The Press., 1901-12-19
EDWIN L. SABIN.

1t was not often that had been "whopped," as the boys called it. When youngsters-my brothers and myself-we lived most of the time in the country on big place a mile or % from a village, where we never went except in carriage and with our elders. So we seldom "met up" against the enterprising youth of the town.
 We did not allow the tutor to fog us much, as he had been directed to do by the governor when it should be- come necessary. The governor had been logged himself in his school days and believed in the system.
 But, however much we scuf1ed among ourselves-not i'll naturedly-we resented physical correction on the tutors part. Once or twice rulers and inkstands went flying in the air at him for 1t.
 The last time this happened he re- signed, because he thought his author ity had not been sufficiently supported by the governor.
 I was immediately sorry for what had done and had offered an apology, before the governor, to the irate tutor, but he would not have 1t and insisted on the trouncing. ..s1 k
 To this my father would not consent, after my offer to apologize, and so the tutor went, and in his place came a younger man, college bred and study ing for the clergy, but an all around gymnast and good boxer. AS sparrer he "'andled is mawleys uncommon"
 The new tutor, in fact, was good fellow, a gentleman as we'll as scholar. He was graduate of the modern Ath- ems. which, like the ancient. .cultivates muscle as we'll as mind. x
 The governor readily acceded to the gymnasium outfit. including the gloves, and in this liberal education we worked Eoff our superluous and sometimes in- convenient energies.
 For my own part. l took kindly to the joyous art of sparring and had got up muscle and proficiency with the gloves.
 The bully of the town was couple of years older and bigger than myself and had plenty of pluck He and his friends had been giving us lots of "sass" for some time whenever we ''store clothes," as his comrades said, and he had announced once or twice that he would give me nice cuffing if l would step out of the carriage and accommodate him.
 It happened that cousin about my own age, of whom I was envious, was with us at the last one of these invita- tions. My cousin had entered college ahead of me, and he was not only fine scholar. but a young athlete as we'll He had come down to spend Christmas holidays with us. and as did not care to be bullied before him nor to show the white feather invited my pugna- ciaus adversary on this occasion to come out with his friends, who would see fair play, on the next afternoon day before Christmas-to spot near our place. where we would have 1t out.
 He accepted promptly and came out on time with a gang of a dozen or more companions about his own age to the tryst. just outside the house grounds in rear of the stable. The coachman knew about the affair, as he always came in for share of the hec- toring when in the village. and he was on hand with two or three of the sta blemen likewise to see fair play. \
 The village bully was good one full of pluck and not Vicious, as he presently showed. Though confident enough in his ability to whip me, he lacked the coolness which proper train. Ing gives and which had, or thought had. A ring was formed, and the ! village chap was impatient to begin.
 Hardly before had tossed my jack. ct as,de he jumped for me with the spring of young tiger.
 stepped to one side, of course, as had been taught, and as he went by gave him right handler on the side o4 his head with some force. He stagger. cd little, but kept his feet and, turn. Ing. was upon me again with leap. meaning to. close.
 This time was ready, and, stopping him with my left hand in his face, got a good blow in with my right al. rectly on his diaphragm. Down he went, with both hands on his stomach. and 1t was some seconds before he could get his breath. When he did, he was up again all right. ns
 But he had learned caution, and when he came to the scratch Tor the second round, so called, he held up his hands somewhat in proper form for spaFring and waited for me.
 I had seen too much of his strength and quickness to risk a rush at him and eontented myself with little light playing for awhile. tapping him on the