Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-09-03
A LESSON In FRACTIONS.

49, AALAPOFSOAN IAN l. Lt1lN IlO1NkJI
1t was such a blow to me, such bit
ter, ovtrwhe ming 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, Gear
Charley was alive; but now that was
widow and poor it was needless luxury
to keep.a guest chamber. None of our
old friends cared to visit me now, Just
when | needed them most; when l was
lonely and sad and miserable they =
fused to come. But when Mr.. Slade
took the room l didn't grieve 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 have d.ed
If it had been anybody but Mr. Slade.
Madam" he said, "your boy is mis-
chieVous-very mischievous.
"Yes, sir, said, meekly
"And to extend rope in such man
ner that the unconscious heels of his
teacher should be tripped up thereby; to
fill the hat of h 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 inertia condign punishment. -
''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 hor-
rible.
"Please don't exrel him, Mr.. slade, :"
l said. ''He must be punished, of course,
but please don't beat him very hard"
81 shall not beat him at ALL" he said.
'Dont exp2l him, entreated
"Nor eXpel him." he replied. "It
you'll leave the boy to me, there will be
no further trouble. He has a good heart,
an open, generous manly nature. I'll
appeal to these, madam, if you'll allow
me. l think we can get along with
Charley if we take the right way"
"Oh, Mr.. Slldep' | said, chow noble
you are! how generous how magnani-
nous! | think Heaven was good to send
me such "a boarder."
He grew little rel under my praise,
and, as it was school tine, bowed HIM
self out; but really he looked like an
archangel to me as he walked down the
street. OF course the simile was absurd
He was tall and lean and ungainly; the
tails of his long coat dill not flap us grace
fully as many another coat close by.
Charley sad he was knock -kneed; Ter-
haps he was; l don't know what that
term means. He might have been knock
knee1, but to me that day he was all that
was admirable in man.
The way he managed Charley after
that was miraculous; there is no Other
word for it. The boy was as wild and
untamable as young colt when Mr..
Slade took hold of him, and shortly
afterward he was the most tractabie and
orderly of mortals could see, though,
the time and trouble it cost to work such
wonders with him. In the spIing 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 W
a collection of BEETLES and bugs and al
sorts of things. 1t was terrible to tht
poor insects, l suppose; but, oh, dea
Heaven what n rest and comfort it wa
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 inva
riably take it upon all occasions, to crate
fully take rdvantage of his knack in e
pairing things about the house, putting
in Troublesome domestic utensils. Ht
always put up the shades in the house
CLEANING tire, and hung the pictures
and what l should have done without
him that tine the machine got out o
order, Heaven only knows. | had ,
dress to finish for Mrs. Chapel and was
working away, when, all at once, tht
machine began to squeak dreadfully al
the morning | oiled and fused at it
but all to no purpose; it squeaked more
and more. And, to crown all, the nice
pumrk pie had made for Mr.. Slade'
luncheon was burned to crisp. Ismellcc
it, and rushed to the stove, but too late
1t was n black run, and l sat dowI
and cried over it. II seemed to me ST
sad and terrible l wanted to lie dowI
and die, when in walked Mr.. Slade tt
his luncheon.
'It's no use coming in" | said. I"
don't know how you can board here
anyway, am such miserable house
keeper. 1t would be so much better il
Charley and | were dead"
"What has happened" asked Mr.
Slade.
felt ashamed when saw the look o
alarm in his face.
"It is very sad to burn the crust of
nice pie all to crisp, said.
"Do you think sot" said Mr.. Sladc
'Now for me it is a most excellent mis-
chance. OF all things in the world
revere the burned crust Of a pie, ! hav