Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-03-28
the PROFESSOR.

the PROF ESS0R.
"MiSs O'Brien will read the mex
stanza!" said Professor Ingram, il
cold, dignified tones, as he looked
up from the battle-scarred copy O
Horace that lay on the desk, ant
fastened his dark eyes on Elise.
"Excuse me, professor, but know
the translation | made of chat pas
sage is not correct, and l woult
rather not read it. Although
tried very hard | have not beer
able to get at the poets exac
meaning"
IL did not ask you to expires
your opinion Of the translatiO@,
had made, Miss O'Brien, but re
quested you TO read it" and TIT
shadows grew darker OH his face
'.Really, professor, cannot reat
IT." persisted the fair girl.
"Well, trym
Elise recognized the accents o
command in what he said, and il
never occurred to her to disobe,
him or resist further. No one who
had ever been in his class would
have parleyed with him when hi
looked and spoke in that way. 81
she snatcled mp her book and has
tily read the verse he had called
her to translate.
Her effort was greeted with {
litter Of laughter all around the
class. 1t was not often that the
members Of Professor Ingram,
class cast aside the dignity Decom
ing the situation when they were
in his recitation room, but this was
more than they were prepared for
Even the professor could not re
strain the smile that crept over hi,
sas1au f s. ea6ass vaafhdhHsa aTe
latin language. Elise feigned to
laugh a little, too.
81 suppose, sir,"she said. looking
up at him detiantly, 'the next time
| tell you l cannot translate a GER
tain passage you will believe me?'
He made no reply, but fastened
his eyes on her with Il keener scru
tiny. He was wondering how the
girl who was so freely praised by
other teachers as being The star OF
their classes, who, he had heard,
was the sharpeSt mathematician in
the school and excelled in the lit,
erature OF other languages, could
be so slow to comprehend Latin.
Elise was glad when he passed
the verse to another girl, for she
WAS growing uneasy under his
searching gaze.
A short time aftcrwartl she was
on her way to her music room to
practice, and Glanced to meet Mat
tie HattOn, her first favorite, 10
the hall. Matte commenced laugh
ing, and exclaimed:
"Well, Elise, that was a heavenly
translation you treated us.to this
morning! No doubt it made old
Horace turn over in his grave tC
have his pet thought so fearfully
distorted"
~ don't care if it did! Did
not tell Professor Ingram L could
not read it, know as we'll as YOU
how ridiculous my translation
sounded. l have known a lone
time there is no bright hope Of my
ever being a Latin scholar. Papa
says it is because l did not have a
competent teacher in the beginning
Anyway, have such a distaste fo1
it that / cannot make up my mind
to learn it. l did not dislike it SO
before l commenced taxing les.
SONS from Professor Ingram, but
now it seems like / only 60 to that
class to make display Of my ig-
norance day after day. He gener.
ally calls upon me to read the most
difficult part OF the lesson, and if
he finds that | am especially igno.
rant on any particular subject that
is the very one about which he
asks me most questions. You
know l have no trouble in any
other class, but it seems that when
he fixes those hateful old dark eyes
on me it sets my wits woolgather-
ing. | believe ! am afraid of him.
"Afrald of Professor Ingram?
The idea of such a thing! 1t is
true l would not dare disobey him,
or thwart him in any way, but
never dreamed of being afraid OF
him. He is positive and stern, but
never violent nor rude, and, truly,
for business and kindness ali sea
SoDs are summer to him."
"kindness!" cried Elise, her pref.
ty blue eyes sparkling scornfull5,
II wish he would indulge in a dis.
tribution Of it when ] am near, il
he keeps such stock in store. ]
suppose, in my winter of discon.
tent, | fail to appreciate professors
summer time disposition. l am
sure ever dread the hour when
his class meets, and l would walk
far out OF my way to avoid meeting
him on the lawn"
elise, you should not say that
For my part l think he is very pa
tient with YOU, and | know he has
never treated you unkindly."
"No, he never chides me in words
but his eyes speak volumes of dis