The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-12-20

! landed on his right jaw just under the
ear. This did the business, and he
went to the ground, knocked out.
The victory had won was that Of
pure skill accompanied by fairly good
courage and muscle against ignorance
with twice as much strength and an
equal courage.
An angry snarl came from the crowd
that had come out from the village
when they found their champion de-
| feated and unable to renew the fight,
and one of the biggest among them
| yelled;
Lets do the swells up!"
At this tuncture the broad shoulders
and chest of the tutor put in an ap-
pearance to restore discipline. At the
same moment my late antagonist
Tom Cushing was his name-recovered
from the slight daze which the blow
under the ear had caused and. hearing
the talk Of the villagers, he hoped up
like poled lion.
/ "Look here, you fellows" he said to
his companions, IF | can't lick young
4 Searle here"-my own name-"I can
whip any one or two of you chaps, and
the first one who puts hand on him
will have to settle with me. | brought
this fight on myself and got licked on
the square, and served me right, be-
cause I didn't know how to fight, and
he did"
At this manly talk l walked up and
cordially shook hands with Cushing.
He responded as warmly and said, with
a rueful look at my hand:
"Rather a small fist to knock out a
big lubber like me-"
mo lubber at ALL" said. "You only
lack a little science. Come out to the
gymnasium next week and take a les
son or two. All you want is practice"
| At this entente cordiale the crowd
cheered, and all hands parted good
friends.
| Gushing came out to the place. as
had invited him to do, and we showed
| him how to put up his hands, to such
! effect that when got back home in the
spring l found him on pretty nearly
even terms with the tutor in everything
the gymnasium afforded, including fenc-
ing and general athletics as well as box
ing
He was an orphan with scarcely a
relative in the world. His mother had
died in his infancy, and some five years
later his father, who had been man
of wealth and social standing in the
city, died, broken in fortune by unfor-
tunate stock transactions.
And so the boy had grown up to the
age of seventeen, handsome and well
formed enough, but ignorant Of every
thing except the rudiments of schooling
and the contents Of half dozen books
or so, the remnants of his fathers once
fine library.
/ had taken an immense liking for
Gushing, and he had for me, as boys
often do after a row. His situation in
life, contrasting with my own, appeal
ed to me, and, being rather favorite
of my father. especially after the fight.
Of which he had heard, l easily per-
suaded him to take an interest in the
premises. He had known Cushings
father slightly and that his business
career, though disastrous, had been an
honorable one.
1t was slated, therefore, that my fa-
Their was to advances the necessary
money for young GpAhing on his fu-
ture and that he vas TO come over to
our place and be lifted for college with
the rest OF u.s.
But better scheme yet soon pre-
scented itself We had some influence
with the congressman of our district,
and there was a vacancy at West
Point to be filed by him. The honor
able member had already selected a
politicians son for the position, but
my father intlmated to the congress-
man that II he wanted to be quite sure
Of his reelection he would do well to
appoint our man.
This was sufficient. Cushing got the
appointment and was literally called
from the pillow that season to prepare
for the service of his country. Coached
by our tutor for few weeks, he made
such Roadway that there was no trou-
BILE about passing his examination at
the Military academy when the time
came. His physical requisites were
simply perfect, and he went in with
flying colors and Is now gallant Off
Ger in the army.
And, far from feeling the qualms of
conscience which afflicted me some
what at the time of it, am disposed
to look with complacency on what may
be termed virtuous prizefight to the
advantage Of all concerned. but taking
place at season when peace should
reign supreme.
AS for Gushing, he has always de-
clared that the thrashing l gave him
on the afternoon of that Christmas eve
was the most valuable Christmas pres
ent he has ever received.
| OLD SANTA IN HIS MOODS.
They Keep Him Busy.