Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-04-04

turning of the whole body when q side
view was required; his chin was
propped on spreading cravat, which
was as broad and as long as a bank
note, and had fringed ends; his boot
toes were turned sharply up, in the
fashion of the day, like sleigh runners
AN effect patiently and laboriously
produced by the young men sitting
with their toes pressed against q wall
for hours together. Mr.. Walters was
was very earnest of mien, and very
severe and honest at heart; and he
held sacred things and places in such
reverence, and so separated them from
worldly matters, that unconsciously to
himself his Sunday -school voice had
acquired peculiar intonation which
was wholly absent on week days. He
began after this fashion:
"Now, children, I want you all to sit
up just as straight and pretty as you
can, and give me all your attention for
minute or two. There-that is the
way good little boys and girls should
do. | see one little girl who is looking
out Of the window. I am afraid she
perhaps up in one of the trees, making
a speech to the little birds. Applaus-
i've filters want to tell you how
good it makes me feel to see so many
bright, clean little faces assembled in q
place like this, learning to do right and
be good" And SO forth and 80 on. It
is not necessary to set down the rest Of
the Grafton. 1t was of pattern that
does not vary, and SO it is familiar to
us all. The latter third of the speech
was marred by the resumption of fights
and other recreations among certain of
the bad boys, and by fdgetings and
whisperings that extended far and wide,
washing even to the bases of isolated
and incorruptible rocks like Sid and
Mary. But now every sound ceased
suddenly, with the subsistence of Mr..
Walters voice, and the conclusion of
the speech was received with burst of
silent gratitude.
A good part of the whisperings had
been Occasioned by an event which was
more or less rare-the entrance of
visitors; Lawyer Thatcher, acconapa-
MED by very feeble and aged man; a
fine, portly middle-aged gentleman with
iron-gray hair; and a dignifed lady
who was doubtless the latter's wife.
The lady was leading a child. Tom
had been restless and full of chaffings
and repinings; conscience-smitten, too
he could not meet Amy Laurence's
eye, he could not brook her loving
gaze. But when he saw this small new
conner his soul was all ablaze with bliss
in moment. The next moment he
was showing Off" with all his might
cutting boys, pulling hair, making
faces-in word, using every art that
seemed likely to fascinate girl and
win her applause. His exaltation had
but one alloy-the memory of his
humiliation in this angels garden
and that record In sand was fast wash
ing out under the waves of happiness
that were sweeping over it now.
The visitors were given the highest
seats Of honor, and as soon as Mr.. Wal
ters' speech was finished he introduced
them to the school. The middle-aged
man turned out to be prodigious per-
sonage-no less one than the county
judge-altough the most august
creation these children had ever looked
upon-and they wondered what kind
of material he was made of--and they
half wanted to hear him. roar, and
were half afraid he might, too. He
was from Constantinople, twelve miles
away--so he had travelled. and seen
the world-these very eyes had looked
upon the country court house-which
was said to have a tin roof. The awe
which these reflections inspired was at
tested by the impressive silence and
the ranks of staring eyes. This was the
great Judge Thatcher, brother of their
own lawyer. Jeff Thatcher hmm ediate-
~ went forward to be familiar with the
great man and be envied by the school.
1t would have been music to his soul
to hear the whisperings.
z Look at him, Jim! He's going up
there. Say-look !! he's a going to
shake hands with him-he is shaking
hands with him !! By jings, don't you
wish you was jeff"
Mr.. Walters fell to "showing Off"
with all sorts of official 5ustling and &C
tivities, giving orders, delivering judg-
ments, discharging directions here,
there, everywhere that he could fnd q
target. The librarian "showed off,
running hither and thither with his
arms full of books, and making deal
of the splitter and fuss that insect au-
thority delights in. The young lady
teachers Showed OF" bending sweetly
over pupils that were lately being
boxed, lifting pretty warning fingers at
bad little boys and patting good ones
lovingly. The young teach
ers " showed off" with small seolding,
and other little displays of authority
and fine attention to discipline and
most of the teachers of both sexes
found business up at the library, by
the pulpit; and it was business that
frequently had to De done over again
two or three times with much seeming
vexation). The little girls |" showed
Off in various ways, and the little boys
" showed off" with such diligence that
the air was thick with paper wads and
the murmur of scuff1ings. And above
it all the great man sat and beamed a
majestic judicial smile upon all the
house, and warmed himself in the sun
of his own grandeur-for he was