The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17
BRIGGS, JUNIOR.
IAN The Year Round.l
CHAPTER /.


The sound of a merciless cane on pas
sive body; a most unorthodox sound with
which to usher in Christmas morning;
then exit from the study OF the Rev.
Donald McStinger and princi-
pal of the Tusculum house academy for
young gentlemen. situated at the village
of Barncombe, in Devonshire-Master
Samuel Briggs, very red-faced, his mouth
compressed so that the lips were perfectly
white, his little fists clenched until their
knuckles were of the same color, but with
never a tear in his eye, and, considering
the nature OF the punishment he had
undergone, walking with tolerable erect
ness and straightness.
THAT will cure We, ma fine young fell
low, a think, remarked the gentle pre-
ceptor of youth, fiery-headed, pimply-
faced little Scotsman, standing five foot
nothing. "And thatll teach We not to go
tumbling into ponds where we've no call
70 be-"
Poor little Samuel Briggs A fortnight
previously he had seen his shouting,
laughing, joy-maddened school-fellows
whirl away in post-chaises for the Christ
mas holidays, his own cousin, Malthus
Briggs, ST., among them; and had been
left alone in the desolate, dripping, fog
ridden playground with the prospect of
spending five long weeks at Tusculum
house.
This was in the year 1870. Briggs
juniors father, Capt. julius Caesar Briggs,
had, few months before, fallen gallantly
at the head of his crew on board the
French seventy-four Soleil, and the little
fellow had been left to the mercies of the
Captains brother, Malthus Briggs, a
wealthy Bristol merchant who lived in
grand state in big house, and who was a
type OF the overbearing, purse-proud,
successful trader. Young Nautilus Briggs.
son and heir of the great merchant, was,
as has been said, also pupil at Tusculum
house. He was pasty-faced, jOwly boy
OF gluttOnOus and usurious disposition,
who hated and bullied his little cousin as
an interloper and a starveling, and had in
no small degree helped his father to decide
that Briggs, Junior should remain at school
during the Christmas holidays.
Briggs, IT., went out OF the study and
into the great, bleak school-room, care
fully shut the door after him, sat down at
ings any longer, buried his face in his
hands and let the pent-up cry come out
bursting, bubbling, streaming forth in an
irresistible torrent till it secured the ink
stained desk, and. of course, his cuffs and
poor little red chapped hands.
There, now! there now, Briggs, jr.,
there's a little lovey, don't Don't cry
now He's nasty, ill-tempered, red
haired little savage, he is, and I'd like to
claw his ugly face, that l would" said a
gentle voice IN his ear, while pair of gen.
tie hands disengaged his own from his
face
Briggs, jr., jumped up. A pretty, fresh
faced servant girl was standing by him,
and the tears were in her eyes, too.
Im-Im not crying, Susan. It's all
right-it's all right % he gasped, and man
fully tried to give the lie to his tear-stained
cheeks and the sopping ball of his pocket
handkerchief
"No, of course no" ," said Susan. you're
a brave little man. Come along now.
Your clothes are nearly dry, and I've
something so nice to give you in the
kitchen"
And with almost maternal tenderness
she led him away into the domestic regions
ofITusculum house.
The kitchen was decked with holly and
mistletoe and evergreens, although" +" as
Susan said, master said as how it was all
nonsense making a mess and litter Just
because it was Christmas time, and told
us not to do it, which me and cook and
the others said we'd give notice if we
wasn't allowed to enjoy ourselves one day
In the year." There was a mighty frizZing
and steaming In the neighborhood of the
fireplace, and the stalwart Devonshire
cook was busting about and three or
four other maids were bustling about, all
with red and shining faces so that it was
palpable that, at any rate, the domestics
of Tusculum house were not going to be
deprived of their Christmas fun.
"Lor, Master Briggs, junior" said the
jolly cook, wiping the perspiration from
her face with her apron. "Has he been
at 'un again? It's shame, says |, iss, it's
a shame. But now sit ee down, Master
Briggs, Junior, and eat thicky mince pies,
and never let me hear your voice until
they be both eat"
'And what made ee GO tumbling into
the Black pond, Master Briggs, junior?"
asked Susan, who was seated bv Briggs.
'Well, said the youngster, as well as he
could with a mouth full of mince pie, "it
was like this. There was frost last night,
and / thought the Black pond might be
strong enough to bear little chap like me
sliding. So / went to have q look, and |
got there, and / was getting over the fence
when saw a little girl on the ice. She
didn't see me, and was glad, because |
thought she might belong to the hall, and
Squire Adams is very strict about trespass-
ing in the park. Well, and she was dressed
In furs, and had a red hood on. and
q red dress; and she had black
eyes and curls; and she got on the
middle all safe, when all Of sudden she
tumbled down, and the ice broke and 1
couldn't see her. Sol ran on, and got
in and pulled her out, but / thought we
were both going to be drowned, for she
clung so tight to me; but got her out
and laid her on the grass, and her eyes
were shut and she was as white as snow.
Then / rubbed her hands and she opened
her eyes, and presently she got up-at
least lifted her up, but she said she was
all right and she said, Thank you. little
boy but l was as big as she was, and she
gave me penny, which didn't want to
take, and then she ran of, as her clothes
were wet through, and-and that's all. ;"
"And old Ginger thrashed you for it,
did he2" said Susan. ''That1l be little
Miss Doris from the Hall, that's who it
will be. Just let him tumble into the
Black pond. wouldn't pun him outp
"Nor me-" said the cook.
Nor mep' echoed each of the other