The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-18
EARNING AN EDUCATION.
How Mark Triumphsd and Made
His Schoo, a Success

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When Mark Jasper was asophomore
in a New England college he used to
look forward with much pleasant
anticipation TO the day Of his gradua-
ton After that he would Be on his
own hook. and he could set 10 work 70
make his fortune. As long as he
could remember he had always been
anxious to be engaged in that under
taking. But il happened quite unex
pec;-dly one day while he was still a
sophomore that Mars father died
and he was left without money lie
sa; before the fire with his chum. Joe
Travis. several evenings. wondering
what he could do
Its al up with me- he said. de-
jected- II can't graduate with the
class"
Borrow money. old fellow Joe
insisted Get your life insured and
give the policy a. security"
There isn't soul who Will lend
me a dollar / have got 10 give up
and 60 home"
II turned out. however that instead
OF going home. Mark set OF one De-
ccmber morning resolved % teach a
district school during the winter on
one or the islands along the Maine
coast Probably haven't got muscle
enough % keep order" be admitted,
shut ! am going 70 try il n any rate 4
~. -. ~ -
was reported 10 be difficult to manage
and The undertaken. he knew was not
q ,rifling one While being whirlcd
along in the cars all 81 the morning
and part OF the afternoon he had plenty
OF leisure time 70 think Of it. worry
over ii. and wonder what sort OF a
place the island would prove 70 be
First was the journey in the cars
seventy miles or more. then \ long
ride in an old rattlebox stage over .
rough. frozen road. and finally trans
fer:o whcezy little steamboat which
carried him away from the mainland
about dark. When he sax the lights
begin 10 disappear behind he felt as
though he was taking leave Of all the
world. and he FASTENED down 10 the
miniature cabin homeSick and gloomy
enough.
But there happened 70 be in this
smoky little place an odd-looking.
joyial. sea-faring old man who before
many minutes put Marks melancholy
to flight
w, -. -c- 80, -. sh-@-. ;,,es
the way il was" he was saying in =
sonorous voice to three burly fisher
men when Mark caught sight Of him
.'Tho-c pcsky crabs climb up the rig
gin. 70 the cross-trec and sot down for
the rest OF the voyage
oh no. now. you don't mean il.
Uncle Seth" said one Of the listeners.
breaking into loud laugh
..Ycs I do" the old man declared
eyes DO"
He was sitting under the glimmer Of
a lantern. and Mark could see that he
had broad. wcathcr-beaten face
frinccd with 4 short white beard. He
wore a tarpaulin hat. loose ea-jack-
ct. and he had = wooden leg which he
rested across . stool. The sailor :
yarn he had begun to spin he went on
with. protesting now and then that
every word Of it was the honest truth
and Mark was 50 amused BY the MARIA
tive that he soon joined the fishermen
in laughing heartily. Indeed. the ex-
traorslinary adventures Of those crabs
we're worth remembering. The man
who could tell a story 50 well was a
pleasant one 10 meet: and Mark was
much pleased. when he arrived at the
island and inquired for the school
agen.- 10 discover that the old man was
the identical person
Surc's you live I'm the man" he
said "flooker-Unclc Seth Hooker,
that's who am: and I'm the keeper
Of tine Point Light over yonder- Gath
cr up your traps and come right over.
for recsOn you'll board along with
me- Most Of the teachers has"
Mark swung his heavy carpct-bac
over his shoulder and started OF with
him across a rough. stony field in thu
direction Of the lighthouse. which
xas plainly visible every time it. r.