Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-21
MY LITTLE CHAMPION.

MY LITTLE CHAMPION.
Il Il not without an effort that have re
solved to break, In the course Of this nara
tive, the reserve maintainsdfor nearly twenty
years But the chief reason for silence is 70
moved, now that those are gone who might
have been panied or harmed by what I have
to tell, and, though shrink still from reviv-
ing certain memories that are fraught with
pain, there are others associated Herewith in
which shall surely find consolation and re-
lief.
must have been about IL at the time am
speaking Of, and the change which-for good
or il-comes over most boys lives had not vet
threatened mine. bad not yet left home for
school, nor did it seem at all probable then
that should ever do so.
l was the only son Of . widow, and we led
secluded life in a London suburb My
mother took charge of my education herself,
and, as far as mere acquaintance went, l was
certainly not behind other boys Of my age.
owe too much to that loving and careful
training, heaven knows, to think of casting
any reflection upon it here, but my surround
ings were such as almost necessarily to ex-
clude all bracing and hardening influences.
There came a morning when, on going to
her with my lessons for the day, was glad
gened with an unexpected holiday. I little
knew then-though l was to learn so soon
that my lessons had been all holidays, or that
On that day they were to end forever
Ny mother had had one or two previous at
tacks of an illness which seemed to PROSTATE
her for a short period, and as she soon re-
gained her ordinary health, did not think
they could be of a serious nature.
So devoted my holiday cheerfully enough
to the illumination Of a text, on the gaudy
coloring of which found myself gazing two
days later with a dull wonder as at the work
Of strange hand in long dead past, for the
boy who had painted that was a happy boy
who had a mother, and for two endless days
I had been alone
remember how, as autumn began, and
leaf after leaf fiuttered down from the trees
in our little garden, watched them fall with
q heavier heart, for my mother had known
them, and now they, too, were deserving me.
This morbid state of mind had lasted quite
long enough when my uncle, who was my
guardian, saw fit to put . summary end to it
by sending me to school forthwith Ny I'M
Gle took me down by rail remember pass
ing through some wrought-iron gates. and
down an avenue Of young chestnuts, under .
Joyous canopy Of scarlet amber and orange,
up to fine old red brick house, with a high
pitched, brown roof, and a cupola in which q
big bell hung, tinted q warm gold by the
afternoon sun.
This was my school, and it did not look so
very terrible after all There was big bow
window by the pillared portico, and, glancing
timidly in, l saw girl Of about my own age
sitting there, absorbed in the book she was
reading, her long brown hair dropping over
her cheek and the hand on which it rested.
Shs glanced up at the sound of the door bell
and felt her eyes examining me seriously
and critically, and then forgot everything
but the fact that was being introduced to
my future schoolmaster, the Rev. Basil
Dering.
This was less of an ordeal than had ex-
pected; he had q strong, massively-cut leon
nine face, free and abundant white hair,
streaked with dark gray, but there was .
kind light in his eyes as looked up at them,
and the firm mouth could smile, found,
pleasantly enough.
was not surprised afterwards to pass
through an empty school room, and to de
scend by some steep stairs to q deserted play
ground for We had been already told that the
Nichaelmas holidays were not over, and that
the boys would not return for some days to
come. Ipaced the damp paths paved with .
mosaic Of russell and yellow leaves; heard
light footsteps behind me, and turned to find
myself face to face with the girl had seen at
the window.
Size stood there breathless for an instant,
for she had hurried to overtake me, and
against background OF crimson creepers l
saw the brilliant faR with its soft but fear
less brown eyes, small, straight nose spirited
mouth and crisp, wavy, golden-brown hair,
which see now as distinctly while 1 write.
"You're the new boy" she said at length.
~rve come out to make You feel more ut
home suppose you don't feel quite at home
just yetr
Not quite, thank you,r said, lifting my
cap with ceremony, for had been taught to
b particular about my manners; Il have
nsver been to school before, you see, Miss
Dsring.n
think she was little puzzled by so much
another told me about il, and I'm very sorry.
And I'm called Marjory, generally. Shall
you like school, do you thinkr
Il might" said l. 4d--if it wasn't for the
boysI"
aBoys aren't bad" she said; @ours are
rather nice. Are you fond Of games"
@rm very fond Of some games" said l.
.What is your favorite game" she de-
manded.
sBezique,- / answered, ''or draughts."
Il mean outdoor games; draughts are in
door games-is indoor games, l mean-no,
are an in door game-and that doesn't sound
grammar! But haven't you ever played
cricket. Not ever, really! l like it dread
fully myself, only I'm not allowed TO play
with the boys, and I'm sure l can bat well
enough for the second elevenl Now suppose
teach you croquet."
Isubmitted myself n,eekly to her direction,
and Marjory enjoyed her Office Of instructress
until the tea bell rang; hut when / lay down
that night in my strange, cold bed, hemmed
round by other beds which were only less for
midable than il they had been occupied, felt
less friendless than might have done, and
dreamed all night that Marjory was teaching
me something l understood to be cricket,
which, however, was more like q bloated kind
Of Backgammon
The next day Marjory was allowed TO go
out walking with me, and came home feel
ing that had known her for quite q long
time, while her manner to me had acquired
tone even more protecting than before. and
she began TO betray an anxiety rs to my
school prospects which filed me with uneasi-
ness.
lam 20 afraid the boys won't like the way
YOU talk" she said on one occasion.
Il used to be told spoke very correctly
aid, verlantly enough.
@But not like boys talk You see, Cameron,
ought to know, with such lot Of them
about tell you what could do, though,
could teach you most Of their words-only
must run and ask mother first if l may. Teach
ing slang isn't the same a using it on my own
account, is itf'
Marjory darted of inpulsely to ask leave,
% return presently with . slow step and
downcast face Il maynit,r she announced
sNother says certainly not; 30 there's an end
q that Still, think myself It's a decided
Pity"
And more than oncs that day she would
observe, as IL to herself, Il do wish they had
let you come to school In different collarsr
And on tho last evening Of the holidays shs
nd good night to me with some solemnity.
Everything will he diffeTent after this, she
said' II sha'nt he able - 80 nearly 30 muc:e
Of you because I'm rot allowed 10 be mrcA
with the hoys Bat l shall be looking after
you I'll the time, Cameron, and seeing row
You &c; on. And OH do hope You will try
to be a popular kind Of boy!"
/ do not know that l tried to be-and
certainly was not-a popular boy. could
not conceal my shrinking dislike to the boys
II.