The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-04
A SUGGESTIVE EPISODE OF SCHOOL,
ROY LIFE

His real name was Ironical Morphy,
but he never got the benefit of that pecu-
liar title, for at home his sisters called
him Ronnie and the boys at school
dubbed him Bones on account OF the
.conspicuous prominence of his anatomy.
There was not an ounce of supertiuous
flesh upon him, and the angles at his
elbows and knees were so acute that his
skin must have been as tough as whit
leather to prevent their going through.
Some one of facetious turn of mind
once proposed clapping mustard plas-
ter on him merely as an experiment to
prove whether his cuticle and his skele-
ton had grown together.
The family physician had assured his
mother that he could not possibly live to
be grown, yet she, being an ambitious
woman, insisted upon her sons being
sent to school, His teacher was request
ed to be as lenient as possible to the boy,
on account of his poor health, and the
natural consequence was that he soon
became terribly spoiled.
Yet, strange to say, Bones was a gen
,eral favorite at school, and the reason
was he kept the yard in a continual state
of excite at recess. Although he was so
weak that he could not run hundred
yards without falling down, he was full
of courage to the finger tips, and was
always imagining himself insulted and
would challenge and fight the offender,
no matter what was his age or strength.
As matter of course he got licked
every time, and the boys to whom he
gave the pleasure of whipping him be-
came his friends afterwards. AS time
went on the list of names of those that
had pounded Bones was only shorter by
one than the roll in the teachers class
book.
The name of the boy that had never
had fight with Bones up to the present
date was Steele Shoestrings. His nick
name was Andiron, because his fist was
so hard and firm that he could knock
any of his schoolmates out on the first
round, and his list of victories was ex-
actly the same length as that of Bones
defeats.
Cant we do something to get up a
fight between Andiren and Bones" said
Tom Tunstall to crowd of boys after
school one day in June. at is awfully
dull now since we all whipped Bones and
stopped fighting"
"Yes, but Andiron has such fearful
temper he's always in the frey know,
and he might grind poor little Bones to
powder for none of us are strong enough
to protect him from that Goliath" said
Hugh Monroe.
That's So" said Tom Tunstall, 81
really would be sorry for Bones, poor
fellow. Yet you mark my words, two
such high-tempered fellows are bound to
have fight one of these days"
"You don't really think that Bones
would have the courage to fight Andiron,
do you, Tom?"
Bones has the courage of wildcat"
replied Tom. "Hasn'the proved that by
not being conquered by the lickings he
has had?''
Eyes, but all put together they will
not equal the one he will get when he
attacks Andiron," said Hugh.
Nevertheless he will getit," persisted
Tom. what shall we do, boys, help
Bones or let him be pounded into mince-
meat? that is if there is any meat on
him, which doubt"
The boys deliberated silently. They
were all kindhearted and brave enough
to assist comrade on ordinary occasions
of distress, but when they thought of
the drubbing each of them would receive
from those iron fists afterwards, their
flesh became desperately weak.
''If they fight it will be Bones own
fault, for Andiron rarely attacks boy
without great provocation, and 1 think
we had better let him take his punish
ment," said billiard Judge.
1t was not long until Tom Tunstall' s
prediction came true. Andiron and an
other boy were running foot race across
the grounds at recess, and somehow,
they never knew whether it was by acct
dent or design, Bones got directly in An
dirons pathway.
"Clea" out, you animated skeleton"
exclaimed Andiron, turning white with
rage, and, selling Bones shoulder, he
e hurled him as far as he could send him.
Bones lay there a few moments,
stunned and miserable; then his courage
arose, his blood began to boil at the in
suit he had received, and he tottered
across the playground and stood before
Andiron, who was smiling with triumph
at his victory in the race.
"Andiron, you have insulted me {"
Bones voice shook with emotion, but it
was clear and loud enough to be heard
by every one present, land 1 challenge
you to fight me this afternoon after
school,"
A breathless silence followed. Then
Andiron bowed as courteously as a
knight of the middle ages taking up a
glove that had been thrown down as a
guage of battle, and said in a quiet, dis
tinct tone:
81 accept the challenge"
There was little studying done in the
hours that followed. Imagination was
busy in each youthful brain picturing the
terrible combat so soon to follow, and
many glances were directed towards