Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-08-19

ARTHCRS FIGHT TO SAVE RUSTY.
In all his life Arthur had never be-
fore found it necessary to fight, though
he had certainly received provocation
enough from his cousin Dick to do so
more than once. His own father had
taught him to hate fighting, and to
avoid it if possible, as he would any
thing else that was ungentlemanly and
wrong. At the same time Mr.. Dustin
had been too wise man not to know
that occasions may arise in everybody's
life when il becomes absolutely neces-
sary to fight. He believed, for instance,
that it is right and proper to do so in
defense of the weak and helpless who
have claims upon US for protection,
provided that is the only way of defend
ing them, and this principle he had
thoroughly instilled into his child's
mind.
Mr.. Dustin also believed that every
boy should be taught to use the weapons
with which nature has provided him
namely his fists-for the protection OF
himself and Others just as he should be
taught TO read and write or do thou
sand other things necessary to his sue
cess and happiness in life.
Thus believing, and having been
himself one OF tho best boxers in his
college gymnasium, he had begun to in
struct his little son in the art of self-de-
fense on the very day that the boys moth
or began to teach him his letters Now,
therefore, although Arthur had never
fought battle with any other boy, he
had very fair knowledge Of what he
ought to do under the circumstances and
OF how to do it.
All his fathers talks upon the subject
flashed into his mind, and he seemed to
remember every word Of them. He could
almost hear the dear voice say: ''Nevor
fight If you can help it; but il the time
comes that you feel 1t to be your duty,
then pitch in with all your heart, with
all your strength and with all your
skill Then fight just as long as you
can stand, or until you have won a vic
tory"
In the present instance, surrounded
as he was by fierce-looking, hard-hearted
men who acknowledged no law but that
of brute force, and with poor little Rusty
crouching at his feet, so certain was the
boy of his duty that he prepared for the
coming struggle with a brave heart,
though with very white face.
The boy called "Kid" was perfectly
willing to fight; in fact there was moth
ing he enjoyed more, especially when,
as in this case, he saw the prospect of
an easy victory before him. So, as he
stood up in front Of Arthur, the fire.
light disclosed broad grin on his dirty
face. He looked SO much stronger and
heavier than his antagonist that some
Of the men were touched with pity for
the little fellow and murmured that 1t
wasn't square deal.
That's all right, said the big tramp,
who had taken charge of the affair. "The
little chaps got sand or else he wouldn't
be here. He's been talking pretty big,
too, and now he's got the chance to
show whether he can back up his words
or not"
To the amazement OF the spectators
the battle was a long and hard one;
for the newcomers pluck and skill
were evenly matched against the 9TH
er's weight, and dogged pride that for
bade him to yield TO one younger and
smaller than himself. Still, he was IN
the wrong, and he knew 1t; while
Arthur was in the right and knew that