Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-03-19
A LESSON IN FRACTIONS.

LESSON IN FRACTIONS.
! 1t was such a blow to me, such bitter.
overwhelming blow! | had been so
comfortable and happy since the school
master had boarded with me. The big
front chamber had been so grim and
ghostly, always shut up and empty. 1t
was our spare room when poor, dear
Charley was alive: but now that | was a
widow and poor. it was needless luXu-
~ to keep a guest chamber. None of
our old friends cared to visit me now.
Just when | needed them most; when
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 scrapc at school should have died
if it had been anybody but Mr.. Slade.
MADAM" he said, ''your boy is mis-
chievous-very mischievous."
eyes, sir, said meekly.
"And to extend a rope in such a man
ner that the unconscious heels of his
teacher should be tripped up thereby: to
fill the hat of his instructor with stones :
to 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 reprehensible,
madam, and merit a condign punish
ment.'
''Yes, sir" replied, and wiped away
my regretful tears, for knew what was
coming.
Either Charley would be expelled from
the school. or dreadfully beaten by this
injured man. 1t was better to have him
beaten than expelled, but either was
horrible.
"Please don't eXpel him. Mr.. Slade," |
said. "'IIe must be punished, of course,
but please don't beat him very hard"
Il 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 further trouble. He has good heart,
an open. generous. manly nature. I'll
appeal to these, madam. if you'll allow
me. think we can get along with
Charley if we take the right way"
80, Mr.. Slade,' said, chow noble
you are, how gracious. how magnani-
NOUS ! think Heaven was good to send
me such IA boarder."
lie grew a little red under my praise,
and. as it was school time. bowed him
self out: but really he looked like an
archangel to me as he walked down the
street OF course the Similc was absurd.
He was tall and lean and ungainly: the
tails of his long coat did not flap rs
gracefully as many another coat close
by. Charley said he was knocked-kneed &;
perhaps he was; don't know what that
term means. lie might have been knock
kneed, but to me that day he was all that
was desirable in man.
The way he managed Charley after
word for it. The boy was as wild and
.untamable as young colt when Mr..
Slade took hold of him, and shortly after
ward he was the most tractable and or
derby 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 NJ. Slado
taught Charley how to manage his hook
and line, and wheedle the poor little fish
to his bait. In midsummer they got W
= a collection of beetles and bugs and al
sorts of things. 1t was terrible to the
poor insects, | suppose; but, oh, deal
to me to have Charley amused and KEEP
out of trouble.
| began to rest upon Mr., Slade, to con
fide in him, to ask his advice, and invari
ably to take it upon all occasions, tC
gratefully take advantage of his knack il
repairing things about the house, putting
in troublesome domestic utensils. He
always put up the shades in the house
what | should have done without him tina
E time the machine got out of order, IIeav
en- only knows. ! had dress to tinisl
for Mrs. Chapel, and was working away
: when, all at once, the machine began t.
0 squeak dreadfully. 1t was Il raspns
+ noise. fit to raise the hat on ones head
5 and mine had ached dreadfully all tn,
!. morning. | oiled and fused at it, but al
to no purpose; it squeaked more ant
J., more. And, to crown all, the nice pump
kin pie | had made for Mr.. Slade'
3 luncheon was burned to crisp.
smelled it, and rushed to the stove, bu
too late. 1t was black ruin and | sa
down and cried over it. 1t seemed to IN
so sad and terrible | wanted to lie dow
and die when in walked Mr.. Slade to hi
luncheon.
"It's no use coming in, said. 81 don