The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-15
BENNINGTON, VT, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1888.

it's ordinary function. The room wa
full of smoke, and the children stoo,
sbivering and coughing.
The five large boys above mentionel
were sitting on the forward benches
pretending to study, but something Il
their manner caused the master to fee
that mischief was intended.
"This is a bad fire for so cold morn
ing" he remarked. who laid IL"
Joe Yates !" exclaimed Sally Briggs
spitefully, land it seems to be stuffet
up, But it can't be anythiug's In tn
chimney, she added, sarcastieally, 10
| came along to school"
"SomethiDg in the chimney 7" repeat
ed the master. "What can il be y
He saw the trap at once but for rea
sons of his own he chose TO walk int
it, and got partly down on his knees
with his back to the boys, and essayeC
to look up the flue. This was the verl
thing the Kaidgers were lying in wa
for. With shout they all sprang upor
him, pulling him back ward on the floor
and then began dragging him through
he door and along the covered way
opening into the woodshed, or trap.
Somewhat to their surprise the master
did not offer much resisteDce.
Don't be 30 rough with me, boys" HI
said, in what they thought a rathel
queer tone. In moment more they
had him in the woodshed--just whcF'
they wanted him, they thought--bu
Just where he wanted them really.
No sooner were they all inside thar
the athletic but hitherto passive ANN
Bray suddenly bounded TO his feet and
delivered two lightning blows which
sent Joe and Ziby headlong and with
tremendous force against the Others
Before they had time TO rally, the mas
ter was out and had hasped the door be-
hind them.
"You will remain there, boys" said
Ammi, till you can appreciate good
fire |"
With this parting salutation, the mas.
ter went back to the scbuolroon. After
some delay the wad of brush and turf
was removed from the chimney, and
lessons proceeded as usual. Thanks to
their own precautions, the outer door OF
the woodshPd had been securely barri-
caded, the mutineers were bOpelessly
prisoners, and ere long began to shiver
in the cold wind which whistled through
the chiuks between the logs.
"Ye don't b'lieve he means TO keep us
here all day, do ?" whined Nat.
"Yis, l do" snaIled ZIby, rubbing a
very puffy black-and-blue bunch over
his right eye. "Jes like him tu. I tell
you he's a regular hlue pill, he is. Look
at my eye
oval, wed a ssrved him the same
sarse ef he hadn't up an' got the better
on u.s." said Joe.
But there was nogreat comfort in that
reflection with the thermometer at l30
below zero.
"We'll be laft at by the hull town" b"
growed Cuffy, and then each began To
lay the blame on the other. But they
soon had TO bes,ir themselves to keep
from freezing, and, after doing their
best, they were soon thoroughly chilled.
After a time they began shouting to be
released; but two doors intervened be
tween them and the schoolroom, and
high wind was blowing, Noon came,
and the noon recess passed. No one
went near them, and by 3 o'clock in the
afternoon they were 70 benumhed and
go near freezing that they we're ready to
accept succor on almost any terms.
Perhaps it was for this that Master
Ammi had waited; for not much after
three o'clock he called up little Asa Fos-
ter, and bade him go out to the minis
ter's tree, as the children called the yell
low birch, to the top of which poor Mr..
Wentworth had been tied by the Kaid
gers, and cut ten sticks, each as big as
The butt end of whip stalk. When
these had been brought in, Master Amml
first warmed them before the fireplace
and tu,isi Cd them littln and then he
went to the door Of the woodhouse'a
asked the captive Kaidgers il they were
cold, and whether they would like tc
come in and get warmed.
Eyes yes r. they roared. "Lct US
out Let US out = He could hear theil
teeth chatter.
"Well," replied the master, "you car
come into the schoOlroom, one at time
and get warm. Do you agree to that ?
eyes. yes" they chartered.
"Well, then, Jad may come first" sale
the master ,and he opene d the door part
ly but stood ready tO force it to il th'
Kaidgers showed bad faith, JAG
squeezed out, and the master, afte
hasping the door upon the Others, escort
ed him into the schoolroom. Halt troz
en-, the youngster rushed towards TN
fireplace but Master Ammi laid heav!
hand on his collar.
mot 80 FAST" said he. 81 did not sa.
you were 10 have fire heat. hav
something that will better suit you
case" and he pointed to the pile OF biI
birch withes. you great boys" con
tinued Mr.. Bray, earnestly, l'fhaYe abus
ed your teachers here for years. Som
you have mallreaied, even put in peri
lof their lives. Those were mean, ruffian
" tricks. That was cruel ficndish ouI
rage on Mr.. Wentworth, who was hon
estly trying to do you good. You mean
to usel me in the came way this morning
But the day Of retribulion has come I
you. doubt ifySu have much appre
citation of poetic jHstice, Jad Day, bu
you will soon feel the force of it"
Whereupon the master selected one G
the withes and proceeded to quicke
Jad's circulation. Jad howled an
squirmed. Brit it was not until secon
withe was reduced to a mere stub IN th
stal wart masters hand that there wa
any visible lull in the proceedings.
"Are you warm now, Jad Day ?"
"Ow. ow | Yes, yes o, l never
do nothin' again you again-never Wi
never will u
"Take your hat, then, and go home
.. said Master Ammi; and now he proceed
.. ed to let out Jote Yates.
Jote YVES as tall as the master. b
, had on thick coat. After hearing
similar speech TO that which had greete
Jad he was sternly hidden to take off b
coat. Sullenly he refused, ind backe
into a corner; but with one jerk II
: master took the coat clean off from u
fellow except the two sleeves on b
arms; and 1t is doubtful whether Il
annals OF old school districts can ful
nish an instance to macth the "bircf
: ing" that Jote then received. Complet
ly cowed, smarting from head TO heel
:: but effecIually warmed, the ringlead'
of the Ksidgers was in turn sent hon
Z behind Jad. And then Cuffy, Nat al
libby were In their turn admitted
, their equitable share Of the yellow birC
? stimulant,
, Il ConauunntIOn Incurable.