Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-01-17
EARNING AN EDUCATION,
How Mark Triumphed and Made
His School a Success.


in New England college he used to
look forward with much pleasant
anticipation to the day Of his gradua,
tion. After that he would be on his
own hook. and he could set 10 work to
make his fortune. As long rs he
could remember he had always been
anxious to be engaged in that under
taking. But Il happened quite unex.
pectedly one day while he was still
sophomore that Marks father died
aad he was left without money. He
Aat before the fire with his chum, Joe
Travis, several evenings, wondering
what he could do.
Its all up with me-" he said, de-
jected, IL can't graduate with the
class"
borrow money, old fellow" Joe
insisted. ''Get your life insured and
give the policy as security"
"Ther0gip't soul who viii lend
me a dollar. j have got 70 give up
and go home"
II turned out, however, that instead
of going home. Mark set of one De-
cember morning resolved to teach a
district school during the winter on
one OF tho islands along the Maine
coast N"Probably haven't got muscle
enough TO keep order" he admitted;
''but atA going TO try 1t at any rate.m
He was small and slepderi the school
was reported TO be difficult TO manage.
and the undertaking he knew was not
a triiling one. While being whirled
along in the cars all OF the morning
and part of the afternoon he had plenty
OF leisure time TO think of II, worry
over IL. and wonder what sort OF a
place the island would prove 10 be.
First was the journey in the cars
seventy miles or more, then a long
ride in an old rattlebox stage over a
rough, frozen road, and finally trans
fer 10 "A wheezy little steamboat which
carried him away from the mainland
about dark. When he saw the lights
begin TO disappear behind he felt as
though he was taking leave OF all the
world, and he hastened down TO the
miniature cabin homesick and gloomy
enough. "a 7I5lr
But there happened TO be in this
smoky little -Ptace an odd-looking,
jovial, scattering. old man who before
many minutes put Marks melancholy
20 flight
'WaL yes, now, you see, that's just
the wayit was,n he was saying in a
sonorous voice to three burly fisher
men when Mark. caught sight of him.
"rhose pelsy crabs climb up the rig
gin, 20 the. cross-tree and sot down for
the rest OF the voyage
"Uh. no, now, you don't mean it,
Uncle Seth" said one OF the listeners,
breaking into a loud laugh.
Yes do thsOld man declared
''yes ! do
He was sitting under the glimmer OF
n lantern. and Mark could see that he
had a broad, weather-beaten face
fringed with short white beard. He
wore a'tarpaulin hat, a loose pea jack.
et, and he had a wooden leg which he
rested across stool. The sailors
yarn he had begun to spin he went on
with, protesting now and then thai
every word OF It was the honest truth
and Mark was so amused by the nara,
tive that he soon Joined the fishermen
in laughing heartily. Indeed, the ex
traordinary adventures OF those crab.
were worth remembering. The mar
who could tell story so well was 4
pleasant one 10 meet; and Mark wa.
much pleased, when he arrived at the
island and inquired for the schoo
agent to discover that the old man wa
the identical person.
"Sure's you Ii We I'm the man." b,
said. "Ilooker-Uncle Seth Hooker
that's who am; and I'm the keeper
OF the Point Light over yonder Gath
er up your traps and come right over
FOR l reckon you'll board along will
me Most Of the teachers has"
Mark swung his heavy carpet-bal
over his shoulder and started of will
him across a rough. stony deld In tn,
direction Of the lighthouse, whicl
was plainly visible every time its re
volying light flashed toward them. II,
was going TO see something a littl,
strange at any rate. he thought, rather
pleased with the expectation Of new
experience.
q ! suppose you expected me to-day
Mr.. Hoelserp" he asked, when the,
had picked their way along IN silenc,
few moments. T
Wal, yes; now | come 10 think o
81. We did" the old man answered
" But reclkoned you'd be bigger, yo,
eee. andl didn't notice you much II
the beat Ever been down IN thes.
rarts aforeP"
Mark confessed that he had not.
Ever kept school among the fisher
men any whoresP" t-
No"
Mr Hooker hobbled on and sait
nothiag more for some moments, evi
IDENTITY Sinking that Mark was not Tho
sort Of teacher TO try his hand in tina
regioa.
The boys m0ngst US here are I
tough sot be said Takes a stock,
aorl olpn follow 10 whollop them
Msbhy youn DO. tho. 'Tisn't alwayl
he biggest sond "a the puddle that
Nle sPfsesi."