The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-03-11
THE SHEEP TURNED LION.

Jawe's house in Eton, there was not a
milder youth than Simpkins, who reach
ed the light OF Upper Division of the
Fifth Form without distinguishing him.
self in any way. He was tall, faxen-
haired lad, with long arms and legs. and
an amiable but weak smile. He did
nothing well, and yet nothing so i'll as to
attract remark. His place in trials, " or
school examinations was always low,
but he had never "mufed;" and as it
was with him in school work, so was it
in games, for he did not excel at cricket,
football or rowing. He could just
swim; pull without catching crabs; bat
without knocking down his stumps
Though he was incapable of scoring, J
and at football he could play without APP
pearing to sfunk,' though in truth he
had respect for his shins, and would
never willingly charge into a ''bully,
where there were a good many loose
kicks lying about. So, in sum, poor
Simpkins was duffer; but, on the other
hand, he possessed such an exuberant inn
agination that he acutely felt the degra-
dation in which ne stood in reason of his
general inferiorities. A physiognomist
studying his countenance would have
seen in it the signs of budding genius,
and might have prophesied that Simp-
kins would become poet, novelist, or
a wit Meanwhile, the lads imagination
served chiefly to his self-glorifcation in
private, for he was constantly picturing
for his own delectation scenes in which
he played the part Of boy hero. Now
he was captain of the Eleven, and made
such score at Lord 8 as to win victory
against Harrow off his own hat; now he
was captain Of the boats and ssstroked'',
the Eight at Henley, winning for his
school the Grand Challenge Cup and the
Ladies' Plate; or, again, Simkins fancied
himself plunging into competion for the
Newcastle scholarship, and defeating all
his rivals, as preliminary to going up
to Oxford and gaining double frst-class
honors. There was not vision of faith
that Simpkins did not conjure up; and
the worst of it was that these dreams
haunted him by night as well as by day,
so that now and then he would arise from
bed deeply mortified at facing the reali-
ties of his humble position, and making
the most valiant resolves that he would
try and do better for the future.
It should be mentioned that Simpkins
had his one point of superiority over
most fellows in the school; he was q
great authority on postage stamps. He
had amassed collection of nearly 5000
different sorts, and used to make himself
pleasant during the holidays by taking
it to young ladies. At Eaton he was
sometimes consulted by lower boys as to
the genuineness of stamps which they
had sought for their own collections; and
occasionally Masters would joke with
him about his supposed infallibility in
relation to geography, and the dates
when divers sovereigns had assembled the
throne. As matter of fact, Simpkins
was not infallible; but he passed for be-
ing so, which is much the same thing,
as His Holiness the Pepe would say.
Thus, one evening at The beginning of
a Michaelmas Term or Football Hall,
returning from the holidays,
was treated by his tutor with an invita-
tion to come to tea, and exhibit his col
lection of stamps, to . young lady who
was connoisseur. 4
"It,s sister of my wife's, said Mr..
Jawe; she's quiteas eager about stamps
as you are; so you must mind and not
let her coax any out Of your collection.
/ warn you she is most clever at bribery
Bother the stamps" soliloquized
who, like all hobbledehoys,
thought it proof of manliness to affect
being pored by female society; but he
went and put on his white tie, and pres
emily made his appearance in the draw
ing-room with folio album under his
arm.
He was affably received BY Miss Nellie
Snubbin, his tutors sister-in- law, whaS5s
was merry maid of seventeen. Her en-
thusiasm about stamps may have been
great, but it soon exhausted itself in con-
for, after tea, when Simpkins
and she sat down in q corner on the pre-
'ense of having good look at the album
she began to talk about everything ex-
.ept stamps.
ssHow long have You been at Elton,
Mr.. Simpkins?"
About -aw-five years, I think. Z
"Been often swished?n
What at?"
Here Simpkins drew himself up q lit
lie, and, reddening, looked daggers.
"Oh, I see, I'm alluding to q tender
subject. Never mind. You're in the
BOATS, Isupposea No? Then You are in
Eyes, ? observed simpkins, still
offended, ssand there are about nine
hundred Of them in the school. /"
Nine hundred elevens, do you mean?
Oh, you are talking Of fellows. Why
lont-yo have the sense to call your
Ielves boys? We at our school used to
,all ourselves girls; but suppose you
90 in for grand expression at Eton. I
ay, Mr.. Simpkins, are you conceited?v
What should be conceited about?''
That's what I was going to ask. Can
vou bat, boat, sing, dance, box, or tell
tory better than other fellewsp / see
,ou think me an impertinent girl; but
10 like q boy-or fellow; beg pardon
o be able to do something better than
,nything else. Just think now; have
'ou ever thrashed fellow twice your
;ze?"
Moo; certainly not. .
why not?"
why, what question: Because I
ouldn't, to be surep screamed Simpkins
rho looked redder and more uncomfort-
ble than ever.
Suppose you were to try2"
What try to thrash fellow twice |
ny size?"
Yes, just to please me and make me
hink you hero. .
Nellie Snubbin gazed at him archly,
vhile his eyes, which had become gog-
les, answered hers with q helpless stare;
ut Immediately afterwards she burst I
Mt laughing, and Simpkins saw that he |
ad been roasted. He arose with dig I
ity and closed his album, making the
r1J ytv 7o<7v q n ufi{f J,oxu mi. .n,<s- AL