The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-21
Breaking Up a Debate.

and 1t will be more fun than box of monkeys.
We are all going
Yes, stay" urged the others.
We'll help EN- debate In great shape"
added another
We ought to go back" urged Joe Halnes.
lie did not dare to say that their folks would
be worried about them for fear he would
be laughed at
They all knew that they ought to go but
they were over persuaded and went with the
sugar Grove boys to their respective homes
for an early supper and then off with them
In big sled TO Snake Hollow,
The question to be debated was: Resolved,
that wealth is blessing"
The Snake Hollow boys were not accus-
toned to formal speaking and the presence
OF so many unexpected visitors disconnected
them.
The Westminster boys held their heads
very high and tried to look superior When
ever one of the debaters lost himself and
looked scared they laughed and their Sugar
Grove friends Joined them.
At last one of the speakers turned on
them. He was to speak for the affirmative,
burt regardless of the duty assigned him, he
took step forward, pointed his finger at the
visitors and shouted II tell you, riches
amt no blessing. Look at them felers from
Westminster They've got better clothes
than we have and s'pose they've got more
money, or their fathers have. But look at
en- they amt got no sense In their heads,
and they amt got no manners Moreover
they re towards and they wouldn't dare
fight We could lick the heart out of them. 4"
The teacher sought to interpose, but the
snake Hollow boys were not easily put down
once they were aroused.
Yes, let them come outside, we'll show
them thing or two.'
Were not afraid" replied the westmins-
ter boys, accepting the challenge; come on,
you clodhoppers, and before any one could pre-
vent 1t Snake Hollow, Sugar Grove and West
minister were In melee, rolling over and
over In snow banks and punching each other
vigorously. Knight also took part, and sadly
mutilated the clothing of Snake Hollow
youth who was pounding his master.
Teacher and parents at last prevailed and
both the fight and the debate were called of
for the night, The visitors, sore In mind
and body, piled In the wagon-sled and drove
back to Sugar Grove, where the Westminster
boys were asked to spend the night, but by
this time they were considerably sobered and
began to think of other accounts they might
have to settle with angry parents at home.
1t was moonlight and they decided that
they could get back by midnight or before
If they started at once, and skated as fast
as they could They found 1t hard work
however. Some of them were stiff from their
encounter with the sturdy Snake Hollow
lads, and the Ice was not as smooth and hard
as it had been In the morning. To add to
their difficulties the moon was presently
hidden by clouds and they had to go cautious
~.
II was Sunday morning before they reached
Westminster, and in every home there was
a father or a mother waiting in anger or
anxiety. If Snake Hollow had spared any
one that night, the Job was pretty thorough
ly finished up In Westminster.
So 1T happens that one of the things of
which those Westminster boys never boast
of is how they broke up the debate at Snake
Hollow. They are modest almost to fault
on that point.