Once, when the family were all going away, his uncle left the house in charge of him and another apprentice, telling them to defend themselves if any robbers came.  Having a mind to try the courage of the lads, he returned soon after, and attempted to force a window in the back part of the house, which opened upon a narrow alley inclosed by a high fence.  As soon as Isaac heard the noise, he seized an old harpoon that was about the premises, and told his companion to open the window the instant he gave the signal.  His orders were obeyed, and he flung the harpoon with such force, that it passed through his uncle’s vest and coat, and nailed him tight to the fence.  When he told the story, he used to say he never afterward deemed it necessary to advise Isaac to defend himself.

Among the apprentices was one much older and stouter than the others.  He was very proud of his physical strength, and delighted to play the tyrant over those who were younger and weaker than himself.  When Isaac saw him knocking them about, he felt an almost irresistible temptation to fight; but his uncle was a severe man, likely to be much incensed by quarrels among his apprentices.  He knew, moreover, that a battle between him and Samson would be very unequal; so he restrained his indignation as well as he could.  But one day, when the big bully knocked him down, without the slightest provocation, he exclaimed, in great wrath, “If you ever do that again, I’ll kill you.  Mind what I say.  I tell you I’ll kill you.”

Samson snapped his fingers and laughed, and the next day he knocked him down again.  Isaac armed himself with a heavy window-bar, and when the apprentices were summoned to breakfast, he laid wait behind a door, and levelled a blow at the tyrant, as he passed through.  He fell, without uttering a single cry.  When the family sat down to breakfast, Mr. Tatem said, “Where is Samson?”

His nephew coolly replied, “I’ve killed him.”

“Killed him!” exclaimed the uncle.  “What do you mean?”

“I told him I would kill him if he ever knocked me down again,” rejoined Isaac; “and I have killed him.”

They rushed out in the utmost consternation, and found the young man entirely senseless.  A physician was summoned, and for some time they feared he was really dead.  The means employed to restore him were at last successful; but it was long before he recovered from the effects of the blow.  When Isaac saw him so pale and helpless, a terrible remorse filled his soul.  He shuddered to think how nearly he had committed murder, in one rash moment of unbridled rage.  This awful incident made such a solemn and deep impression on him, that from that time he began to make strong and earnest efforts to control the natural impetuosity of his temper; and he finally attained to a remarkable degree of self-control.  Weary hours of debility brought wiser thoughts to Samson also; and when he recovered his strength, he never again misused it by abusing his companions.