Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1882-04-25
The Top of the Ladder.


ton, and with his fingers in both ears,
did not hear it. Wellington was his
hero, and he read and re-read every
tale in his brilliant life. 1t was a life
worth living, Harry thought, all excite
ment and glory. He means to be a
Wellington himself some day. He fin
ished the book in about half an hour,
and then hurried to school, thinking
contemptuously of its routine and of
the boys who seemed so contented with
their simple lives. How he would sur
prise them all some-day, he thought,
later-these boys who laughed when
the teacher called him to account for
his hardness, and wouldn't take his
excuse of not hearing the bell. He
had to comfort himself in some way,
for he was forced to pay for his half
hours reading with two hours study,
after school, under the masters eye.
He met Robert Blackburn on his
way home: he had been studying in
the summer-house ever since school was
out, and was as glad as Arthur to
stretch himself.
"What makes you study when you
don't have to-" Arthur asked impa-
tiently.
81 do have to-" was the quiet reply.
81 want to be somebody some day.
"a teacher, suppose" Arthur said,
with something in his tone, if not in
his words, that made Robert color.
But he only said in his simple de-
cided way, Eyes, a teacher, but not
perhaps of books-I am studying for a
soldiers life"
"You," Arthur's surprise was so
genuine that Robert had to laugh.
But you are so quiet and care SO
much for books and all that" Arthur,
said, after moments pause to collect
himself. "Now with me it is SO differ
ent. l must have life and excitement.
l seem to be more fitted for that. This
school business is too irksOme."
Robert smiled. 1--WE cannot rule till
we learn to obey, you know; and how
can we learn better than by submitting
without question to schOol-rules and
decipline2 L really enjoy doing this,
now that l intend to be a soldier.
Every day is clear gain. know
am fitUing myself for it.
A strange and decidedly new feeling
of respect for this quiet boy, with firm
resolution and self-control, came over
Arthur.
"But the books" he said, "what use
can all those stupid Latin rules and
geography and history be to gcner-
alp"
"Why, a general will want all kinds
of knowledge if he is to be good for
anything. The more knowledge the
more power he will have. What
would he do in a new country if he
had no knowledge of geography or
engineering?"
Arthur felt ashamed and discour-
aged by this time, and was humbled
sufficiently to admit little of it to
Robert, and confessed that his ambi-
tiOn was to be soldier and general
like Wellington.
First ratev' said Robert, heartily.
"Then we will work together and see
who gets to the top of the ladder first" +"
Quite inspired by Roberts determina-
ton to prepare himself for the future
he wanted, Arthur started in the same
sensible way. He was soon surprised
at the actual pleasure he took in
school. Those irksome rules seemed
quite different things, now that he
looked at himself as a soldier under
orders, learning to obey. Sometimes
he would feel like giving up some vex-
ing problem, but a hint from Robert
one day that "WellingtOn never called
difficulties impossibilities," proved the