The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-21

for breath was using only one hand
and did not exert tenth part OF the
strength at my command.
The miserable wretch must have
thought n, was stricken with paralysis.
With my other hand twisted the rod
from his grasp and then swished it
through the air with force that surely
raised a ridge through his garments
with every stroke. When he had received
a dozen or SO, lifted him clear of the
floor aud flung him across the room. He
would have gone farther had he not
crashed into the row of desks.
"Shall l take off my coat?" l asked
mockingly.
He stared in a dazed way and mutter-
ed an oath. He could not understand it.
GOOD day, and l walked out Of the
room and went home.
Il hope he won't tell of it," re-
fected, for it will be hard for me to
explain it to the rest of the boys"
No fear OF the teacher making public
his own discontinue, and so it remained
secret | was too generous to take adj
vantage of my triumph, and, so long as
he remained in charge of the school, he
treated me with consideration that
made me sometimes regret the violence
/ had been compelled to use toward him.
Professor Gorgcnsen's transcendent
wisdom did not enable him to prolong
his life 10 that of the patriarchs Of the
olden times, for he died suddenly, about
the date of the incident just told. had
no brothers and sisters, and so well had
my mother and kept the secret of my
incredible strength that even my father
did not suspect it, though aware that l
was unusually powerful for lad of my
years.
Strange to say, though my mother
knew the marvellous truth, she very
seldom or never referred to it, There
was something so uncanny in the whole
thing that it filled her with ave. as it
did myself. Father passed away, still
ignorant ON the point, and at the age of
10, when l was home on vacation from
college, l drove to the old country
church with only my mother as COM
panion.
1t was curious coincidence that the
preachers sermon that day was founded
on the story of Samson. He went over
the whole wonderful narrative, giving
it spiritual significance by proving
that every Christian can be Il Samson
against the world so long as he rises
superior to temptation. Once / glanced
at my mother, who occupied the pew
with me. She smiled family, and l
blushed. Both of us were thinking of
the same thing, but neither referred to
it on our way home.
At the top of the high hill, near our
house, the horse, as black as night and
with the strength of Hercules, gave
way to his innate deviltry, took the bit
in his mouth and started down the in
cline on dead run. Mother paled for q
moment and then said in her quiet
manner:
Harmon, hope there's no need of
your killing him.
knew what she meant. She was
aware that | could do so if chose.
81 won't unless it is necessary,
answered, beginning to pull on the reins.
My fear was that they would break.
And break they did, though new and
strong. Just as L was beginning to wor
ny the savage brute both lines snapped
as if they were rotten Irvine. Being
wholly free. the enraged horse was off
again as headlong as ever.
Ny mother was dreadfully alarmed,
for both of us were in peril.
I'll bring him to terms" said,
stepping out on the shafts and leaping
astride the back of the plunging animal.
Working forward, / placed one arm I'M
der his throat and began drawing back
ward, steadily and irresistibly.
could have broken his neck as if it
were pipestem, but did not wish to
do that, though sorely tempted. The
devil fought, swung his head viciously,
but never let up With scream Of
fury he reared on his hind legs and be-
gan paving the air. My mother sat
pale, but cool.
"You had better kill him, Harmon, :"
she called, 'or he will kill you"
"I'll show him first that 1 am his
MASTER"
Suddenly he lowered his head, like a
bucking broncho, resting most Of his
weight Oh his fore legs. This gave me
my chance. He had broken free from the
carriage, and the dropping of his head
allowed me to leap to the ground beside
him. l retained my grip, and the next
instant the fierce horse was flung vio-
lently ON his side. l used none of the
tricks Of the cavalryman or circus per-
former to trip him, but did it by main
strength alone.
He was not yet conquered. With a
whinny of rage he struggled upward,
the flame of hatred in his eye. He
meant to bite and paw me to death, but
at the moment he was ready to attack
down he went again, with shock that
must have ratified every bone in his
body. With undaunted courage he in
stantly repeated the effort, but was
flung as ANONYMOUSLY as before.
This scared him. His self confidence
was weakened. No animal is quicker
than n horse tO rpcOunizo bic ,nactor