Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-12-06


to keep me- woek, But father wanted
them dono this day. Blesa hia heart.
he knew I'd do It, and thought would
not get through till supper time.
Now he was county physician, and
/ found that some Of those were old nc
counts which had run long enough to
be outlawed, and which never had and
never would be presonted; SO all such
papers put in the drawer for further
consideration. and by working with
might and main / was through by
three o'clock. o. how tired / was.
and how my head ached, but bathed
my face. ran up stairs donned my hat
and kissed mother goodbye between
words as told her not to ask any
questions. Mug helped mo mount and
In minute more was bounding over
The prairie on the back of our faithful
little brown Bess
never knew what was done before
] got TO the meeting, or what led to the
controversy OF which will tell you.
When entered the house the worthy
treasurer had the floor, and with fash
ing eyes made lust assertion some.
what like this:
"And child who has lived all his
life in district where there is from
six TO ten months school every year,
and at ten years Of age does not know
his letters, is not worth considering,
never can or will be any thing, no diff
ference what favor is shown him."
This remark, seemingly, was pointed
at the little widow, who, contrary to
his expectations, and--I hope to be
forgiven-wishes, had been able to pay
up all interest. and fulfill all obliga-
tions, and hold the owner OF her mort
gage in abeyance-but all this at the
expense OF her boys time in school.
The widows face was flushed, then
pale, the color coming and going,
which. with a visible trembling Of her
toil-hardened hands, were tho only
signs OF her agitation.
One after another took up the theme
and talked either for or against GUAR
ter for the dull scholar" as one re-
marked.
The chairman. n good man. Father
Bright, who stood nervously clasping
and unclasping his hands. meanwhile
forgetting to call to order the disput-
ants. and thus put stop to this dis
graceful affair.
The remarks had grown to be quite
personal. the treasurer lust had IAN
other word" and the tide seemed to be
going against the widow, who had
maintained perfect silence. There was
now a wrathy stiffness A slight rustic
was heard in the rear of the room,
where the mechanic with his workmen
had gathered, quitting their hammers
go as not to disturb the meeting.
Ihad heard that a nephew of our
neighbor Seelie. who was an architect,
was visiting him; that he was Just re-
covering from n wound received some
time before, and that he had consented
to supcrintend the new school build
ing. but had not seen the man. We
now saw a man OF medium stature,
clear complexion, brown-gray eyes,
auburn hair and closely cropped red
whislSers.
He stepped away from the door,
against which he had been leaning.
and addressed the chair, prefaced his
remarks with saving that he knew he
had no claim on their time only in the
cause of humanity. He was afraid the
remarks had crown to be personal,
but Ms he WINS n perfect stranger TO NIL
present he had only the welfare of the
dull scholar at heart. Ho spoke feel
ingly, and every eye was turned upon
him.
81 may be pardoncd for this inter-
ruption after give you bit OF my
experience. / am the second child in
family of five children. / am only
a little over year older than my
brother.
INV father had a very limited edu-
cation. but was able TO read, write and
fficIently acquainted with arithmetic
to transact his own business.
..Mother Ind been teacher in her
Connecticut home before her marriage.
When was five years old she began
TO trv to teach me nv letters. In less
than a months time brother Phil had
learned the whole alphabet in hearing
nv drill, while had made no progress
whatever. When attained the are OF
eight years l did not know one letter.
| know mother tried several plans
using what Is now called tho word sys-
tem0and nil seemed TO be beyond my
darkened comprehension. Phil was
reading In the third reader. with our
sister. four years nv senior, for his
teacher
"Mother was a very busy woman.
but she gave me all the time she could.
She always spoke of my final
triumph. md this inspired me to
press ON. I tried hard but /
could not fix or retain the name
OF letters. but | had learned the forms
-, .tl II. -. T.. .....,.,. -.