembled she called the
culprits up to the desk, and asked what
the fight was about and who began it.
The Bradleys stood sullen and silent,
but jim answered, 81 would rather
not tell what it was about, but | began
1t by knocking Nose Bradley down"
Alice knew the fight was the result of
Jim's espousal of her cause in the read
ing class, and her voice faltered as she
said: "Then l shall have to punish
you hold out your hand
jim obeyed her Instantly She took
up the ruler with trembling hand
aud began the punishment Jim's face
never changed muscle. The look
upon it was obedience in which there
was no trace of either bravado or sui
lenness. AS Alice inflicted the blows
on the hand so quietly held out to her,
the thought rushed upon her mind that
she was smiling the only hand that
had been raised to befriend her in that
lawless region. .t..
Her face grew pale, the blows fell
falteringIy, the tears began to run
down her cheeks, the ruler fell from
her hand, she sank into her seat, buried
her face into her hands, and burst into
storm of sobs
Then Jim's countenance changed.
His lips quivered, he dashed his hand
across his eyes TO clear them of unnat-
ural dimness, and the great lump in his
throat seemed to choke him. a chuck
lie from Nose Bradley recalled his self
possession, however, and he took a
step or two toward the latter with eyes
that fairly blazed with hot Indignation.
Nose rapidly retreated a step or two,
and his chuckle died an untimely death,
and for full minute silence reigned
over the school room. At last Alice rails,
ed her head and in broken voice dis
missed the pupils to the play ground.
AS the children passed out she heard
some say, $50 you've got whipping
after all, Jim," and Jim's reply, "Yes,
and I've got enough to pass some of il
around if anybody is anxious about
it."
AT o'clock Alice rang the bell with
a feeling of utter despair; but nc
school ever moved more smoothly than
did her school that afternoon. Quiet
obedience, study, good lessons, and re.
spectful attention were universal. But
Alice had determined to quit the
school she felt as if she would rather
be the poorest washerwoman than to
be badgered, bullied, and tortured fol
months at time by set of brutal
rutfians, whose parents employed hel
for the sole purpose of enduring this
martyrdom.
So when Alice locked the school
house door that evening it was with a
mingled feeling of humiliation that she
started to offer her resignation to the
directors. AS she left the school house
she saw Jim Turner few yards ahead
of her walking rapidly toward home
She called his name, and he respectful
ly waited until she had overtaken him
"Mr. Turner, she said, SIN going
away in the morning, and wish to
thank you for your brave defense OF
me At the school today, and to ask
your forgiveness for the punishment SC
unjustly inflicted on you,' and in hei
earnestness Alice held out her trem.
bling little hand, aud jim instantly
grasped it. ". l. ..I
81 have nothing to forgive" said be
"you could not do otherwise and
neither could :; but you are surely
not intending to quit the school7''
"Yes," answered Alice, 81 woulG
rather die than pass through thre,
months of such scenes as l have to
day" .....
"But you will have no more trouble
there is no one in the school tha
would be at all likely to give you trou
BILE, except the Bradley boys, and al
long as l am there / will answer fol
their good behavior.
At last Jim's eloquence prevailed
and Alice finally consented to teach
week longer, and at the end of tina
time she decided to stay, for never die
a school move along more smoothly
AT her request jim was allowed to re
main during the term, and as soon a
it closed he went to college.
Alice taught the Bear creek schoo
successfully for three years, but in tn,
end Uncle Zekes prediction was veri
fed, for jim Turner came back an,
broke up the school.
He married the teacher