The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-23
THE GOOD-FOR- NOTHING.

HE GOUD.EOK-NOIHl
eyes, I think I may say without
Boosting that this is the model school of
the State, and Clarence Terry is its
model scholar"
Mr.. Pigeon, as he spoke, glanced at
a slight, tall boy, at the head of the
class.
"Always first. Recites page after
page without the break of a syllable.
Obedient, gentlemanly! In short, sir,
if you discover a fault in that boy, you
must have keener eyes than mine"
1t was Mr. Pigeons last day in the
academy. He had been appointed to a
professorship in college, and the new
teacher, Mr.. Nagle, had arrived to take
his place Mr.. Pigeon, in fact, was in
augurating him in his office.
Here is the roll of Names" he said.
81 have added remark to each which
may give you hint of the character of
the boys. You will find it useful"
Mr.. Maggie looked it over.
John Steele'-which is John
Steele?n he asked. ~ .
"The loutish, red-haired lad at the
end of the bench. You'll observe the
vacancy in his face"
Now opposite John Steele's name was
written: The good-for-nothing."
AS the boys changed class, Mr.. Pigeon
whispered: Il am almost forced to be-
lieve that that boys mind is impene-
trable-so far as knowledge goes"
Mr.. Nagle paid more attention to
John Steele than to any other boy that
afternoon. 1t was undeniably a bad
case. He was in the first pages of the
Latin grammar, while the other boys Of
his age We're reading Virgil.
John stumbled over the first declen
sion, breaking down invariably in thu
vocative. He bounded France by Rus
STA, and moved Canada in lump dowr
to South America.
Mr.. Pigeon had taste for poetry; h,
read with fine effect, and was anxiou,
that his boys should acquire the SAINT
taste. He was in the habit of reading
some brief poem to them at the clos(
of the mornings exercises. To-day he
chose Longfellow's ''Psalm of Life.
The boys were encouraged to give theil
opinions on it, .....
"How does this poem affect you
Clarence?n asked Mr.. Pigeon.
"They are most noble verses, sir, ;
said the lad, huently. "We might taxi
some of them as motto for our lives. ,
every true. Good criticism. AnC
what did you think of them, John?"
Didn't think anything"
You must have had some glimmel
of an idea about them"
Johns freckled face grew red.
"What was it? Out with it,
"Any mans fool to be spendin' hi
time making footmarks on the sand, y
burst out John. "Why didn't he built
somethin' - somethin' that wouldn'
wash away?'
Mr. Nagle smiled, and looked at tn
boy, puzzled. He managed to talk t,
most of the boys separately during re
cess, and among the rest to John.
81 am sorry to see you so low in you
class, john
"rm always there" promptly
"Mostly FOOT
eve must try and bring you up
cheerfully. .
"You can't do it, sir''-looking hin
straight in the eye, and speaking wit
a ready decision that startled the teach
er. 81 study more than any boy here
But can't learn. I'm of no account
Mr.. Pigeon says"
Mr.. Nagle was very patient witt
John. But after a few weeks he, too
began to despair. The boy seemed t
have absolutely no memory for words
and very little for ideas. If a rule il
arithmetic or a fact in history was ham
mered into his head to-day, by tomorrow
it was sure to be gone. AS far as thi
poor brain was concerned, it certainl
seemed as if nature preferred vacuum
One day Johns mother called on MI
Nagle. She was little, anxious WON
an, dressed in deep mourning
"Can you do nothing with the boy?'
she said the tears coming to her eyes
"He is all l have, His father is dead
1 hoped to give him a classical course
and to see him in some profession.
81 will do all l can," promised MI
Maggie. But his heart sank within him
Leaving Mrs. Steele, he went dow
the village street. A crowd had col
lected about u trench which had bee
dug for some purpose. The doctor
horse had fallen into it, and was strue
Cling desperately to get out, the shelly
ing yellow clay giving him an uncertai
foothold.
Some of the men had struck hir
cruelty, and some were trying to urg
him by dragging at the reins. All tn
others were looking on solemnly, wit
their hands in their pockets. just the
Mr. Nagle heard clear, authoritativ
voice;