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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE! 103 HOW JOB LOST A BAD REPUTATION. FOR OCR boys: IOE THORNTON was the worst boy in Bchool, and ft everybody said it He whs twelve yenrs old now; a strong, good-looking lad, that could not read intelligibly, because his mind was bent on mischief the whole day through. With the winter teacher, a man, ho just kopt within bounds; but every summer he had a 6n.si, as he called it, with the woman teacher, and kept her in un anxious, excited state throughout the term. This summer the presiding genius of the red school-house had a kind face, and so tender a heart that she had never once thought of its capabilities of becoming steely, when cir cumstances might cause it to harden. Joe always had a name for his teacher. The winter schoolmaster had been Long Shanks; the lady who had taught the summer pre vious was Maypole, and the little girl who smiled down upon them this summer was Eosebuil As this was her first school, Joe confided to the boys that he should post pone breaking her in for a while; so, for a few days, she was left to the illusion that the group of little children around her was made up of so many cherubs, and then he began to lay plans for a siege. His base of operating at first always consisted in defy ing the rules; so his first offense was staying outside half an hour or so, after school had called at recess. Now, the summer before, he had not only remained outside, but ho had pelted the school-house wall as well; so you see he meant to bo a little forbearing, after all. Well, what did llosebud do but detain him as many minutes after the others were dismissed as he had re mained absent Under ordinary .circumstances Joe would have just marched out and paid no attention to the teacher's com mand But the little schoolmistress stood quietly by the door and looked at lain; and though he was well aware that, physically, he was much the stronger, there was in her eyes a look of power that he did not resist But when once set free he gave a whoop upon the school house steps, and told the boys when ho joined them that llosebud and he had got to have a brush, and that was just what it was coming to. On his way to seluxl Joe passed a little, grimy smithy, where the villago horses were shod The proprietor of this establishment, Jack Jones, and he were old acquaint ances. The next morning, when Joe passed for school, Jack stood in the dixr, looking as sooty as his shop. He was a huge fellow, sinewy and powerful, and looked as though he might have been made at his own forge; and yet in this steely case throblnsd a heart soft ond warm and exceedingly tender. llosebud, in passing that way once or twice, had looked into his shop with seeming in terest, because it was work, and Jack had fancied that he caught the same look in her face that had lelongod to a little daughter of his, who had rested now seven years under the daisies. " Joe," said Jack, " John Town told me last night that you was goin' to lick the teacher." Joe straightened up and looked important "WaL yis, Jack, I do think of commencin' operations, a littlo, in that lino. She's the delicatest little thing, ond it won't do to be very savage, and it won't do to have her bossin' of u lelW 'round, nutlier, you know." " See here, Joe," said Jack, " I don't believe you over had a fust class whippin' in your life, and I'll toll yon what I'll do. You tech a hair of that littlo gal's hoad anil I'll give you a sound maulin', as sure's my name's Jack Jones," and Jack brought down his sledge hammer of a fist with emphasis on to his leathern apron. Joe put his thumb up to his nose and marched on. He did not care much for Jack's threat; he felt so sure he could keep out of his way, ond he (ii mean to give the young schoolmistress a scare, and this was the way It would do it: ho would break rules again, ond she would call him out, but he wouldn't go. Ho felt pretty sure she was gritty onough to undertake to whip him; then he would catch the slick, break it, throw it over her head, assume so offensive Bit attitude, in short that she would be glad to retire to her desk and leave hint muster of the field. This was to be the programme. It was oil to be done without bloodshed, and let Jack Jones catch him if he could So a little while after school had taken up that morn ing he commenced throwing spit-halls; but llosebud, who was attending to a class, seemed entirely oblivious. When she had finished she walked up the aisle to do sums. She was at work a littlo back of his seat, when pop went n ball, ami hit Tony Smith on the chin. At the instant, from some mysterious fold of Hose bud's dress, flew n long, tough, willowy hluc-loach, and gave several quick slashes oround tho shoulders of Joo'h linen coat before he seemed to comprehend the Ksition. Then he sprang up and caught at the stick. Ihtt the blows came thicker and faster, first at one jMi nt, then at another, until the whole stick was worn up, and he had not succeeded iu catching it once. Joe was defeated, but not conquered, and he would get the better of her yet h sure as fate he told the lioys at recess. Ho all day long, while his wounds smarted, he omlcrod some new method of assault; and, no doubt, llosebud would have Immmi equal to the occasion had nothing supervened. But as Joe went home that night with head lent, still study ing at his problem, he was caught by Jack, who held hint as if in one of his own iron vises. He carried him into his shop and laid him across his anvil block. "Hand me the hammer," said Jack to his man, who was at work at the bellows, that puffed mid snorted, and threw- tho angry shirks np, snapping and crackling. Jack turned the hoy over on the block, held ltoth his hands in nun of his, placed his knee uxti him, and raised his free arm. " Hold -hold on, Jack," blubWcd Joe. " I -1 didn't do it I never teehed 'er. But she gin mo a awful wallupin'." Jack hesitated " I've hearn long enough that Joe Thornton was tho wust boy in school, and was travelin' on ' fast ' ho could to the gallows. He'd Imtter die a resectable death here,