The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-11
A Higher Mark.
BY SIDNEY DAYRE.

BY SIDNEY DAYRE.
.sWhat are you doing Felix ?"
PPM cutting my name up here,
grandfather"
"Pretty hard work, isn't it ?"
"Oh, not so very" Felix puffed :
tie as he spoke and turned Il very
ed face towards his grandfather.
He was carving his name on the
bark of large elm. He had been
anxious to place it high up, and in or
Her to do so he was clasping his legs
.round the lowest branch of the tree
nd hanging down to do bis cutting
! is likely that if he had been set to it
las a task he would lave thought it a
hard one and himself very ill-used
boy.
"I'm, most DONE" he addcd,as he
rounded q period and then, holding by
his hands and letting go with his feet,
jumped to the ground. "You see,
grandfather, I wanted to cut it away
lup there and I couldn't reach any 9th
pr way without a ladder, and it was
% far to bring it,"
I see." said grandfather.
ats my name and the date to-day.
- cut it because it's my birthday and
because you gave me this new pocket
knife"
"Are you always going to make Il
high mark as you so along?"
"Well," said Felix, not quite un-
derssttssaaJding the question; 81 don't
\ expect to cut my Hsen- Rlssi trees
In the city they won't let us boys do
it."
mo, suppose not: but wherever
you 60, my boy, you are sure to leave
mark of some kind. All thoughe
Il your school life you will leave it. 1t
will be on the books that boy of your
name was there and left his record
high or low. But you will write u far
clearer record on the heart: o: all those
who may be about you. Your conf
panions will all feel your influence ei-
4 ther for good or evil. And this inilu-
ence will last far longer than the name
and date in the bark of Il tree. You
can not pass through life without max
ing marks which must last through
! eternity"
"Will this last very long?" asked
, Felix, looking up at his letters and fig
! ures.
"Come here"
Felix followed as he walked around
the other side Of the tree. Ic looked
closely at some marks on the bark to
which his grandfather pointed
"Why," he said, "that's your name
grandfather, and 1886. That's more
than so years ago.
"Yes," said grandfather, cut those
when I was not much Older than you
are."
"Fifty years ~ Felix looked in awe
at these letters which had been cut
such q long time ago, as it seemed
to him." "And will my name stay
here for so years ?"
II suppose so unless the tree is cut
down. Every time you come back tc
the old place you will come here and
see your name on the tree. If you
live for so years you will still find il
here. Your hair will be gray thcn"-
grandfather carcssingly laid his hand
on the curly brown head-"and shall
be lying over there Oh the hillside" he
pointed to some white stones in the
distance.
"But I shan't want to come here
then, grandfather" said Felix, will
tears very near his eyes.
80 yes you will. You will have 9th
things to interest you then, as it i:
right you should have. And an
trusting, Felix, that you will have
been making such high marks al
along that it will be pleasure for yol
to come here and see the letters yor
cut so long ago and to be able to think
within yourself:
"If grandfather could see me toda,
he would see that have remembered
what he said to me so long, long ago.
Grandfather walked slowly acros
the meadow towards the house. Fell.
looked after him for a few moments
and then turned again to his lettering
on the elm.
s'I know exactly what he means,
he said to himself, she means that
must do my very best all the time
Now, while I'm a boy, too, for Nv
often heard him say that it takes
good boy, to make good man
Yes, yes, I must do it, for m.
name is up there and it will sta,
nd no matter where I go and if
! don't keep fair and henest and true al
4,o limo shall he ashamed ever [