The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-03-14

the State, and Clarence Terry sits 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 syllable. Obedi-
ent, gentlemanlyl In short, sir, if you
discover fault in thst boy, you must
have keener eyes than mine"
It 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.
al have added remark to each which
may give you hint of the character of
the boys. You will find it useful"
Mr.. Nagle looked it over.
"' john Steele which is John
Steelep 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, 81 am almost forced to be-
lieve that that boys mind is impenetra-
ble.-sn far as knowledge goes"
Mr.. Nagle paid more attention to John
Steele than to any other boy that after
noon. It was undeniably bad case.
He was in the first page Of the Latin
grammar. while the other boys of his age
were reading Virgil.
John stumbled over the first de-
clension, breaking down invariably in
the vocatiye. He bounded France by
Russia, and moved Canada in lump
down to South America.
Mr.. Piper had taste for poetry; he
read with fine effect, and was anxious that
his boys should acquire the same taste.
He was in the habit of reading some
brief poems to them at the close of the
mornings exercises. To-day he chose
Longfellow's Psalm of Life" The
bows were encouraged to give their opin-
ions on it.
How does this poem affect you, Clar-
enceP" asked Mr.. Pigeon.
"They are most noble verses, sir," !"
said the lad, fuently. 1--WE might
take some of them as motto for our
liYes.n
"Very true. Good criticism. And
what did you think of them, John?"
Didn't think anything"
You must have had some glimmer of
an idea about them"
Johns freckled face grew red
What was it? Out with it."
Any mans fool to be spendin' his
time making footmarks on the sand, !"
burst out John. "Why didn't he build
sometbin' = somethin' that wouldn't
wash awayT
Mr.. Nagle smiled, and looked at the
boy, puzzled. He managed to talk to
most of the boys separately during re-
cess, and among the rest to John.
!" am sorry to see you 30 low in your
class, John"
"fm always there" promptly.
Mostly foot"
"We must try aud bring you up,"-
cheerfully.
You can't do it, sir,"-looking him
straight in the eye, and speaking with a
ready decision that startled the teacher.
i study more than any boy here. But
/ can't learn. I'm of no account, Mr..
Pigeon says"
Mr.. Nagle was very patient with John.
But after few weeks, he, too, began to
despair. The boy seemed to have abso-
lutely no memory for words, and very
little for ideas If a rule in arithmetic
or a fact in history was hammered into
his head to-day. by tomorrow it was
sure to be gone. As far as this poor
brain was concerned, it certainly seemed
as if nature preferred vacuum.
One day Johns mother called on Mr..
Nagle. She was little, anxious woman,
dressed in deep mourning.
"Can you do nothing with the boy p
she said, with tears coming to her eyes.
He is all / have. His father is dead.
! hoped to give him q classical course,
and to see him IN some profession"
al will do all l can" promised Mr.
Nagle. But his heart sank within him
Leaving Mrs. Steele, he went down
the village street. A crowd had col
]ected about a trench which had beer
dug for some purpose. The doctor,
horse had fallen into it, and was strug
Cling desperately to get out, the shelly
ing yellow clay giving him an uncertain
foothold.
Some of the men had struck him
cruelty, and some were trying to urgt
him by dragging at the reins. All tn,
others were looking on solemnly, will
their hands in their pockets. just ther
nv. Nagle heard a clear, authoritative
voice.
"help me bring these planks and pu
them in the trenchp
Surely that was Johns voice.
To his surprise, the men listened t,
him. What's yer idee, Johnny?"
"The horse can help himself bette
than all of you can drag him, only Civ
him solid footing."
In FIVE minutes the poor beast ha,
struggled out, with the help of two o
three planks
he limped as he was led of. .Nobod
noticed this but John.
Stop a moment" he cried, and lift
ing the horses foot, he picked out ston
from H. with n little fool which ba too