Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-13

the boys to be quiet, for he'd word te
say. So he begins quite pompous
"Young gentlemen, Will pass over this
breach of discipline on the present occa
sion, that the lesson it teaches may be
more firmly impressed upon your youth
full minds. Remember this: whenever
an English gentleman" Che said this in big
capitals) 'tWantonly insults another, he
apologies. Mr.. Jackson, the latter part
of your conduct has given me the most
heartfelt satisfaction, for my greatest de-
sire is that my pupils should act in a
manner becoming to an er-er-English
gentleman. Young gentlemen, resume,
your studies"
As soon as we got into the playground
that day, Charlie called all the lads round
him. CHOW, you fellows" said he.
whoever insults Mr.. Gruner again in
suits me-" Then turning up his shirt
sleeves, "Has any one anything to say
against Mr.. Gruner? No? Then Pm
glad to see you know brick when you
meet him." And Charlie rolled his shirt
sleeves down, and put his coat and waist.
coat on again but he didn't come into
the playground for at least three days
after that, but sat moping alone over his
books.
That afternoon, when school was over,
Giglamps came up to me, and asked me
if l would go home with him to tea, and
told me that old Mellowdew had given
me leave. So, as I thought a change
would be some fun, I went. Well, we
had hardly got into the fields, when he
pulled out a parcel of dry bread and
cheese, and fell to as if he hadn't eaten
for week, without ever offering me the
slightest bit; and l felt rather peckish,
thank you, and rather low-spirited.
However, when we got into town, he
stopped at confectionery and bought
some mullins, and crumpets, and seed
cakes and raspberry jam. After that,
we passed green grocer's, and there he
bought oranges and apples, and pears
and nuts and began to feel better, and
took rather fancy to old Giglamps.
At last he stopped at the door of little
house, let himself in with latch KEY, and
telling me to be quiet, began to creep up
stairs as silent as mouse, while l held
my breath, not knowing what was going
to happen. At one of the doors on the
landing he stopped, and listened for two
or three seconds, and then gently pushed
the door open and peeped in.
L heard voice, just like girls, call
out something in German to him, and
then, next moment, he beckoned me to
follow. When | got inside the room,
which was Jolly warm and comfortable,
| saw pale faced lad sitting near the win
dow, with all sorts of books on a table
at his side. And would you believe it?
That lad was as like me as two pins.
But he was cripple for life-and the
father had done it; at least | was told so
afterward. In one of his tempers he had
struck the lad, and the poor thing fell
down stairs and injured his back bone
some way or other. At any rate, there
he was crippled for life.
Here, FRITZ" said old Giglamps, in his
comical English, II have brought little
friend to see you. Come in, Sam! This
is my son Fritz, my little darling. Now
do try to be friends, won't your
"Of course we will" said Fritz, with
such sweet smile, and much better En-
glish than his father
And then, while old Giglamps got the
tea ready, Fritz showed me his picture
books; such lot, and with plenty of
fighting in 'em. And didn't the table
look well, when all the things were put
on, for only us three to pitch into 'em
But old Giglamps didn't touch ANYTHING,
except about half cup of tea, which
didn't setm to astonish Fritz at all,
though how fellow could keep his fin
gers away from seed-cake and raspberry
jam, when he could walk into bread and
cheese, like old Gruner did, coming
nome, is more than can make out.
Why doesn't your father eat some
thing. Fritz" whispered.
ooh! he dimes late in the afternoon,
and never touches anything till sup
perfume, after | go to bed" said Fritz.
You've had your dinner, of course,
father, haven't your
Why | cried, you only had br--."
But old Giglamps gave me such kick on
the shins that | could not help yelling;
and then he comes round to me, as cool
as a cucumber, and pretends to be sorry
that l hurt myself, and then all of a sud
den, whispers in my ear, "Be quiet, Sam,
and I'll give you an orange" So | held
my tongue, and Giglamps Immediately
began TO tell US a comic tale, that made
US roar again. Then, after tea was over
and jolly good feed it was, too-old
Gruner put the things away Except the
oranges and apples, and the nuts and the
pears and brought out fiddle case
Oh, scissors. if you'd seen him take that
fiddle out, and wipe it gently all over
with an old silk cket-handkerchief, and
pet it, and talk to it. just like
a baby, you would have split with
laughing. But when he began to play,
why, then you'd do just what Giglamps
wanted. | know l wanted to cry some
times, and then l wanted to dance, l
never felt so queer in all my life. The
sound would sometimes go down along
his legs along the floor, then up my legs
and all over me. I'm sure it did; l could
feel it; so it's quite true. And then, when
it was getting dark, old Gruner took me
back to the classical and Commercial"
and seemed so glad when both Fritz and
myself asked him if I might come again
So he promised should; and many jolly
evening have Charlie jackson and l spent
with 'em.
But Fritz got worse and worse as win
ter came on, for there was something the
matter with his chest as we'll as with his
back, and the poor little fellow died be
fore Christmas came round.
And poor old Giglamps died soon after,
and left me his fiddle. Fathers got it
now. They say he died of broken
heart. Idon't exactly know what that is
but when Charlie Jackson heard of it he
cried like baby. Poor old Giglamps!
The Richest Boy In America.