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.
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