CHAPTER IV.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 174, 16 October 1886, Page 7 (Supplement)

CHAPTER IV.

A QUARREL AND ITS RESULT. At firatLouiB Dunbardid not seem very enthusiastic over acquiring an education, and if any one could have aualysed his feelings it would have been to discover that he looked forward to the months which he would spend in school almost as so much lost time. But he had not been in the harness a fortnight before he became deeply interested in hid lessons ; a thirst tor knowledge was created within him, and he applied himself to his tasks with the same zeat, and ambition that he had manifested in aquiring money. Bvt it was not to be all Bmooth sailing for our young hero; he was destined to meet trial and opposition in the way. Among Mb schoolmates, there was a lad about two years older than himself — Arthur Aspinwall by name, and a aon of an ex judge and the great ncan of the town — and a spirit i of antagonism and dislike was engendered between the two boys, during the very first of the term, j Arthur was a brierht, handsome looking boy, with large, hazel eyes, dark hair, and rosy cheeks, but was exceedingly dull at I his books, which accounted for his being in the low class to which Louis was admitted. He was always very richly and tastefully dressed, wore a gold watch and chain, to which Bever.il charms and coins were attached, and never lacked for spending money. But ho possessed the disposition of a bully, and often, by virtue of an imagined • superiority on account of his wealth . and position, tyrannised over boys younger than himself, much to his own amusement, though greatly to their discomfort. When Louis entered the school he at once turned his attention* to him, and appeared to imagine that he had an unlimited license to insult and abuse him whenever he chose on account of his poverty and friendlessness. "Halloa, there, you nobody!" he cried out to him one day at recess. l{ Give us the address of your tailor. He ought to have taken an extra reef in those trouserloone of yours. I ehould imagine they'd been cut for your grandfather." Louis Dunbar turned a vivid scarlet at this coarse ioke, which was greeted with a shout of merriment by the other boyß. He knew that bis clothes did not fit him, ,and the fact had made him very uncomfort able from the first ; but good Mrs Brown had done the best that she could to make him presentable at school by making over a suit of her husband's for him, and though the cloth was fine and nine, and no fault could be found as to neatness of finish, yet as to cut they certainly were not artistic, and the fit would never haye made the* reputation of a novice in the tailoring trade. But the boy was grateful toner for all that, and he would have suffered a good deal more than he did rather than have had her feelings hurt by calling in question ' her accomplishments as a tailoress. * , He made no, reply, however, to Arthur Aapiriwall's rude sally, but, after that one' vivid blush and an angry (.flash from his dark eyes, he instantly regained his eelfpoeeessioh, coolly slipped his hands into the pockets of those offending *« trousorloons,'!< and leisurely turned his back upon his tormentor. , • i „•, .• , " Impudence!" exolaimed the judge's eon, nettled* by -hie apparent indifference,, then added, authoritatively : iMI say, Dunbar, look here." ' < . > t Louiaiinsjbantly turned about^arid looked 1 the boy full in the faoe.' * i >•*„;*. * „< ( ?■ j ,>f f Wfty don't .you'i; apeak 'when* you're , spoken : to Th demanded Arthur, arrogantly,* and advancing pompouslyi toward Louis. , - '(.. r 'M J' am. relady [to answer any- bivil quee-' < .tions^'l she < replied , qiiletly , but) not af'all * »b»Bhoduby tlae-otheVs^mwineiY » i h W<-« s .

:r , OhiYoffare? What do iyou ~ call"' civil sneoped the judge's son. >*• ?'>??s»W, 0U Wld be .'willing taariswer W*m{ ;^ Louis, prompt "' " i "ffflW, 1 hi < boysUuch as 7 would answer myself! H<? puts himeelf U *sH »?v e a u^ llt y, with roe !" scoffed. t!he y/?HP?" 80 i on of aristocracy, drawing himself up proudly, and glanciDg about' him with the air of a prince. Louis jatill stood with hie hands in his pockets, calmly regarding' the bully, and apparently not in the least disconcerted by his remarks—a circumstance that nettled his opponent greatly. He all at once burst into a coarea laugh. \ Well, we'll try your civility, then," he said mockingly, and assuming a deferential a ' r ' , 11 voa have the kindness to inform me who made your clothes ?" Again that brilliant flush swept over tho boy « face,' but hoquietly returned : ; " Mra Brown'male them."'- " Oh, you employ a woman tailor then ! I vo heard of men b&ibg dressmakers, but I never heard of a wdnian tailor before. I wonder what she gave a yard for the cloth ; it is, the very latest style out !" and he i/io* ger/y too up one cornerfof Louis's mottled jacket to examine it, whilo the boys around set up another shout. Louis's dark, eyoa flashed ominously, but he restrained his augur a,nd replied composedly, and with a moral courage that would ( havo done credit to' an older person. "" ' , "Yon know very well they are a 5-uifc of Mr Brown's that his wife made over fbr mo, jind I am not ashamed to own it, or have any, ono know how kind they have both been to me." ' " Bully for you, Louis Dunbar,"' cried a voice among the crowd, and q, boy about his own age and size stepped over to his sido, hid bright young face all aglow wi(;h admiration tor his schoolmate's courage and independence. , "Shut up, Whjpple!" angrily interposed Arthur Aspinwall. " Nobody asked you to interfere." "I've a right to speak my mind if I choo»Q. i( Your, always bullying somebody, but I guess you've found your match this time, if you never did before," retorted the boy, spiritedly. He was tho son of a soa captain, and a Favourite among his companions. Be and bis mother livod in a beautiful residence about a stone's throw from the school-house, md they were supposed to bo people of ibundant means. "My match in a beggar like him!" mapped Arfjhur, derisively. "I am not a ', beggar ; but you are no gentleman, to call such names," said Louis, with flashing qyea. " What do you know about gentleman, I wonder? Was your father one?" Liugbed the boy, rudely, but rapidly losing "conbr.ol of his tomper. "Ihopesd." " You hope so ! Don't you Jcnoio?" " I do not remember my father," responded Louis, sadly, and with a long drawn eigh. "Aha i I'll bet you never oven saw him !" said Aaplnwall, with a malicious chuckle. "No, I never saw him to know him," Louis responded innocently. "How about your mother? She was a lady, I suppose ?" " Yes, siie was a lady !*' was the proud reply, and the boy felt a^ sure of what he asserted as if his mother stood there beside him to prove it. , "Oh ! his mother, boys, was a lady ; but his father, it seems, was a somewhat doubtful character. Fine parties we are getting into our school, aren't we?" said Arthur, with an insulting laugh, and an emphasis there was no mistaking. For an instant Louis was tempted to dash at his tormentor and deal an angry blow upon the^ips that had uttered Buch hateful words, but he restrained himself, with an effort, though hia hands were clenched until his .nails were purple ; for, chancing to glance toward the school-house, he saw the master was standing in the door-way, quietly observing the scene. But he could not entirely ignore the insult. " Arthur Aspinwallj you may bo the eon of a judge and a rich man, but you'll never be a gentleman !" he said, with an accent of such stinging acorn that the lad lost control of himself entirely, and darting forward, he angrily struck Louis's cap from his head. "Tak<> that for your insolence, you young upstart !" he roartd, passionately. That figure in tho door-way never moved, but Louis could see that the master's face bad grown very stern. He stooped and picked up his fallen cap, brushed the dust from it, and replaced it upon his head. " You had hotter not try that again !" he said, with forced composure. The words were hardly out of his mouth before his antagonist had knocked it off again, and in doing so had hit the boy a rude blow on the head. Human nature could bear no more, even if a hundred schoolmasters were looking on. ta Louis Dun bar wheeled suddenly ,?,bout, and almost before the judge's son could take breath after his exertion, he was laid flat on his back in the dust. i This resolute act turned the tide of public opinion in Louis's favour. "Good for you, Dunbar I" shouted several voices, and the eager crowd gathered closer about the two boys. Blind with passion, and aching from his bruises, Arthur Aepinwall sprang to his feet and rushed again .upon his opponent. But again, and almost as dextroualy as before, he was made to measure his length upon the ground, and this time he was thrown with such force that he roared lustily with pain. Louis was not a quarrelsome boy, but when he was once >aroused he was like a young lion for strength and agility. He hadnot roamed the streets ot Boston all his life and fought his way with the gamins there to no purpose. He had learned many a trick in wrestling, and was quite a practised athlete for one of his age. He did not wait to ascertain whether his fallen foe was injured or not after his last. I exploit, but turned away and went toward the school-house. The, master had disappeared from the j doorway, but he felt sure he had witnessed the whole transaction, and he expected a scene, and that he, a poor boy, would be shown no quarter for having dared to raise o hand against the son of a judge, and the heir of the richest man in the village. He walked directly into the school-room and took his seat at his dosk. He was very white 1 about the naoutn, he breathed hard, 1 and hie dark eyes burned like coals q$ fire, while he tried to brace himself for whatever might be in styre for him. Whe'D, at lerigth, Aepinwall gathered himself tipj'his side 'and head bruised and aching 'from his fall, his clothinj* Boiled and disarranged, his hair dis'helrolled, he too , rushed into tho schoolirodhaVand began t6 make his complaiut,' in • a loud tfngry' tone.*' ;*•-'" * „,u». Go to your seat;sir," was'lfihe teacher's * brief eflnvmand,, 'wh;ioh interrupted him in the middle of -it,,, 'aVd with a Romewhat "crest-falleri air the youth obeyed;' wbile'tbe ; teacher rangtoi^bell a"nd called -the 'school td'ordeW-'^V,^' , ' .', a, h, ... ■••■ r . . f tWhen all' wfci 'quiet, hWturhed ib" Arthur ■•''again'withWeter-a fa'oeT'' < * '•' • '>■ VV 1 * '• .

'. "JSTdwi "sir, lam ready to Hear 1 'what "yon* have to say," he remarked, but his tone was tiot^trikiu'gly encouraging.^ f | /.'s<" Somewhat disconcerted by his manner*, and that he should be called upon to tstato, his caee before the whole ., school/ he grew confused, flushed deeply," and his' eyoa drooped with cousoious shame. " Dunbar knocked me down twice," h«t said. • ~ ■, . , , ' , .;. "Louis Dunbar, stand up," commancUitl the,paaster. , , . , jLouis iirojje and, stood forth in the aisle,. "Now, Aspinwall, you may rise^" and* wondering: what was coming now, the boy obeyed. ,',' „' , ' The hoys were not far froth each other, and ifc was noticeable that Arthur was fully half a head taller thap ' Louis, though* th« latter was stouter and more muscular in Ms make up. ' u How old are you,' Aspinwall?", d& manded Mr Allen. " Fourteen years and three months." " What is pour age, Dunbar ?" " I shall be thirteen in' a cduplo of weelss, "And you knocked" Aspinwall down twice? 11 ' ' "Yes sir," assented the lad, his large, eye*? meeting hia master's frankly, but grow-, mjr very bright again. „» And," he added, after a moment of hesitation, *" I."dba*b believe I could help doing it again, if he should provoke me in the same way. I-tX kSew you were looking, sir, and I held, fa as long as L could ; but a fellow can't' staridl everything." , ' , The 'master's lips twitched slightly af* this ingenuous confession, but he instantly controlled his amusement. "Yes," he said, turning to Arthur, who , looked surprised j " I was looking, as Loufo says— l saw the whole proceeding. Yoqt were a bully and a coward, sir, to attack a boy younger than yourself, to say nothing of the insulting language that you used to? him to bee;in with. I do not aporove of; fightina; or knocking down as a rule, bufc X must say that I cannot blame -Dunbar in, this instance, and think he defended him-. self as neatly and deftly as it ever ,wae my lot to see any one do. He restrained him-* fceJf longer than most boys would have done* and conducted himself in a right manly fashion. Aspinwall, you may be, , as you, are in the habit of boasting, the soa an& heir of a judge, but you will prove yourself a very unworthy one if you do no* turn, over a new leaf. You may both be seated], and let me neither see nor hear anything more of this." - ** .Loui3 slipped into his seat, his face a deep, crimson, but looking greatiy relieved, and quietly took up his books. Arthur dropped heavily into his Feat with a sulky air, shooting as h© did so a glance of hate at hia antagonist, while from that day be nursed a grudge againet him and watched for an* opportunity to be revenged upon him. He could never forgive him for having come off conqueror iv the contest, and much less for the public humiliation to*, which he had been subjected by his indignant teacher. The winter passed very quickly to Louis, who grew more and more interested in his, studies as the weeks went by. He applied; himself most industriously to his books* and, of course, made rapid progress. When spring came and he informed Mx Allen that he should be^ obliged to leavs school for auother season on the farm, as! he was still to remain with Mr Brown, thafc gentleman manifested sincere regret. ' "It is a pity," he aaid ; " if I could only have you for the next few years I would make a thorough scholar of you." "I am afraid I cannot afford to be a scholar*' sir, for I have my own living to. earn," Louis replied, but with a wistfuß glance at his books, which he had begun to> love right well. " Have you no friends who could aid you in getting an education?" asked Mr Ailer* thoughtfully. '• Wo, sir ; none that I know of ; I don't feetn to belong to anybody,"' returned the. boy, pathetically; " po I have to take care at myself. I wonder if I could do anything bw trying to study by myself," "You might if you do not have to work^ too hard on the farm ; and, Louis, I shall ba glad to lay out your lessons for you andhear^ you recite once or twice a week, if you can find the time for it. ' " Thank you, sir ; I'll try. I guess 1 caa manage to do something at my books, at) l^ast until the very busy sea&on comes on H I've just begun to know how useful know* ledge is, and to want more cf it." And so for the present it was arranged? that ho should study aa much as he could by himself and recita Wednesday and Saturday^ evenings to Mr Allen. Farmer Brown had grown realJy attached to the boy, and proposed that he should re*> main with him for another 3'ear upon the;, same terms as those of the preceding one,, Louis felt that it was a good offer, and t*uhesitatingly accepted it, and entered upoa his work with the same eagerness that h$ had before shown. Ho had proved himself so efficient ans! trustworthy tbat his employer placed great confidence in him, and during the berry/ season he often supervised the picking and?, packing of the fruit, and was even allowed; at times to go in town to market with the-, team. In this way he was enabled to dispose of his berrieß more advantageously, the farmer still allowing him to pick for himself in bin own time. Thus, whan fall came again, han found himself possessor of more than, a hundred and fifty dollars. He began now to feel almost as if is&, farm was his home ; ho had grown very* fond of Mr aud Mra Brown, while they treated him much aa they would havQ treated their own son. As tho Bummer passed, and the time toxr the fall term of school drew near, he fauncfe himself looking forward to it; with pleasant; anticipation. Be had told Mr AUen that? he was coming back to him, much to thais gentleman's- fortification, for he felt- Bttus> that Louis I unbar was no ordinary bay,, and would well repay any efforts which b.Qi might puc forth on his behalf. But before entering school Louts went on.©* day to Boeton, with the farmer to advise him, and purchased a good, neatly fitting suit of clothes. He felt that ho could noti again be subjected to the mortifinataon of the previo.ua winter ; and truly, when he apfieared in h?« nobby apparel, there was not a boy in school wh:> presented a better appearance. (To be Continued )

Sir Walter Scott's hat was always tfc.Q> smallest in any company he happened to b<s in — the head, was pyramidal ' Byron's waft tho same. Sir Charles Kapior, in his diar^t thus mentions his meeting with ißyron ;,—• > " Lord Ryr'on is sfcill here a very goncS. fellow /very pleasant, always laoghlng ajacH joking. An American gave a" very gaocj. account of him in the newspapers, but saidt that his head was 1 too large hi proportion^ which ia not true. He dined tvith riiQ I&<fc day before the paper arrived, and faw' or? five of ne tried to put on his liar, but oonAt could ; he had the smallest head of all, ansJt one of the emallest I ever caw, ~ He ' le v^cy coiqpftesionare and kind to evpryone in-, dfeh f.roso." Attho opening of Burn' '' mausoleum t in 1834, for fche interment of his Widow, tßi» poetV 'skull; was taken op aritJ ., exaraiopcJ, Nine "^etitleberivwere present 4 Wd pia&Sr' one tried hifi hat on tbe«kull Ul 'Qnlyon^^ the hiq^ could cover if,''aad''tnat ww"t&* hat^MKThomas.'Carlyld^ I;,^1 ;,^ \ • V;/ 7 ,