The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-21

20 t0ot rOOu NJ uouoe "aoeuO" " w.
commencing with a short Combination
Service Presently however. there was
great trampling of feet. with the swish.
swish of the cane Matthew's first charge
Lord ha mercy" cried Prudence
The rod and reproof give wisdom. -
read her mistress from the book
Then they heard heavy fall followed
by q heavier faster more determined
swishing kissing and whistling OF the
instrument till the air was resonant with
IL. music, and 1t was as if all the boys In
Northumberland were being caned at
once
Lord ha mercy" repeated Prudence
he'll murder the boy
reproof read the other from her
MACE. entereth more into wise man
Than hundred stripes into fool
There was a pause and then sound OF
voices and then another terrific hallstorm
Of blows
Both women looked aghast. Was the
punishment never 70 endf
Mistress she cried. you may look on
while the boy is cut to pieces can't and
won't"
She opened the door Heavens what a
sight was that which met her astonished
eyes The boy. cut and bruised about the
face, was standing in the middle of the
room. smiling The man was on his hands
and knees slowly rising his shirt was
torn of his back his shoulders were cut
TO pieces, he was covered with weals and
bruises his face. SCARED and scanned with
Ralph's cruel alder branch. was dreadful
TO look upon He seemed to see nothing
he proaned as be lifted himself up. be
staggered where he stood
Presently be put on his coat with many
groans and muttered curses. and Prudence
observed that all the while he regarded
the lad with looks of the most extreme
terror end rage Presently she began to
understand the situation
Are you hurt. Master Ralph" she
asked
No but Mathew is said Ralph.
Mathew cried his sister as the victim
of rebellion staggered into the room
what Is this7'
He sank into his arm chair with long
deep groan and made no reply
Why what in the world. Master
Ralph7" asked the servant
But the lad had gone He went up
stairs to his own room made up little
bundle of things which he wrapped in a
handkerchief. picked out the thickest and
heaviest of his cudgels. and then returned
to the kitchen
Give me my dinner he said
Barbara had brought out her brothers
WIG and put i. on now. but he still sat 81
.ent and motionless- He was in such an
agony of pain all over. and his nervous
system had sustained so terrible shock
that he could not speak
Give me my dinner" Ralph repeated.
Barbara pointed to the crust of bread
She was appalled, by this mutiny but she
preserved some presence of mind. and she
remembered the bread Then she sat
Town again before the Bible and began to
read. like clergyman while the plate
goes round
1t is as sport TO the fool to do mis-
thief
Prudence. the beef being already served.
aid knife and fork for each
A fools mouth Barbara said. as il
she was quoting Solomon = 'calleth for
pasted beef and stalled OK Bread and
.a;er until submission and repentance
The young mutineer made no verbal re
ply But he dragged the dish before his
own plate. and began to carve for himself
largely and generously
Mathew cried Barbara, springing to
her feet
let 1t be-let it be- said Mathew
let the young devil alone | will be
even with him somehow Let be
Not the old way cousin" replied
Ralph with nod He then helped him
self to about pint or so OF the good old
October. and began his appetite sharp
ened by exercise TO make the beef dis
appear in large quantities Mathew looked
on, saying nothing The silence terrified
his sister What did it meany And she
perceived. for the first time. that their
ward had ceased to be a boy and must
henceforth be treated as man II was a
fearful thought She shut her Bible and
sat back with folded hands. waiting the
issue
In course OF time even q buggy Ihnu NJ
II has had enough Ralph lifted his head
at last. took another prolonged pull at the
beer. and told Barbara politely that he
had enjoyed good dinner
Then he turned TO his cousin and ad
dressed him with certain solemnity
Cousin. he said. you have always
hated me- because my uncle left the mill
70 me instead OF TO yourself Yet vol,
knew from the beginning that his design
was for me TO have 1t ] have done you
no wrong You have never lost any op
portunity of abusing me before nay face
and behind my tack You became. un
happily for me. my guardian You have
never neglected any chance of Jogging
and beating me- If yon could find cause
As regards the gttost business | was
wrong deserved punishment. but was
It the province of a cousin and a guardian
to 60 and lay information before the ius
tice of the peaces | shall be II come nex,
month In four years bis mill and tn.
farm will be mine own But If | renal,
with you here ! can expect nothing but
hatred and i'll treatment as far as yoi
dare You have give me plowboy's WORT
without aplowboys wage and often with
out a plowboys food As for hoggina
that is finished because think you hav,
no more stomach for another fight
Mathew made no reply whatever. bu
sat with his head upon his hands. breath
ing heavily
Il am tired of i'll treatment" Ralpf
went on. land shall 20 away
Whittier. boyf" asked Barbara.
Il know not yet | 60 to seek m,
fortune
ss(f0 IL vny1 uui1l cc;I Nal