Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-02-15
obliged to punish YOU" said Alice,
bravely, though she could scarcely stand

plleu tne Tuludn, leeIlbR ~ ueE inpu-
IDENTIFY.
"But can break your bones for you
in half minute, and I'll do it if you
don't stand up and read as the teacher
asked you to-" said Voice at the other
end of the clnss, and Alice looked in that
direction and saw jim Turner step from
the class and face the astonished Nose.
Moses insolent manner abated in an
instant, his face turned pale and he NUT
tered something about not being 'bossed
by other boys" but he stood up as he
was commanded.
Alice could have kissed her young
champion for very gratitude, but she
mustered all the dignity she could COM
mand and said;
" Mr.. Turner ! cannot oliersynn to in
terfere in the management of my school;
take your seat" i
The youth obeyed without word, but |
kept his eye on Nose, as if watching for
any delinquency. After this little cpl !
sode the exercises proceeded without in
terruption till noon.
Alice had no appetite for dinner. She
leaned her throbbing head upon the desk
and wondered wearily 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 fight
ingm She followed the child, exclaim-
ing "Oh, why did ever come into such
den of wild beasts2" At the rear of the
school house stood Jim Turner engaged
! -, hon1 4n honl papohof Huitb hncp
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 remaining two assailants. They
rushed at him from two sides, but Jim
was as active as panther, and Bill Brad
ley fell as if shot from left-handed
blow, and his brother Tom followed him
in an instant. By this time Nose had
secured ball-bat and rushed upon jim,
but the latter evaded the blow, and
wrenching the bat from his hand knocked
Nose headlong with blow of his
fist.
AS the discounted trio arose Jim
laughed lightly, and asked them show
they liked it as far 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 unpun-
ished, so she rang the bell. When the
pupils were assembled she called the cul-
prits 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 it by knocking
Nose Bradley down" Alice knew the
fight was the result of Jim's espousal Of
her cause in the reading class, and hel
; voice faltered as she said: 'Then l shal
: have to punish you; hold out your hand.
jim obeyed her instantly. She tool
, up the ruler with trembling hand ant
l began the punishment. Jim's face nevel
: changed a muscle. The look upon il
was one of quiet obedience, in whicl
J there was no trace of either bravado o
sullenness. As Alice inflicted the blow
upon the hand so quietly held out to her
= the thought rushed upon her mind tha
= she was shifting the only hand that ha(
been raised to befriend her in that law
= less region.
Her face grew pale, the blows fell fal
teringly, the tears began to run down he
:, cheeks, the ruler fell from her hand, sh
~ sank into her seat, buried her face in he
.r hands, and burst into a storm of sobs.
a Then Jim's countenance changed. Hi
"a lip quivered, he dashed his hands acrot
\ his eyes to clear them of unnatural din
ness, and the great lump in his throf
% seemed to choke him. A chuckle frol
Il Nose Bradley recalled his self possession
Il however, and he took a step or two t.
4 ward the latter with eyes that fair
,s blazed with hot Indignation.
a Nose rapidly retreated step or tw,
"a and his chuckle died an untimely dealt
IU and for full minute silence reigned ov'
q the schooi-room. At last Alice raised h
~ head and in broken voice dismissed Il
N pupils to the play ground.
m .d As the children passed out she heal
IA some say: {" So you got whipping aft
- all, Jim," and Jim's reply " Yes, and
or got enough to pass some of it around
oi anybody is anxious about it."
II At o'clock Alice rang the bell wi
-, ~ feeling of utter despair; but no scho
10 ~ ever moved more smoothly than did h
~ school that afternoon Quiet obedienc
to n study good lessons and respectful atte
IN ton were universal. But Alice had d
~, ~ termined to quit the school; she felt as
m an she would rather be the poorest washt
" ..,o,,,o, +ho,, +o bo bo Il crarad b,,lliel al
~ tortured for months at a time by set
re- brutal ruffians, whose parents employ
on her for the sole purpose of enduring Il
elt martyrdom.
so So when Alice locked the school-hor
en door that evening it was with mingl
no feeling of relief and humiliation that S
lis. started to offer her resignation to the
,he rectors. AS she left the school-house s
len saw jim Turner few yards ahead of h
er- walking rapidly toward home. s
to called his name, and he stopped and
led spectfully waited until she had overtal
ex him. "Mr. Turner" she said, :"
ich going away in the morning, and l W
iris to thank you for your brave defense
the me at the school to-day, and to ask "
lad forgiveness for the punishment ! so
Justly inflicted on you," and in
ass earnestness Alice held out her lii
of trembling hand, and Jim instan
wv, grasped it. 80,
,ral Il have nothing to forgive" said
led "you could not do otherwise and nett
his could I; but you are surely not intendi
lis to quit the school 2"
his Eyes, )" answered Alice, II would rat
die than pass through three months
and snch scenes as | have to-day"
"But you will have no more trout
n" there is no one in the school that wo
be at all likely to give you trouble,