The Brookhaven leader., 1884-03-20

less, despite his struggles, the moment
| YOU got HIM in the a r, and then it was
delightful after literally keeping him in
suspense 10 lay him flat on the ground
in any particular style that fancy sug-
! Ce ted. This point, however, was not
! lasting, for the boys after tumbling to
it in various attitudes generally ''tum.
bled to it, as the slang phrase has it,
and then its usofulnc was at an end.
- u il was always wonderful accom-
plishment in a new school. ando on sever
al occasions, although | was a terrible
coward, | gained a victory over my OPP
ponent by clinching AMI hip-locking
him ana then pummeling him in such
rapid succession that the fight was over
before he thought it had begun.
Although boys will fight like tigers
among themselves, il is rare that one of
them summons up courage enough to
attack their common enemy, the teach
err Only once in my varied expert
ence as a schoolmasterd did boy set out
/ to thrash me, and that occasion | shall
never forget and ! don't suppose he
ever will ether.
taught wild school in backwoods
district one winter wien, physically, |
was scarcely able TO teach. | had had
/ severe illness and was back at my
desk again before had fully recovered
my strength. have often en- panied
to obSel We that the average boy has lit
/ tie consideration for the weak, and my
school seemed to think that because |
wasn't able 10 give them their regular
rations of birch they might do pret ty
much as they pleased 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 i'll and
helpless. | felt that had better res; On
and get into a saw-mill or bOler-mak-
ers shop, or some such occupation,
/ that was quieter and more soothing than
the one | 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 he ought have
sat on. This was direct defiance of
authority that could not be ignored.
Bill was the only son of his father, and
Old Man Trimmins had no more con-
troll over him than | had. Bill could
have thrashed me quite easily, and l
knew it.
"William," said, somewhat YEARLY.
"would you oblige me by sitting down
on the seat. y
Thank you" said Bill, "Tm quite
comfortable where am"
There was litter around the room at
this remark, which was doubtless con-
sidered the very choicest of wit.
"William,' | said, rising, Il VIII
have to punish you if you don't take
your seat as YOU ought
He grinned at this absurdity and said:
"Well, l guess you'll never have a
better chance"
walked to where he sat in his ele-
waited seat.
Hold out your hand. y
He laughed.
struck him smart rap over the
knuckles with the ruler. This so en-
ragged him that he threw down his slate,
jumped into the aisle, and with an oath
flung off his coat. retIeated back to
the desk and h followed. With al his
bravado he was a raid to hit me a
square blow whci would have settled
the matter there and then. He was not
afraid of me personally, but l repre-
sented in way the authority of the
distrilt-was the embodiment. as it
were, of law and order, and that indetin-
| able something he was Just enough
afraid of as to hesitate about striking,
so he clinched me instead. OF course
quite agree with you that there could
not be more demoralzing sight for n
school to see than fight between teach
er and pupil, but there it was, and l
had not time to see my way clearly out
of it. Events had followed each other
too rapidly.
The moment Bill clinched, as they
called it, felt he had made a M stake.
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 astOnish-
ment and that of the school.
"Rise up, William" said, land hold
out your hand"
He sprang to his feet and cried:
"You Just try that again.
Once more we clinched, once more he
lost his feet, and once more he lay on
the floor.
There, have accommodated you.
NO" ooliSo h,e oy Sel'inS up an" hoio-
ing out your hand"
This time he tried to strike me, but |
lodged that, ella ped him lovingly
again and flung him at full length. He
evidently regretted that he had taken
off his coat, for the floor was lard. He
made for the door, but lost time by 60
ing around for his discarded coat. l
reached the door first, locked it and Put
the key in my pocket. Some of the
girls had begun to cry, and all the boys
sat bre athless. Bill looked ilurried and
somewhat the worse foc wear.
Hold out your. hand, William" l
sad, as he approached. To my aston
ishment, he held ont his hand, but he
instantly thrust it further and took me
around the body. completely to my sur
prise. He IA sed me from the floor and
only grapevine twist around his leg
saved me. We surged back and forth
moment, till got my feet on the floor
and instantly l had him on the hip
once more. felt my strength rapidly
leaving me, so with final supreme eff
fort rlung him without mercy on the
hard floor, and there he lay while |
leaned painting against the wall. AS he
showed no signs of getting up, took
dipper from the pail which always
stands near the door in a country
school-house. and threw the cold water