The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-18
WHIPPING THE SCHOOLMASTER.

Il
tween the ages of eighteen and twen-
fytwo; very valiant. very ambitious
and very strong. They had never
Done anything remarkable except at
school, and their mighty achieve.
ments there did not consist in spell
ling hard words in the back part of
the spelling book, parsing intricate
sentences or beating their master
ciphering.
However, although the above
named gentlemen desDised such low
pursuits as learning to read and write.
their fame was great at school. The
truth of the matter is. they had Joint
~ aud severally, from time immem-
oFisl. as it were, belonged to the
erh00lmaster- er-whipping committee /;
fsEsgaach of them, it is. said. could
boast of having conquered more ped
agogues than some of their fellow-pu-
pills had ever seen. Every winter
these three gentlemen had been in
the habit of amusing themselves and
their constituents by such innocent
practices as taking the rod out of the
teacher's hand and applying it to his
own back. rolling him in the snow,
and of putting him under the benches
while they dismissed the school.
One winter, however. they found
their match. Mr.. Cyrus Wilkins
was astern, powerful man, and not
one to be trif1ed with, with impunity.
Messrs. Tarbox. Tanner and Twiggs
had attempted on various occasions
to create a rebellion and break down
his authority, but Wilkins was firm
ly seated on his throne, and never
hesitated to crush conspiracies with
an iron hand.
Fearing resort to open arms, and
having mortal dread of the legiti-
mate s0vereign's forces in a pitched
battle, the gentlemen of the school
master whipping committee resolved
to have recourse to stratagem.
The school room was in the second
story of new brick building, which
served the double purpose of a school
and meeting house. The lower apart
ment, which was occupied on the
Srbbath, was kept scrupulously lock-
ed on all other days, to prevent un-
ruly pupils from committing depre-
dations therein and there was a
strong lock on the outer door as well
as on the door Of the school room.
Having maue THESE remarks that the
plot of the conspirators might be
fully understood and appreciated, l
now proceed in my endeavors to do
something like justice to my narra-
tive.
One afternoon, as Mr. Wilkins was
arranging his books and papers after
the exercises of the day were over.
no one else happening to be in the
school room at the time, Tarbox, the
leader of the conspirators, made a
display of his valor in boldly locking
the outer door and putting the key
in his pocket. This courageous feat
performed, Tarbox retired with his
coompanions to short distance from
the house, where they waited in high
glee to enjoy the perpIexity of their
teacher when he should discover the
trick and make signal of distress from
a window.
The three waited long and patient
ly. but Wilkins remained perfectly
quiet. They watched the windows
closely on both sides of the house, but
they saw nothing of the school-mas-
ter.
Lord, boys ! what's that ?" ex.
claimed Tanner. suddenly, pointing
at a bright light that glimmered
through one of the upper windows of
the house.
Sire ~ replied Tarbox, with a
start.
Fire. by thunder Padded Twiggs.
"It is" corroborated the first
speaker. "Willkins has set the house
afire for vengeance."
Tarbox. who felt that he had been
the cause of the calamity, turned pale
with alarm.
"What's to be done ?" he cried.
81 darsn't 60 and unlock the door.
for Wilkins would give me jessy, l
know"
"There's a ladder" suggested Tan
ner.
1--WE can put up to the window"
added Twiggs, land you can go up
and look in and see if the house really
is on fire."
IA good idea," said Tarbox, "I'll
do that. Come OH. boys, and help
me carry the ladder.
The ladder was soon placed against
the side of the house the summit
just reached to the window of the
school rOom.