Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-05
A LESSON IN FRACTIONS.

1t was such a blow to me-such bitter,
overwhelming blow! ! had been so COM
Portable and happy since the school-master
had boarded with me. The big front cham
Der had been so grim and ehostly. always
shut up and empty. Il was our spare room
when poor, dear Charley was alive; but
now that I was widow aud poor it was
needless luxury to keep a guest chamber.
None of our old friends cared to visit me
now just when l needed them most, when
1 was lonely and sad and miserable, they
refused to come. But when Mr. Slade took
the room ! didn't greve about the loss of
friends. 1t seemed odd to have money for
the guest chamber but the way that was
situated reconciled me to the thought very
speedily indeed.
Then when my boy Charley got into that
scrape at school / should Just have died if
it had been anybody but MIR. Slade.
Madam" he said, your boy is mis-
chievous-very mischievous."
Yes, sir, | said meekly
And to extend u rope in such a manner
that the unconscious heels Of his teacher
shall be tripped up thereby; to fill the hat
OF his instructor with stones; 10 put wax
upon the bench so that the tails of his coat
may adhere to this sticky substance and
thus come to grief-all these things are
very reprehensiye, madam, and merit q
condign punishment"
Yes, sir" l replied, and wiped away
my regretful tears, for I knew what was
coming.
Either Charley would be expelled from
the school or dreadfully beaten by this in
iured man. II was better 10 have him
beaten than expelled, but either was hor-
rible.
Please don't expel him, Mr. Slade,' l
said. He must be punished, of course ;;
but please don't beat him very hard
% shall not beat him at all he said.
Don't expel him." entreated
Nor eXpel him. he replied. If you'll
leave the boy to me, there will be no fur
ther trouble. He has good heart, and an
open. generous, manly nature. I'll appeal
to these, madam, if you Il allow me.
think we can get along with Charley if We
take the right way"
"Oh, Mr. Slade,' l said. chow noble
you arel how generous how magnani-
nous! l think heaven was good to send
me such "a boarder.'
He grew a little red under my praise, and
as it was school time, bowed himself out ::
but really he looked like an arch-angel to
"
course the siInile was absurd He was tall
and lean and ungainly; the tails of his
long coat did not flap as gracefully as many
another coat close by. Charley said he was
knock-kneed; perhaps be was; | don't
know what that term means He might
have been knOck-kneed, but to me that day
he was all that was desirable in man.
The way he managed Charley after that
was miraculous; there is no other word for
lao how ND
a young colt when Mr.. Slade took hold of
him, and shortly afterward he was the
most tractable and orderly of mortals. |
could see, though, the time and trouble it
cost to work such wonders with him. In
the spring they went fishing together, and
Mr.. Slade taught Charley how to manage
his hook and line, and wheedle the poor
little fish to his bait. In midsummer they
got up collection of beetles and bugs and
all sorts of things. 1t was terrible to the
poor insects, | suppose; but, oh, dear
heaven what a rest and comfort it was to
me to have Charley amused and kept out
of trouble.
l began to rest upon Mr.. Slade, to confide
in him, to ask his advice and invariably
take it, upon all occasions TO gratefully
take advantage of his knack in repairing
things about the house putting in order
troublesome domestic utensils. He always
pun UP lLlt sEINGS III DOuSt CledIllIlS
and hung the pictures and what / should
have done without him that time the ma
chine got out order. heaven only knows.
had dress 10 finish for Mrs. Chapel, and
was working away when, all at once the
machine began to squeak dreadfully. II
was raspiDg noise, fit to raise the hair on
ones head, and mine had ached dreadfully
all the morning. l oiled and fused at it
but all to no purpose; it squeaked more
and more. And, to crown all, the nice
pumpkin pie / had made for Mr.. SHADES
luncheon was burned to crisp. | smelled
it, and rushed to the stove, but too late. II
was black ruin, and l sat down and cried
over IT. IL seemed to meso sad and terrible
/ wanted to lie down and die, when in
walked Mr.. Slade to his luncheon
It's no use coming in" | said, ~ dem
know how you can board here any
way, | am such a miserable housekeeper
1t would be so much better if Charley and
were dead"
What has happened ?" asked Mr.. Slade
felt ashamed when l saw the look OF
alarm in his face.
q 1t is very sad" l said, "to burn the
crust of nice pie all to crisp
Dc you think So" said Mr.. Slade
Now for Inc it is a most excellent mis-
chance. OF all things in the world
revere the burned crust of a pie. l have
neSltaleu 10 declare this production, be-
cause | knew it is a remarkable one and
not at all likely to be shared by the major
ity of people; but fortune has favored me
to-day. Mrs. Sweet, let us have the pie by
all means -
And he actually lifted the horrible black
thing to the table, and ate it-yes, he ate
(which was the most graceful piece OF
martyrdom l ever saw in a man. And
then | got courage to tell him how /
burned it; that Mrs. Chapel must have
that dress, and the machine had begun to
squeak in the most horrible way; that I'd
oiled 1t and fused with it, all to no pur-
pose, and how was to finish that dress OF
Mrs Chappers with that dreadful noise
dlstractlng my poor brain, didn't know.
Wen look at il" he said, in that rest
ing, comforting, soul-cheering way of his
and as | followed him into the sitting-room
/ knew in my heart that he would exercise
that squeaking demon from the machine
And he did.
IFS the ball, " he said; lit has became
smooth from friction, and if you'll bring
me a little -four or meal, Mrs. Sweet
stay here is piece of chalk which is bet
ter than all"
And with that little white lump that he
took from his waistcoat pocket he made the
machine perfect in fivs-in two minutes.
Now, how could help watching him
from the door again as he walked away to
school; and let his coat tails flap as they
may, or be he knock-kneed to eternity
how could l help sending after him my
heartiest benediction and Blessing?
And can it be wondered at that wheI
only two or three months after he told ms