the kitchen fire-place. I sprang forward to rescue my book
from the flames, but, before I could reach it, it was burned to ashes.
As I have before stated I was then about thirteen years old, tall and
strong for my age. I was usually quiet and respectful, but for all this
I possessed a high spirit. I could easily be controlled by kindness and
mild persuasion, but never by harsh and unkind treatment, and this act
of Mr. Judson's enraged me beyond all control, and in a moment all the
smouldering anger occasioned by his past harshness shot up as it were in
a sudden blaze. I have often heard it said, and I believe with truth,
that there is something almost appalling in the roused anger of one of
those usually quiet and submissive natures. I have often since thought
that passion rendered me partially insane for the time being; trembling
with anger, I confronted my employer fearlessly, as I said "How _dare_
you burn my book? you bad, wicked man, you are just as mean as you can
be."

This sudden outbreak from me, who hitherto had borne his abuse in
silence, took Mr. Judson quite by surprise. For a moment he looked at
me in silence, then, with a voice hoarse from passion, he addressed me,
saying, "such talk to _me_! you surely have lost any little sense you
ever may have had." Then seizing me roughly by the shoulder he
continued: "I'll teach you better manners than all this comes to, my
fine fellow, for I'll give you such a flogging as you won't forget in
a hurry, I'll be bound."

Instantly my resolution was taken; he should never flog me again.
Shaking off the rough grasp of his hand, I stepped backward, and drawing
myself up to my full height (even then I was not very tall) I looked him
unflinchingly in the face as I said,--"touch _me_ if you _dare_, I have
borne blows enough from you, and for little cause, but you shall _never_
strike me again. If you lay a hand upon me it will be worse for you."
Wild with anger I knew not what I said. The strength of a lad of my age
would, of course, have been as nothing against that of the sturdy
farmer; but, had he attempted to flog me, I certainly should have
resisted to the utmost of my ability. I know not how it was, but after
regarding me for a few moments with angry astonishment, he turned away
without any further attempt to fulfil his threat of flogging me. I
turned and was leaving the house when he called after me, in a voice,
which upon any previous occasion, would have frightened