Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-11
Winning His Name.

A Sunday-school; a mission class;
five boys on a broad grin; one boy with
a red, angry face.
"And what is your name, please?"
asked Miss Mildred Younge of the new
boy who came into her class in the
mission school.
"Edw-"began the boy, when a
chorus of "Ohs" and cabs" and Now,
Spitzies, land a mingling of giggling
and punches, from the other boys in
the class, caused his mouth to shut
firmly as al oyster, while his grimy fists
closed tightly, and he cast a wrathful,
wait-till-I-catch-you-outside look about
the class.
Miss Younge, who scented war in the
air, was wise enough to leave her ques-
tion unanswered, and quickly turn to
the days lesson.
As the school was dismissed, Miss
Younge laid her hand on the new boys
arm as she asked him to help her ar
range some flowers in the church. A
gruff refusal was on his tongue, till he
suddenly saw the other boys wished to
go, n Of them crying, "Ill go, Miss
Mildred!" But with a Next Sunday,
Joe; l have help to-day" she turned to
go, and the new boy followed. He was
soon at his ease. As they bent over
the flowers, the young lady said, "But,
do you know I don't know your name
yet?' For an instant, the boy hung
his head, and the red flush came back
to his face; but after a minute of silence
he said, edward McCommon; but I
reckon you heard the boys call me
'Spitzie."
Yes; why did they?"
"Cause they say l get mad as easy
as a Spitz dog. But you see if 1 don't
thrash 'em for CALM me that in Sunday
schools"
Does the name belong to you"
How do you mean"
Does it tit you?"
"Ye-s'm, I guess maybe it does; for I
do fly off the handle that quick"
Gas long as it fits / am afraid you'll
keep it. When l was a little girl, and
had a dress I didn't like, I knew my
remedy was to outgrow it. I used to
measure myself every week, to see how
fast I was growing. Suppose you try
to outgrow 'Spitz' and grow into Ed
ward.'"
Il don't know how you mean"
"Outgrow getting angry, and when
sSpitz' doesn't fit you any longer I'll
trust the rest of the boys to find It out.
I'll not call you anything but you till
you win your name. Is it a bargain"
Fully three minutes the boy looked
at the hand held out to him, at q spot
in the carpet, at a crack in the wall,
and then laid his hand in the one held
out to him, saying, Its a bargain"
The prospects for a speedy loss of
"Spitz" and winning of Edward" did
not look very bright to Miss Mildred
when, an hour later, she saw on the
street, the boy who so earnestly said,
"It's a bargain; ;" for, alas! he was fight.
ing as fercely as boys can fight, with
another urchin from her class. Both
boys looked ashamed when they saw
her, and tried to pretend they were
wrestling; but the pretence was a sorry
failure. Two squares further on, a
breathless boy caught up with the
young lady and said:
"Miss, / was fghtin'. Joe made me
mad, and when I tried not to show mad
he called for some water for 'Spitzie.
tSouAuu Y ouauu tuau, UuG p1tCueu 1uGC
him-and-Miss, I'm afraid I'll be you
for a good while. But a bargains g
bargain"
He waited for no reply, but was of
like o flash.
Do you think it was an easy thing fol
that boy to win his name? If you do,
you never were a boy with good, strong
fists, that knew how to fight, and a hot,
quick temper, that didn't know how tc
cool off. More than one Sunday his
teacher said to him, SO low that no one
else heard, "Is it nearly won?" Perhaps
the answer would be, "Not yet, I'm
afraid" Once it was. II thought Sc
till yesterday, but then I had q bad
case of hydrophobia."
Miss Mildred smiled, and whispered
God help you. dear boy. The boy
who wins his name will not dishonor j,
afterward."
At last he whispered: miss Mildred.