Fury! The face of the pedagogue grew livid. He stretched forth his hand and took the boy by the back of the neck. The curtain fell, but the audience could not help hearing what a flogging the boy got. It was terrible. Even while this was going on a rumor rippled round the outskirts of the audience--for you must know that the "exhibition" was held under a bush arbor erected in front of the school house door--a rumor, I say, rippled round the outer fringe of the audience. Some one had arrived from the village and copies of the _Star_ were being freely distributed. Looks of blank amazement flashed into people's faces. The name of the editor and that of Prof. W----, of Wabash College, began to fly in sharp whispers from mouth to mouth. The crowd reeled and swayed. Men began to talk aloud. Finally everybody got on his feet and confusion and hubbub reigned supreme. The exhibition was broken up. Blodgett came out of the school house upon the stage when he heard the noise. He gazed around. Some one thrust a copy of the _Star_ into his hand. Poor Blodgett! We may all fall. The crowd resolved itself into an indignation meeting then and there, at which the following extract from the _Star_ was read, followed by resolutions dismissing and disgracing Blodgett: "The following letter is rich reading for those who have so long sworn by T. Blodgett. We offer no comment: "EDITOR OF THE STAR--DEAR SIR: In answer to your letter requesting me to decide between yourself and Mr. Blodgett as to the correct English rendering of the Latin sentence '_De mortuis nil nisi bonum_,' allow me to say that your free translation is a good one, if not very literal or elegant. As to Mr. Blodgett's, if the man is sincere, he is certainly crazy or wofully illiterate; no doubt the latter. "Very respectfully, "W----, "_Prof. Languages, Wabash College._" Blodgett walked away from the school house into the dusky June woods. He knew that it was useless to contend against the dictum of a college professor. His friends knew so too, so they turned to rend him. He was dethroned and discrowned forever. He was boarding at my father's then, and I can never forget the haggard, wistful look his face wore when he came in that evening. I have since learned that he went straight from the scene of his disgrace to Miss Holland, whom he found inclined to laugh at him. The next week he collected what was due him and left for parts unknown. I was over at parson Holland's, playing with his boys. The game was mumble peg.