Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-09-08
Saint Marv's Beacon
WHERE HE DREW THE LINE.

WHen TIE war cuueu anu the me-
groes were free there was great
enthusiasm for educating them.
One of the first schools started was
built on the edge of his place by
Colonel Trigg, who got a little
'school-marm," as they were term
ed to come down and teach it. 1t
was soon filed by the cciored pop
ulation, the pupils ranging from
five to seventy-five years, all study
ing, 'a-b alb, e-b eb.' Even "Uncle
Jack Scott" the Coloneps head
man, one of the old-timers, went
in, and was transferred from the
stable to the school-room. The
Colonel fumed about it, but it was
laid to the door of Uncle Jacks
new wife, 'Mrs. Scott" who was q
'citified' lady, and had many airs.
Uncle Jack was an acquisition to
the school, and was given a promi-
nent position by the stove, the lit
tie school-mistress paying him es-
pecial attention, putting him
through his alb abs and e-b ebs
with much pride, and holding him
up to her younger pupils as shin
ing example. A few days later
Uncle Jack appeared armed with q
long hickory, which he presented
to the teacher with q remark
about clay r1iggers needin' hick'ry
much's bread" and loud enough
to be heard by the whole school.
Miss Barr (called Bear by Mrs.
Scott) took the hickory with visible
emotion, made a speech to the
school, and Uncle Jack with much
grandeur, went to his task.
The lesson that day was b-a, ba,
be be. Uncle Jack had learned
alb alb, e-b CD too well, and b and a
were never anything but ab, and
b and e never anything but eb, no
matter how they came. Miss Barr
was at her wits end. She had es-
tablished her rules and she stood
by them. She would, had she be-
lieved it her duty, have gone to per-
dition without tremor. One of
her most invariable rules was to
thrash for missing lessons. When
Uncle Jack missed two days, hand
running, she was in dispair, but
discipline was to be preserved, and
after hours of painful suspense
when he still failed she ordered him
to stand mp. He obeyed. She
glanced around seeking some alter
native; fifty pair of eyes were fas.
tened upon her. She reached un-
der her desk and slowly drew out q
hickory, the very one Uncle Jack
had brought her. Fifty pair Of
eyes showed their whites.
"Take of your coat -
There was a gasp throughout the
room.
Uncle Jack paused a minute, al
if stupefied, then la:d down hi
book and took off his coat.
t1Take off your waistcoat.
He obeyed.
"You amt gwine meek me tech
of my shirt, is you?" he asked
tremulously.
mo. Clasp your hands"
He did SO, and she raised thu
hickory and brought it down 'swa
no. across his back. Again Their,
was gasp throughout the room
which came every time lick wal
given. Uncle Jack was the only
one who uttered no sound. III,
stood like statue. When she fin
ished he put on his coat and sat
down. School was dismissed.
Next day Uncle Jack was at his
old place at the stable.
why, I thought you were al
school, said his master, who had
heard something of the trouble.
"Nor. sub /; l got 'nough edica.
tion," he said. He stuck his cur.
ry-comb into his brush. There was
pause then: "I tell you de fac
Marse Conn. / is too ole to be
whupt by CONAN, an po' white
CONAN at dat"
1t was several years after this that
Uncle Jack was working one day
at a water-gate, when the children
came down the road from school
They stopped and peeped stolidly
though the fence. Among then
was "Jawnie," Mrs. SCOTS hope
full, who had proved an apter pupi
than his father. His bag was OF
his arm. He climbed over the fence
and from the bank gazed dowr