Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 5 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

P=) ‘‘ Mave, you wouldn’t hurt little Dick, would ou?” Mave stopped, as if ashamed of himself. The entle rebuke of Myrtle touched his pride, and tried to con his real feelings behind a forced smile. Meanwhile, Vagabond Joe came sweeping down the river, the clear ring of his skates on the ice being audible now on the sharp Decem- ber air. e finally halted at the foot of the bluff opposite the school-house, and removing his skates; ascended the bank where the little group of school-children were awaiting him. He was warmly clad in a new suit of dark- y cloth, a short, wolf-skin overcoat, a coon- ~ cap and mink-skin mittens, ' A glow of “papenr joy sparkled in his bright blue eyes, and a smile of boyish pride wreathed his lips. The keen, frosty air, and his recent ex- ercise, had im an unusual ruddy glow to his om ode cA and thrilled his whole form with a corresponding vigor. ‘“‘Good-morning, young folks,” he said, in a clear, pleasant voice, as he approached the scholars. ‘‘Rather a cold morning, I should say,” re- plied Mave Conrille. “Oh, this is j good and healthy-deelight- ful,” replied Joe. ‘I like it sharp enough to pull my ears and tingle my nose. Besides, it makes skating splenderific. Gracious! if I did’nt come a-booming down the river—fairly made the ice smoke, I come so fast!” The scholars lau heartily at his exagger- ated remarks; and in a moment he was sur- rounded by a lot. of eager, curious young faces peering into his own radiant countenance, and anxious ears ready to drink in his unique talk that seemed to flow as easily and pleasantly as a rippling rill. ave Conrille regarded the smiles that Myrtle Gray bestowed upon Joe with an envious look. The little party stood chatting on the river- bank until the rap of the teacher on the door was heard calling them to their books. Vagabond Joe followed the scholars into the school-room, removed his cap and great-coat and hung them on the wall-pegs, then seated himseld on a long, low bench among the small boys and drew from his pocket a » igeea Webster’s Elementary Spelling-Book. The teacher saw that all eyes were centered upon the new scholar; that a smile lurked upon every face, and that the whole school was all aqguiver with pent-up emotions that were ready to burst forth into laughter at the least provo- cation. After all had become quiet, and the teacher had called the attention of the scholars to their books, he went to where Joe sat and said: “Well, Joe, I am pleased to see you here this morning.” “And I’m pleased to be here, gineral,” re- plied Joe, ‘‘though I’m awfully afraid I can’t stand this confinement.” ‘“You will soon become accustomed to it, Joe,” nded the teacher. ‘‘It goes a little hard at I know; but, Joe, what is your full name? i want to enter it with your age on my re r. “Vagabond Joe’s my full name,” was the prompt reply. The scholars burst into a peal of laughter. The teacher smiled. ‘‘ What is the rest of your name, Joe? Vaga- bond is only a nickname,” continued the teacher, “Tt must be Joe Smith, or Joe Somebody.” ‘““No it ar’n’t, gineral; Vagabond Joe’s all I know an g about—all I ever heard. That’s enough for present use.” “Then you have no recollection of your pa- rents’ names?” “No, sir; I don’t know as I ever had any pa- ts. ren ‘‘ Well, then tell me how far you are advanced in your studies, will you?” “Yes, sir; I know every letter in the book from ‘a’ to ‘izzard,’ and can spell ‘ incompatibil- ity’ back’ards, and read the story of the farmers and the bulls slick as slidin’ down on ice.” A the scholars laughed. ‘“Well, you commence at ‘Baker,’ and take three columns for your first lesson,” said the teacher. “ All right, teacher; but you'll have to guide me, for I’m jist as ignorant of a school-house as a Misquakie is of Dutch. But when it comes to trappin’ beaver, or sendin’ daylight through a back I can hoe my row with any of them;” and the youth finished this affirmation with a nod that was evidence of his earnestness, “Well, I will instruct you, to begin with,” expl theteacher. ‘‘ You are to study over your lesson repeatedly in silence. You must Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. — speak to no one, unless it is to me, in the meantime. In two hours we’ll have recess, then you can go out and have a few minutes’ exercise in the open air.” ‘‘Two hours’ silence!” exclaimed the youth in apparent astonishment; ‘‘ great misery, teach- ery! that much silence ll ruinate me! Tl as stark mad, I know, as one of Neutral Bill’s rip-roarin’ jibbernainosays, of which he tells.” 1e teacher colored to the very temples and bit his lip to keep back his emotions; but the merriment of the scholars broke beyond re- straint, and the whole house was set a ae The teacher promptly rapped for silence, | when order once more been restored, he * Well, Joe, you must and keep still—do the best you can. That is all I can ask of you.” Joe did keep still and orderly. He soon learned the ‘‘ order of business,” and proved one of the most studious and obedient scholars in the school. But the moment he was loose the very spirit of fun and frolic burst from his lips. He seemed to inspire the very atmosphere around him with his own joyous nature, His delight was to lead his comrades in an imaginary chase, skate ee the river, or ramble through the woods. He was the first in at the teacher’s call, and the first out when school was dis- missed. The scholars all liked Joe very much, except Mave Conrille. Joe ‘a sort of rude, yet natural, gallantry, that won the admiration of the girls. This Mave could not stand. To see pretty Myrtle Gray, whom he adored, smiling ypon the young vagabond stung him to the very rt eart. Mave could not conceal this, and from day to day it was noticed that he became more distant and surly toward Joe. He tried every way pane to pick a with him. He believed hat by bringing about a quarrel, and giving the young t a sound thrashing, Myrtle’s re- gards for the little vagabond would not be so strong. But all his attempts failed. Joe could out-general him in the use of words, and parry his tongue-thrusts in a skillful manner. One morning Vagabond Joe repaired to school a little ahead of time, though he was never known to be behind. When he entered the house he found the teacher had not yet arrived; but before a roaring fire burning on the hearth sat Mave Conrille and Dan Powers engaged in a secret conversation. They started up when Joe came in, and looked qvickly around, as though possessed of a guilty conscience, ‘Glad you’ve come, Joe,” said Mave; “‘ we’ve got some rich old fun on foot.” Joe advanced to the fire, pulled off his cap and mittens, and extending his hands to the warm glow of the fire, answered: “I’m your persimmon when it comés to fun, ou can your last pelt. What’s up? a deer- t? rabbit-chase? or what?” ‘“No, none of them; we're talkin’ about bar- shar teacher,” said Mave. ; t for?’ asked Joe, in surprise. ‘‘ Because he won’t ‘ treat,’” was the reply. ‘Treat us? Great Peter, hasn’t he treated us like gentlemen?’ replied Joe, rather contemptu- ‘“‘ He has in one way; ‘but then it’s customary for teachers back in Indiana to treat the scholars to apples, candy and nuts, and sich things, once ary term.” “Oh, git out with baby-sweets. I’ve got all the nuts I want at hom thered them—real old shell-barks—last fall by the bushel. Besides, I don’t believe there’s an apple or plug of cand in the settlement. He wig t fix you upa little sugar in a gourd, though. ‘See here! do you mean to insult me?’ Con- rille exclaimed, indignant at Joe’s remark, and ripe for a disturbance. ‘No, oh, no!” replied the boy, sarcastically; ** but then. as teacher’s treated me kindly, and helps me to learn something, I’m not going to hel bar him out. And then that’s not all of it, either. ‘* Well, what’s the rest of it?” ‘Pll put a bee in the bonnet of the first boy that attempts it. That’s what’s hurtin’.” ‘You self-conceited young vagabond! You’d better spell ‘ able’ first, ‘retorted Mave, squaring himself in a scientific and threatening manner before our hero. * A-b-Le, able,” spelled Joe, and simultaneous- ly his lithe form shot across the room, and his was planted in Mave Cornille’s face. The blow staggered Mave, who, reeling back- ward, fell over a seat, striking his head upon the floor and stunning i At this juncture, young Powers came to Mave’s assistance, in a rather threatening tone and hos- tile attitude; and before he was aware of the fact, Vagabond Joe had floored him. Young Conrille had, by this time, regained his feet, and seizing the biaey wooden poker, standing in the corner by the jamb, essayed to strike his antagonist. But the latter eluded the unwieldy club by es my nimbly aside; and the impetus with which the blow was aimed, carried the heavy bludgeon from Mave’s hand across the room. Now was Joe’s opportunity, and bounding across the cabin he grabbed up the poker and turned upon his enemies, who, seeing their danger, beat.an inglorious retreat from the room, leaving Joe inaster of the situation. But, as Joe attempted to follow them out, he found they had the advantage of him; and so he re- treated into the house, closed the door and drew in the latch-string. Mave and Dan returned and demanded ad- mittance, but were refused. They pounded and kicked the door in a manner that threatened its destruction. But Joe would not budge; and, failing to force an entrance there, they walked round to the window and intimated their inten- tion of entering the cabin at this opening. ‘‘Come on if you want fun,” retorted Joe, in an exceedingly provoking manner; ‘‘I’m king of this castle now, and if you want to scale the walls, jist crack in, my brave crusaders.” ‘You confounded young outcast and drip- pin’s of filth! you’d better not let me git a holt of you again, or I’ll beat the daylights out of you!” rdthhia Mave, white with impotent rage. Come in, why don’t you?” sneered the trapper school-boy; ‘“‘come in and bar the teacher out. He'll soon be here, for it’s most school time. Or, jist poke your snooksin at that winder if you want to feel the fur fly. Come in and be brave boys! Don’t stand out there champin’ yer bits like colicky mules, and feedin’ your wrath on the thoughts that ’'m only one to two.” The two boys stood at the window until satis- fied that they could not gain an entrance by force or intimidation, when they finally’ went around the house and into the woods to consult. As Joe could not see them, however, he sup- posed they had crept around to the door to await the coming of the teacher; and, as he stood there debating with himself what course to pursue, he was suddenly startled by a soft rap Se the door. ‘Who's there?” he demanded. “Why, it’s me, Joe,” was the reply, and in the sae voice Joe recognized the presence of yrtle Gray, and at once opened the door. As the maiden entered the room she noticed the overturned benches, and general disorder of the plant ; but she mistrusted nothing of the truth, as she assisted Joe to put things in their proper order. One by one the scholars came in, and presently the teacher arrived; but Mave and Dan did not put in their appearance. School took up, and the labors of the day com- menced. The teacher noticed that Joe was somewhat restless, but never dreamed of the cause. All went quietly along as usual until about eleven o’clock, when the three school-directors, a by Mave and Dan, entered the school-house unannounced. The teacher was somewhat surprised by this unceremonious intrusion ; and he saw at a glance that trouble was crewing ieee when he saw Mave’s right eye was swollen shut. _ “Gentlemen,” said the teacher, after recover- ing from his momentary confusion, “* lam really pleased tosee you here. ‘ Be seated, gentlemen, ere by the fire.” ' resident 6 r unter,” said the of the Fm oer Bildad Meeks, ‘“ wo cial business have come down heare on oflficie connected with this ’ere school, It is our great aim to promote the intrust of our settlement by edd catin’ our children, and fosterin’ the prin- ci of mor-ality and truth, as are inculcated in the catechisms. If you can’t keep strict har- mony and by moral suasion, Mr. Car- ig ter, do it by more forcible means. y on e bud—lay on, say we all. Ialers l’arnt as fast ag’in when I got whooped at schoo] like sixty. I tell ye, it brightens up @ boy’s ideas to beat all git out.” ‘T am sure, Mr. Meeks, and ntlemen,” said the teacher, ignorant of what the president of the school-board was driving at, “I have had no reason for the use of corporal punishment in my school. f You! haven't? then you don’t know what hap- ned this mornin’ down here?” “Tam were § ignorant of anything unusua] having occ ” (é <SiGO com 900