South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-06-14

af.. 70 VOL.
Yes. I think ! may say without boast
Ing that this is the model school of the
State, and Clarence Terry Is its model
scholar. ~ 4
MIR. Pigeon, rs be spoke, glanced at a
slight. tall boy, at the head of the
class. ..,-f 49,.
Always Hrst. Recites page after
page without the break Of a syllable
Obedient gehtleInanlyi In short, sir,
IL you discover fault in that boy, you
must have keener eyes than mine
II was Dir. Pigeons last day in the
acateinys He had been appointed to
professorship in college, and the new
teacher, Mr.. Maggie. had arrived to take
his place. Mr.. Pigeon, in fact was in.
augurating him in his office.
Here Is the rollog names; he said.
have added q remark to each which
may give you hint Of the characters Of
the boys. You will find it useful.
Mr.. Maggie looked It over.
John Steele-whieh is John Steele?'
lie asked. .a ~ .~ r-..f
The loutish, redhaired lad at the end
ofthe bench. You'll observe the vacan:
cy in his face.
Now opposite John Steele's name was
written, The good.for-nothing.'
AS the boys changed class, Mr.. Pig
con whispered: Il am almost forced to
believe that boys mind is impenetrable
so far as knowledge goes.
MIR. Nagle paid more attention to
John Steele than to any other boy that
afternoon. He was undeniably bad
case. He was in the first pages of the
Latin grammar, while the other boys Of
his age were reading Virgil.
John stumbled over the first declen-
sion, breaking down invariably in the
vocative case. He bounded France by
Russia; and moved Canada in lump
down to South America.
MIR: Pigeoh had taste for poetry he
read with fine effect, and was anxious
that the boys should acquire tile same
taste; He was in the habit Of reading
sonic brief poem to them at the close ct
the mornings exercises: To-day he
chose Longfel!ow'a Psalm of life
The boys were encouraged to give their
opinion ON it.
How does the poem affect you, Clar-
ence?' asked Mr.. Pigeon.
They are most noble verses, sir, said
the lad fucntly. We might take some
of them as motto for our lives.
Very true. Good criticism.-And
what do you think Of them. Johng'
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 a fool TO be spendin' his
time making footmarks on the sand,
burst out John. Why didn't he build
Notwithstanding that wouldn't
wash away?
MIR. Magic smiled, and looked at the
boy, puzzled. He managed to talk to
most or tile boys separately during re.
cess and among tile rest to John.
i am sorry to see you so low in your
class. john
I'm always there promptly respond
ed the boy.
We must try and bring you up said
the new teacher cheerfully.
You can't do it SIR John answered
looking him straight in the eyes, and
speaking with ready decision that
quite startled the teacher. Il 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. lie, too,
began to despair. The boy seemed to
have absolutely no memory for words.
and very little for ideas. If a rule in
arithmetic or fact in history was ham.
mered into his head to day, by tomor-
row 1t vas sure to be gone. As far rs
his poor brain was concerned, il GER
tainly seemed as If nature preferred, q
vacuum.
One day Johns mother called upon
MIR. Maggie. She was little, anxious
woman, dressed in deep, mourning
Can you do nothing with the boyp' she
saidJ the tears coming TO her eyes,
lie is all l have. His father is dead.
l hoped to give him o classical course
and see him in some profession.
Il will do all cam promised Mr.
Maggie. But his heart sank within him.
Leaving Mrs. Steele, he went down
tho village street. A crowd bad collect.
ed about trench which had been dug
for some purpose. The doctors horse
had fallen into IL, and was struggling
desperately to get out, the shelving vel.
low clay giving him an uncertain foot
| hold.
Some OF the men had struck BIN
cruelty and some were trying to urge by
dragging at the reins. All the Others
were looking on solemnly, with their
hands IN their pockets. Just then Mr.
Maggie heard clear authoritative voice /:
Help me bring these planks and put
them In the ttenchp
Surely that was Johns voice.
10 bis surprise, the men listened to
him. WHAT'S yer idea, johnny
The Lorse can help himsel f better than
all YOU can drag him, only give him a
solid footing
In i've minutes the poor beast had
struggled out. with the help Of two or
three planks.
lie limped as he was led off, Nobody
noticed it but John.
Stop moment he cried, and lifting
the horses foot; he picked out, stone
from, IL with a Iitfn tool yeBirE no tool