Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-17

had no chance to interfere, and she felt
that it would not do to let this open viola
ton of the school rules pass UNPUBLISHED,
so she rang the bell. When the 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 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 the
| ruler with trembling hand and began the
punishment Jim's face never changed a
| muscle The look upon it was one of quiet
obedience, in which there was no trace Of
either brayado or sullenness. As Alice in
ficted the blows upon the hand so quietly
held out TO her the thought rushed upon
her mind that she was shifting the only
hand that had been raised to befriend her
in that lawiess region.
Her face grew pale, the blows fell
falteringly, the tears began to run down
her cheeks the ruler fell from her hand,
she sank into her seat, buried her face in
her hands and burst into storm of sobs
Then Jim's countenance changed. His
! LID ouivered. he dashed his hand across his
ewes to clear them Of unnatural Gimness
and the great lump in his throat seemed to
| choke him. A chuckle from Nose Bradley
recalled his self-possession, however, and
he took step or two toward the latter
with eyes that fairly blazed with hot in
! dicnatiOn
Nose rapidly retreated a step or two and
his chuckle died an untimely death, and
for a full minute silence reigned over the
schoolroom. At last Alice raised her head
and in broken voice dismissed the pupils
to the playground
As the children passed out she heard
one say, 50 you got whipping after ALL
JIM" and Jim's reply, Yes, and | got
enough to pass some of it around if any
body is anxious about it."
At o'clock Alice rang the bell with a
feeling of utter despair; but no school ever
| moved more smoothly than did her school
that afternoon. Quiet obedience, study,
good Lessons, and respectful attention were
universal. But Alice had determined to
quit the school. She felt as if she would
rather be the poorest Washerwoman than
10 be badgered, bullied and tortured for
months at a time by set Of brutal ruffians
whose parents employed her for the sole
| purpose of enduring this martyrdom.
So, when Alice locked the school-house
! door that evening it was with q mingled
| feeling of relief and humiliation that she
started to offer her resignation to the di-
! rector5 As she left the school-house she
saw lin Turner few yards ahead Of her,
walking rapidly towards home. She called
his name and he stopped and respectfully
waited until she had Oyertaken him. hr.
Turner" she said, am going away in
the morning and / wish to thank you for
your brave defense of me at the school to-
day, and to ask your forgiveness for the
punishment I SO unjustly inflicted on you"
and in her earnestness Alice held out her
little trembling hand, and Jimmy instantly
grasped it.
Il have nothing 20 forgive said he;
you could not do otherwise, and neither
could but you are surely not intending TO
quit the SCHOOL,"
Yes" answered Alice, q would rather
die than pass through three months Of
such scenes IS / have to-day
But YOU viii have no more trouble
there is no one in the school that would be
at all likely to give you trouble, except the
Bradley boys, and as long as ] am there I
viii answer for their good behavior"
At last Jim's elo9uence prevailed, and
Alice finally consented 10 teach week
longer, and at the end of that time she de-
cided to stay, for never did school move
along more smoothly. At her request,
Jim was allowed to remain during the
term, and as soon as it closed he went to
college
Alice taught the Bear Creek School sue
cesstully for three years; but in the end
Uncle Ieke's prediction was verified, for
Jim Turner came back and broke up the
school.
He married the teacher