The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-21

You misunderstood me-" he added.
No, sir. " said Jack, firmly. Il be-
long to this class
Several of the children giggled. One
of the boys threw a great spit-ball, that
struck him on the back of the head.
II cant help it. said Jack. with face
as red as fire This is the first chance
I've ever had to learn, and Pm a-going
to take it And he sat down and was
soon studying away at an example-add
% to 80
Baby boy" cried one of the scholars
at recess.
"Spell fool" cried another.
Where did you go to college?''
When did Columbus discover the
Mississippip'
Add one apple and two dogs"
But poor Jack did not look up. He
was studying away at his old spelling
book, which was thumbed and dog
cared and torn; m-e-a-s-u-r-e, measure;
p-l-e-a-s-u-r-e, pleasure.
81 say cried one of the boys at
last; "what kind of a mother have YOU
got if she didn't teach you anything?"
Jack was on his feet in moment.
His face was flushed and his hands
clenched. He seized the boy by the
collar, and was just about to throw him,
when he stopped
"What be about?" he said, slowly.
eff YOU was my size, I'd give you
tromnmg you'd remember. But there,
you're Only a babyn'
And he sat down again on the door
step and began to pore over the old
spelling-book.
One of the youug girls in the upper
class, named Florence West, came up
and stood beside him.
"You ought to be ashamed of your
selves, boys she said You don't
know what hard time he's had to get
along He's been bound out for five
years past and has never had chance
to 60 to school. But he's working hard
now to make up for lost time, and we
ought to help him instead of laughing
at him" FL ..f H.1.. ''N .
Jack looked up gratefully, and his
face was covered with bushes. He al
most thought an angel had come down
to help him.
just then the masters bell rang, and
they all went in. That day Jack stood
at the head of his little class In two
weeks he led the class above.
At the end of the year, the friends of
the scholars had gathered at the exhibit
ton i'll the school-house The teacher
rose. Every sound was hushed,
81 have something remarkable to tell
you,n he said. "Last autumn, a young
man of twenty-one entered the lowest
class in my school. He has earned his
food and lodging by chopping wood and
otherwise aiding a kind woman of the
village who desired to help him, All
his spare time has been spent in his
studies. He has made up all the studies
of the lower classes, and am happy to
say he has the highest rank in :he school.
You may take the seat in front, Lewis.
Had it not been fpr this, the first place
would have heeR-held by Miss Florence
West, who will please take the other
vacant chair
What was Jack 5 surprise as he walked
up the aisle to hear the audience favor
ing him with hearty applause.
But for all the honor, he had only
been through the district school Now
he had all summer to make some money
to carry him through the next year at
VIZ NJ IL oOIlbDl.
Years passed on. Let me picture a
scene ''out West
"Good-morning, Mr.. Lewis said
poor, notwithstanding man, walking
into the Office of the Hon John Lewis,
and standing before him. "Do you re-
member meP"
"No, sir"
"No; l didn't suppose you would.
My name is Ned Barnes. was bound
out with you to Farmer Harris when we
were boys. But you've got ON in the
world, and / haven't. l don't know
how it is, but some folks seem to have
good luck, and others has poor luck.
You always had good luck and got
ahead. thought p'raps you d find me
job, just for the sake of old times"
"Yes, indeed" said Jack; for it was
he grown up to middle life, after going
through college and building up a fine
law business. If you'll go up to my
house, Florence, my wife, will fit you
out in some decent clothes, and chen I'll
see what can do for you"
These were the men who, twenty
years before, had been in that little
attic-room, the one snoring in bed, and
the other thumbing his old spelling
book. That was where the good luck
and the poor luck began. - YOUTHS Com
panton.
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