The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-24
THE BIG BOOTS.


house yet remain, deformity by the
roadside.
1t had brick walls, and these are not
entirely gone. A portion of the Chin
ney, too, is still to be seen; while old
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and bits of lath, and
broken layers of mortar make the place
desolate and forbidding. The wet,
spongy farm-lot, in the rear, is no hand
somer, nor the rude highway more at
tractive than was the case forty years
ago.
1t would seem as if country school
houses, Like country grave-yards, were
once begrudged the room required for
them, and hence pushed into the most
uninviting places.
Even now, in sleep, sometimes
dream of my school-days there, and of
the little boy with the big boots-the
sorrowful little boy, whom none of us
knew enough to make happy. Boys
are not really more cruel than men, but
their well of kindness lies deep, and
they leap over it and run around it
without knowing how clear and spark
ling its waters would be if drawn up.
/ was a lad of eleven, the first and
only winter of my attendance there.
/ am now more than fifty; and, in the
review, that single winter seems as long
to me as dozen years. The incidents
of youth have a consistency like that of
pure gold, and the mind afterwards
beats them out, so that they cover a
very broad surface.
Mr.. Tanner, the master, would know
in moment, were he to rise up before
me now; and the fresh-looking girl at
the desk in the corner; and the blue
eyed country beauty, whose seat was by
the window; and the freckled boys, and
boys with tow hair; the big boys on
the back seat, and the little boys on the
front bench by the stove; would rec
ognlze them every one, could some
psychological wonder bring them back
to me again, with the looks that they
have long since shed, atom by atom, on
the road of life.
There was one little fellow about my
own age, whom, on my first day at
school, l remarked as having d thought
full and somewhat troubled face, and to
be poorly dressed.
1t was a cold day in November, and,
at recess, some of the boys put on their
overcoats. One of them, who had a
very handsome garment of the kind, Oil
taking it down from its nail in the en-
try, observed beside it an old faded coat,
belonging to some one else. This he
rudely grasped, and, with a jeering,
cruel air, and derisive whoop, ex-
claimed
"What rag is this?''
At the same time he threw it across
the small entry and out upon the stone
steps.
Another kicked it as it fell; while a
third caught it up and ran with it, as il
it were kite or a banner. Presently,
however, it was dropped, and, as the
boys became somewhat scattered, saw
the little fellow of the reflective face
hastily pick up the despised article and
return it to the place where it had hung
AS he turned away, his countenance
was flushed, and he drew the back Of
his hand across his somewhat handsome
eyes.
1t was his coat, this was plain; and
all my enjoyment of the recess was
spoiled; for | thought how he must fee
to be jeered at and insulted for what he
could not help, and what had no doubt
caused him much anxiety and mortifi
cation, even before any one had made
it a subject of ridicule.
He did not put on the coat at thai
time, though he had worn it in the morn
ing; but when the day was over, and al
the children were making ready fol-
home, as the bitter wind whistled past
the door, he once more buttoned il
around him; and was glad to find that
nothing was said, although some of the
boys looked curiously at his threadbare
attire, as if wondering how he could
wear such clothes on the very first day
of school. But l now observed that he
had ill-fitting boots, much too large fol-
his feet; and, although the coat escaped
attack for the time, the boots did not.
"Boots! boots!'' "What is the price
of old leather?' "Who wants to TAXI
sail in a mudscowP'' were some of the
unfeeling CALCULATIONS that he was com
PEELED to hear, as he started out upor
the road with the others, who, after tn,
manner of rude school-boys, sauntereC
or ran along, pushing each other int
bitches, or throwing pebbles at gate
posts and trees.
The following day was still colder
and the boy came wrapped in his poo
overcoat; but this had now ceased t,
attract particular attention; the bi!
boots, which really made remarkable
appearance upon feet so small, becom
ing the butt instead.
They made louder sound on tn
school-house floor than the boots of an,
other boy; and the sensitive heart O
young Master Robert Brown flor thi
was the lads name) told him so. Their
were enough others to tell him so, too
Oh, the cruelty of those sarcastic smile
and impudent glances!
One evening told my parents of tn
boy with the big boots, who came from
the other end of the district; and m,
mother replied that Robert Brown mus
be the son of that Mr.. Brown who live,
Mt the t1rn of tho road txuO ,,oiIae off