Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-02-06


her nerves.
All the rules and regulations OF her
"Theorv and Practice of Opening School
Upon the First Day." seemed to vanish
and leave her head whirling in dizzy
belplessness. She tried to think of
some cheerful remark, but her brain re-
fused to form the thought and her tongue
Glove to the roof of her mouth. She
could see In the faces of her pupils, most
of whom we're now In the school'room,
that they were aware of her fright and
enjoyed it thoroughly. By strong eff
fort she partially recovered herself and
braveIy resisted the temptation to lean
her head on the desk and have good
cry. She felt that she must do some
thing or faint, so she rang the bell,
though it lacked fifteen minutes to 9.
She began taking down the names and
ages of her pupils, and by the time this
was completed she began to feel more at
ease. She then began examining the
pupils in the different branches In order
to assign them to their proper classes.
She had finished the examination IN all
the branches except the advanced read
ing class, which was principally COM
posed of grown girls and young men,
among whom was the terrible jim Tur-
ner. of whom she had been warned.
Several of the members of the class
had read, and it was now the turn of
Moses Bradley, a huge, heavy-set fellow,
with small, malicious eyes and general
air of ruffianism. When ne was called
upon to read he did not rise from his
seat, but began to read in thick, IN
distinct voice from book hidden IN his
lap.
"Mr. Bradley, will you please stand
up when you read ?" asked Alice.
f." can read just as well sett1n' down, y
replied the fellow with logged air.
"But it is one of the rules in read
ing classic stand up to read, said Alice,
her heart quaking with fear as she fore
saw the incipient rebellion.
''I reckon you will have TO make 3
new rule for me then, impudently an
swered Nose, glancing sideways at his
companions with grin of triumph.
If you do not obey me l shall be
obliged to punish you, said Alice brave
Iy, though she could scarcely stand up.
CT guess all the punishment you could
do wouldn't break any of my bones, T"
replied the ruffian, leering at her impu-
IDENTIFY.
"But I can break your bones for you
in half minute, and I'll do it it you
don't stand up and read as the teacher
asks you to, said voice at the other
end of the class, and Alice looked in
that direction and saw Jim Turner step
from the class and face the astoni shed
Nose.
Moses insolent manner abated in an
instant, his face turned pale, and he
murmured 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
ma0d, and said:
Mr.. Turner, l cannot allow you to
interfere in the management of my
school; take your seat. :"
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 YEARLY how long
she could endure this.
She was aroused by one of the little
girls running up to her,. exclaiming,
'FTeacher, teacher, the big boys are
fghtingw She followed the child, ex-
claiming, sob, why did ever come
into such den of wild beasts ?" st the
rear of the school house stood Jim
Turner engaged in q hand-to hand CON-
bat with Nose Bradley and his two
brothers, both of whom were grown. As
Alice stepped around the corner Jim sent
Nose Keeling to the earth and then
turned like lion upon his two remain
ing aesailants. They rushed at him
from two sides, but Jim was as active as
a panther, and Bill Bradley fell as if
shot, from left-handed blow, and his
brother Tom followed him in an instant.
By this time Nose had secured a ball
bat and rushed upon Jim, but the latter
eve ded the blow, and wrenching the bat
from bis hand knocked Nose headlong
with a blow Of his fist.
Bs the 2iscomfted trio arose Jim
laughed lightly and asked them Z" now
they liked it as far as they had got"
picked up the bat he had taken from
Nose and called out, g 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
the pupils we're 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, 6 I 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 her voice faltered as she said:
'Then shall have to punish you; hold
out your hand"
Jim obeyed her instantly. She took
up the ruler with trembling hand and
began tie punishment. Jim's face never
changed muscle. The look upon it
was one of quiet obedience in which
there was no trace of either bravado or
sullenness, As Alice inflicted the blows