St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Toms Invention.

It wasn't an invention that was destined
to make one either distinguished or
wealthy, and yet first and last it caused
quite stir in the Blankvil!e school. 1t
had its merits, else why did the boys all
copy it SO faithfully, and its dement's for
ali of the girls cordially hated it. After
so lengthy an opening. am almost ashamed
to confess that Toms invention was CON
trlvance for throwing ''solthaliS. The
plan for 1t had come 10 him when he had
better been studying his lessons, and he
had fashioned it out OF an alder shoot,
few strips of gum rubber, pencil and
suspelder buckle. 1t attained an instant
success, and before the week was out, the
room was full of them From al sides
flew the moist paper balls, with that pecu-
liar "curved delivery" that Toms machine
alone possessed, and the boys were happy.
In the midst of their foolish enjoyment
however came new fac5or-the teacher.
The complaints of the girls had been so
constant that he had increased his custo-
mary vigilance, and finally pounced upon
q boy who had in his possession one OF the
''throwers."
The teacher examined the instrument
carefully, gravely, and then began the
dreaded questioning. In spite of evasion
and everything but open deceit, the fact
was soon made known that Tom was the
inventor Then he was summoned and
questioned, and finally sent back to his
seat with the punishment of losing bis re-
cesses for the rest of the term.
How he fumed and fretted ard vowed
vengeance But it did no good. The next
recess he started up in his scat, but the
masters eve held him and he sank back
with scowl on his usually bright face.
By the time a week had passed the fierce
ness of his wrath had somewhat abated,
and he was beginning to look about the
room for some amusement AS he did so
his eve fell upon the black board where
the master was making some queer figures.
| Hs knew they were for Ihe class Ill Geom.
etry. but of what use they were he was
totally ignorant. The board was quite
near. ana as the master drew he LAID MS
book down upon Toms desk. It was open
at the place where the figures were shown,
and at once Tom stole lock at 1t. Little
by little hs berame interested and at length
| forgot all about the school, the master
7 and his punishment. When he came to
| himself recess was over and the master
was in his seat having apparently forgot
ten his Geometry. Tom sham9tacadiy
! carried it to him, aud received very g1a-
| c40uS - nauk you
The next day Tom sitting in his seat at
recess yearned for another look at the book
| of figures, and the master as If by acci-
| dent said in passing, eff there are ANY
| books on my desk that will interest you
| 90 and get them" Thus lie had another
| half lour with Euclid. This time, how.
ever, lie found point that he could not
understand and forgetting his former
wrath he asked for help, and a. once re-
ceiged it from his foe the teacher.
after that, somehow, it seemed very
easy for master and pupil to be porlng
over the same book during the recess hour.
More and more interested did Tom become,
| and his handling of theorems. proportions
| and the like, became mastetly. /" make
long story short, that winter of plnlsh-
ment made him we'll grounded in geometry.
"hnd," said the burly engineer who told
me this, 1T hiss helped me time ard again
in my business, and | have often thought
that if parents and teachers woald only
throw sensible amusements III the way of
their boys there would be little trouble
about the mischievous ana foolish ones.
Glow about the boys seeking smuse-
mens in lines that will be useful OF their
own accord p asled.
ooh, that would be all the better" was
the hearty reply. There is plenty OF
room in me- hanics, in mathematics and
even in the dryer stQdies If only tue yonog
folks would in crest themselves, for all
their fun and life aud inventive geaius
H G. Pearson. in Little CH13stian.