The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-08-14

uOt WOuutftuis cithrf, but ~ WIS ~
most trying pace for me for a few mo-
ments. You see, was boarding with
this family that we have been talking
about. Besides the old man and his
wife there was one son about eighteen
years old was then only seventeen.
i found il necessary TO maintain a GER
tain amount of dignity in order to gov
ern this young man In school. For
the most part we were good friends,
but sometimes he would be inclined to
take advantage of me in the school
room. L did not hesitate to rebuke
him. wanted the school to see that
i was not partial toward one at my
boarding place. A little episode like
this would cause considerable GOODNESS
between us, but in time it would al
ways disappear. i found it necessary
not to be too intimate with him
in order to be master of the
situation In school hours. Indeed,
/ went to the school-room every morn
ing with fear and trembling, IA L had
over sixty names on the roll. Some of
the pupils had been soldiers in the
army. Many of them were older than
1. This has nothing to do with the
story, however.
We'll, the house where / boarded
had large fireplace. The old man
and his son jim would make a big log
heap in the fireplace, and that carpet
less room was most cheerful place of
an evening. The light from the fire.
place was generally the only light we
had. i was very much inclined to
read every evening, but the old folks
retired at o'clock, and they slept in
the only room that had fire. There
was nothing for jim and me to do but
to go upstairs to bed at that early
hour"
How about the cat?" interrupted
some one.
"Oh don't confuse me. L am get
ting to that. L wanted to get my
bearings first. AS we sat around the
big open fire, each one had his place.
The old man sat in one corner, next TO
the window. The old lady sat on the
opposite side of the fireplace. Jim and
| sat between the two. | usually sat
next to the old man. The cat was a
great pet. He was fine, large animal
one that would attract attention any
where His regular place was before
the fire. Whenever he got tired of
lying there he would jump on some
ones lap. He was generally well
come visitor, but L did not encourage
him to be specially intimate with me.
"Once, when we were in the midst of
the morning devotions and the old man
was pouring forth fervent prayer, Jim
gave me a nudge implying that he
wanted me to look at something. l
turned my face toward him, and he
then pointed toward his father. nat
urally turned my eyes in that direc-
ton. The old man was on his knees
praying, as / have said, and the old cat
sat on his back as quietly as if it were
her accustomed place.
The whole scene was very amusing
to me, but / dared not laugh. had
the utmost respect for the old mans
religion. and / would not have mani
tested the least levity for anything in
the world. Besides, Twas the teacher,
one of the important personages of the
community, and it became me to be
model of propriety everywhere.
81 got my head down next to the back
of my chair and my handkerchief to
my mouth and tried TO be as devout as
circumstances would permit. To all
outward appearances / was succeeding
fairly well. If nothing else had hap
pened | would have escaped disgrace.
Without any warning the old cat made
"a spring and lighted on my back. This