The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-03-31
Seleff Storv.
BASIL STOUT.
My Dull School Boy and How He
Proved Himself q Hero.

ffOvcu uInSclI noEOs
! cannot believe that brighter boys
and girls than those Of the Rocky Noun.
tain region Of America can be found in
any part of the world. Their parents
are ambitious, energetic and. versatile
There is no important village in Colora.
do that does not comprise am ,ng it's in.
habi,ants scholarly men and cultivated
women. On the shortes: notice you may
form . company that will do justice TO a
cantata, or give . creditable drsmatic per.
tormance. The children Of such people
delight the heart OF . echool teacher.
In the school at Chrysalis the whole ol
Friday afternoon was devoted to decla-
nation, dialogues, composition and mu'
sc.
The pupils astonished me by the ex.
callence Of their rehearsals. One OF the
largest boys, However, Was an exception
He was o',eu the subject Of my anxious
cogita,Ions. Although very industrious
he seldom knew his lessons. He ba6
broad shoulders, round head covered
With thick hair, straight and black, ant
attracted you by dark brown eyes OF very
pensive expression The mobility OF th'
mouth surprised me; for the boy wal
,aciturr. and 1 thought him stolid.
observed him on the playground, anr
several times went fishing and shooting
with bim.
He reminded ne OF the strength, th,
cunniBg and the instructive s!eight anC
agility OF wild animals. His eviden
fondness for me and bis dociliIy sugges
ted the parallel Of faithful dogs a.
tachment to his master. l considered
myself an accomplished sportsman. By
virtue OF what special qualifications die
this adept 60 easily excel me in wood
craft Was his pre-eminence here dut
to instincts that owned bis closer kinshil
to uureH cling creatures II, on The
other band, it proved his possession o
remarkably quick perceptive facul,iee
Why was be 30 stupid in schoolP While
his eyes we're on his book was his mind
in The forestP I would make him study
would be severe!
For months was alert to detect signs
nf inattention in Busil. None appeared
I witnessed only bic conscientious and
psiuslsking application to study; but Of
ten while he was busy at bis task his
we're an absent or dreamy
The classes we're large; Basil Stout
ives usually at the foot, or near the foot,
Of all the classes except that in srithme.
ic
One Friday afternoon in January many
fiiends of the pupils we're present in the
schooiroom. For afortniebt bad kept
before the dull hoy the neces-
sity Of preparing carefully for the occa.
sion. The other scholars acted well their
parts Bssirs turn came. With visible
be mounted the rostrum and
10 declsim. He stsmmered
several sentences, then stopped
unable to utter another syllable. For Q
minute be fumbled the selvege OF his
Jacket, then cast toward me an appealing
look Of depreciation and agony. Iimpa-
tiertly gave him sign TO quit the stage.
He hurried to his seat, folded his arms
upon The desk and bowing bis head upon
them concealed bis agitated face. When
school Was dismissed he fingered until
only be and remained in the room. ]
vas busy Diffidently he approached
me. !. did not deign to notice him. He
moved uneasily about my deck but did
not venture to address me. was in.
censed Finally liked my eyes sternly
upon him and spoke:
"Basil Stout, 60 home and tell Your
mother l can never make anything oI
you but Ounce"
His mouth mlved az il he was vainly
irving to speak the pathetic expression
l have sometimes observed 10 the eyes oil
q dumb animal wounded to death in bis
face For q moment be stood confused
then hurried from the room.
The sky had been overcast all day
The cloais became each hour thicker
and threatened q heavy fall OF snow
When I locked the school house dool
the 6ne fakes were filling the air and the
wind was rising. / looked toward The
mountains. Dimly seen through the
snowy veil they were enveloped In
clouds. The prospect towsrd the plain'
was obscured by the thickening atmos
phere.
l hurried to nv boarding.place, go
my evening meal and set out TO walk tC
Basil's home. 1t was log house at the
foot of the mountains, two miles above
Chrysslis, on the bank OF the brook. Tht
boy had pointed it out one day as we
went shooting.
The night was one OF the widest
had ever known. No sane man would
venture upoa the plains in such storm
unless duty irperatively called him te
do so. hesitated to sally forth ever
toward the mountains. where had land
marks TO guide me, hut nv desire to
speak kindly to the scholar bad wrong
ed prevailed. l could find nv way hone
| reflected, by the sound OF the tumul!u
ous brook.
Basil himself opened the door for me
He almost shrank back as he beheld hi.
tescher. took his hand cordially anG
asked for his mother. He led me into
the room. On its 6oor were spread, In
place Of q carpet, hear skins and huff
falo.robs Antiers adorned the walls 8
bedstesd was In one corner, and there
we're . few common chairs and deal ia.
BILE. In a rockine-chair sat Bssil's moth.
er, . woman OF about fitty years Of age
The son introduced me, and as greeted
her could see that | had obtruded upor
sorrow No doubt tue 5ov had deliver
ed the harsh message l bad sent and hs
and his mother we're in deep distress.
! sat down in front OF huge woof
Gre that was blazing and cracking on ,
mud hearth. I talked Of the enow.storm
hut the thoughts Of the silent woman
we're on something else.
"Mrs Stout, | spoke to your son thi
afternoon with great severity. though
| had reason to do so, but ] now think
was unnecessarily bitter. No hoy vh,
is willing to work ought TO be discour
aged. ] do not know what to think @
Basil. He seems to study most indus
t'iously. but he seldom knows his le.
.ons. He is one OF the best hoys