The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-22
A LESSON IN FRACTIONS.

It was such a blow to me-such
bitter, overwhelming blow! had been
so comfortable and happy since the
school-master had boarded with me.
The big front chamber had been so
grim and ghostly. always shut up and
empty. 1t was our spare room when
poor dear Charley was alive; but now
I was a widow and poor, it was a need
less luxury to keep guest-chamber:
None of our old friends cared to vlslt
me now just when needed them most,
when | was lonely and sad and mlser-
able, they refused to come. But when
Mr.. Slade took the room. Il didn't grieve
about the loss of friends. 1t seemed
odd to have money for the guest-cham-
Der, but the way that was situated
reconciled me to the thought very
speedily indeed.
Then when my boy got into that
scrape at school, should just have
died if it had been anybody but MIR.
Slade.
MADAM said he, "your boy is
mischievous-very mischievous.
eyes, sir" l said meekly.
"And to extend a rope in such a
manner that the unconscious heels OF
his teacher shall be tripped up there
by; to fill the hat of his instructor
with stones; to put wax upon the
bench, so that the tails of his coat
may adhere to this sticky substance
and thus come to grief, all these things
are very reprehensible, madam, anc
merit a condign punishment.
Eyes, SIR" I replied, and wiped
away my regretful tears. | knew
what was coming. Either Charlie.
would be expelled from the school o.
terribly beaten by this injured man
1t was better to have him beaten thai
expelled, but either was horrible.
.'Please don't expel him, Mr.. Slade,
| said. s.He must be punished, 0
course; but please don't beat him yer.
hard
II shall not beat him at ALL h
said.
"Please don't expel him" | entreat
ed.
"Nor expel him." he replied. 81
you'll leave the boy to me, there WI
be no further trouble. lie has goo
heart and an open, generous, manly M
ture. I'll appeal to these, madame,
you'll allow me. think we can &c
along with Charley if we take the RICH
way"
"Oh, Mr.. Slade," I said, show nobl
YOU are how generous how magnan
nous! think heaven was good to sen
me such "a boarder."
He grew little red under my praise
and as it was school time, bowed hin
self out but really he looked like a
archangel to me as he walked dow
the street. Of course the simile W.
absurd. He was tall and lean and III
calmly, the tails of his long coat d
not flap as gracefully as many anoth'
coat close by. Charley said he W;
knock-kneed; perhaps he was; don
know what the term means. He mlgl
have been knock-kneed, but to me TIL
day he was all that was desirable
man.
The way he managed Charley aft
that was miraculous; there is no 9th
word for it. The boy was as wild al
untamable as a young colt when NJ
Slade took hold of him, and shortly &
terward he was the most tractable al
orderly of mortals. I could see, thong
the time and trouble it cost to wo
such wonders with him. In the spri
they went fishing together, and n
Slade taught Charley how to mana
his hook and line, and wheedle t
poor little fish to his bait. In m
summer they got up collection
beetles and bugs and butterflies a
all sorts of things. 1t was terrible
the poor insects, suppose; but, I
dear Heaven! what rest and conf
it was to me to have Charley anu:
and kept out of trouble
/ began to rest upon Mr.. Slade,
confide in him, to ask his advice,
invariably take it, upon all occaslo
to gratefully take advantage OF
knack in repairing things about
house. and putting in oEders trout
I some domestic utensils, = He salw
put up the shades In Aslls0cle&n
time, and hung the picturess and "
II should have done without MN {
time the machine got out of ord
Heaven only knows. had q dress