Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-10-09
Strike while the irons hot,

something hot later on.
Lets grab him at recess time this
morning, and walk him over here to
the pond and pitch him in"
"All right-say We do
The pond. which was large one,
was not more than three or four
hundred yards from the school house.
The water was six feet deep at the
very bank of point nearest the
house. and this was the place chosen
by the boys for the ducking of the
poor. unsuspecting Mr. Dick.
He was standing on the platform
watching some of the small boys play
ing leap-frog, when Bryan Thayer
stepped up and said, with leer:
We want you, Mister" /"
You want me :"
Yes, we do. You come along with
Us"
Mr.. Dicks face flushed at the boys
insolent tone and manner, but his
voice was steady as he asked, What
do you want of meH''
You come along and you'll find
out" said Bryan, and Nat Brace
called out, jeeringly:
we might as well tell you right
now that we're going to duck You
Duck me?'
Yes. sir; we're going TO pitch You
into Lowrie's Pond, yonder.'
"Oh, you are p said Mr.. Dick. lie
was pale instead of crimson now. and
his eyes shone, but his voice was steady.
Yes, we air!" said Phineas Joyce.
And if you don't come along peace
ably, we'll fetch you. We mean busi-
ness
Mr.. Dick glanced at the boys in 81
lence for moment. The other pupils
had gathered around, breathless with
excitement. Some OF the girls began
to cry. Little Sammy Pike who had
Just been saying that he 'jutht loved
Mithter Dick, ran and hid in the wood
shed, weeping.
Sally Redding was aname with in
dignation.
Shame on youn she cried, pointing
her fingers scornfully at the four boys.
You're IA pack ofgreat cowardly bull
lies-that's = whatyou are! You're four
to one, and you've waited until there
were four of you, because you didn
dare touch the teacher single-handed.
Don't you go a step, Mr.. Dick. We
girls will fight for you!'
She interposed her small, slender self
between the teacher and his assailantS,
and stood there with clenched fists
and flashing eyes.
The boys sneered and ! eered, al
though some Of them had the grace
to vince and flush at Sally's truthful
words. But Mr.. Dick laid his hand
lightly on Sally's shoulder and said,
with a smile:
"You are a real little Trojan maid
EN-, but / cannot have you waging
war for me. | think il best 10 yield
gracefully, if Imust yield. Now Will
go with you, boys, but don't you lay
hand ON me to force me into going.
| will go quietly along without giving
YOU that trouble
He started forward.
Don't ye try to run away" said
Phineas Joyce, "for we can outrun ye
any day
Il run away from your said the
teacher, in "a voice and with a look
that made Phineas turn scarlet and
hang back to escape that strange
contemptuous, searching look in the
teachers eyes The cowardly boy
would have fled had he been alone.
With the exception OF Sammy Pike
who, peeping from between the era cks
in the woodshed, wept aloud, the
whole school followed the teacher
and the boys to the pond, many OF the
smaller children trembling and sob
bing.
''You will kindly allow me to take
of my coat, that | may have at least
one dry garment TO put on when /
come out?" said Mr. Dick, when they
stood on the very edge OF the bank OF
the pond.
ION with it, then" said Hiram
Beal.
The other pupils had fallen backs
and the teacher and the four boy
stood alone on the banks.
Thank you, said Mr. Dick gently,
as he threw of the coat, took a long
breath. stood erect, and added:
Now am ready"
4 strange thing happened then.
The children saw it with staring, won
dering eyes and speechless lips.
Bryan Thayer and Nat Brace had
been standing directly in front OF Mr..
Dick. Now, with the word ready"
came two dull, striking sounds, aud
Nat and Bryan went reellng ana yen
ing backward into the water!
Hiram Beal stood al the teachers
right. Mr. Dick turned suddenly; his
right arm shot out swiftly In bis white
shirt sleeve, and the admiring small
boys saw the muscle swell and rise as
Hiram fell TO the ground and was
dragged TO the pond and rolled in by
the teacher.
Phiness Joyce turned to run away.
but Sally Redding clung 10 his coat
tail as he passed her and held him
/ back.
He would have struck her, bat Mr..
/ Dick had him by the collar and drag
ged him back.