The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-07
JAMES PREFERRED TO STAND.
story of a Bright schoolmaster and the
Budding Genius of Art.

story of Bright schoolmaster and the
Budding Genius of Art.
The schoolmaster was very athletic
person. fact of which the boys had failed
nerhaps to take note. He had large hands
and much endurance; indeed he needed
both. Hands were unusually necessary ii
his department, as those who have tried te
manage boys between the ages OF ten ana
twelve can very well understand, and as
for endurance, he needed the endurance OF
the father of one boy of ten or twelve mag
nified to the one hundredth degree, because
about that number of youths had fallen
to his lot for direction in knowledgable
paths.
On the morning following st. Valen.
tines Day he seemed unwontedly cheerful
so cheerful, in fact, Shat certain bad
boys in the third row feared that there
was something the matter with the United
States mail How man, particularly a
schoolmaster, could smile after receiving a
certain libelous picture, composite figure,
the body cut from one of the colored car
toons in comic paper, the head that OF q
prize goose clipped from an agricultural
journal, beneath which was printed in in
verified Ms and weary lettering of unmis'
takably boyish make rhymed insinua
ton that the educated goose knew every
thing except what was so, none of them
could comprehend.
Surely that work of art, they thought,
must have gone astray But the notion
was soon dissipated, for after the usual
preliminary exercises in the opening of the
school had been gone through with, the
master rose from his seat and made the
following remarks:
"My dear boys" said he, ''inasmuch as
yesterday was St. Valentines Day, l have
determined to give to you all half holi'
day."
"HurrahW shrieked one of the third row
boys
RESTRAIN yourselves, boys" said the
master gently. "Wait until have finished
We will have no lessons during the morn
ing hours"
"Hooray" cried one of the fourth row
boys.
"That will do, Willie" said the master,
raising his hand, which Willie no sooner
was than he had relapse of quietude and
covered in his chair.
II should not have remembered that
Valentines Day had come and gone" CON
tinued the master, had | not found upon
my desk this morning a very clever piece
of artistic and poetic work. l have read
the lines upon The Educated Goose and
/ am inclined to think that they are, with.
out any exception, the cleverest lines of the
sort have ever seen, and am glad to say
that my assistant is of the same opinion.
Indeed, he has asked me to let him have
the production as it stands-picture, lines
III L. IL fo,o -f II -kNf
on the editorial staff of one of the maya
zines, because he thinks the magazine
might like to publish it, but | am disin
clined to let him do this.
"Not that / am not proud of some one Of
my pupils who prefers not toput his name tt
his wonderful production, but that if the
sketch were published in the magazine,
should doubtless receive some ten or fifteer
dollars in payment for it, which of course
l could not consent to accept. could not
under any circumstances, part with a vol
untary testimonial of affection from one Of
my pupils, and my only regret is that one
SO gifted as the designer of this valentine
has chosen to keep his name secret. Pr
''Tell i'm, Jimmie" came a smothered
voice from the fourth row.
"Silence, boys" said the master. "En
couraged by this valentine, / expect tt
start you all of in art work in very shor
| time, and / am convinced from the compo
sition of this figure of THE Educated Goose
that we have among us a youth of eXtraor
binary tal'-
Pm himl' came from Jimmie Perkins
| of the third row, his bosom heaving will
| pride. IF you can get fifteen dollars TO
it, Mr.. Smoker Pm Willin."
"Ahl" said Mr.. Smoker, smile light
| ing up his features. at was you, was it
| Jimmie"
eyes, sir" said Jimmie with enthusi
asm. II done it all by myself. No hell
from anybody. If it's worth fifteen dol
| lars"-
well talk that over together, James,
interrupted Mr.. Smicker 'if you will
come into my private room. A matter o
so great Importance should not be talked
over so publicly. The school is now dis
missed until o'clock"
Mr. Smoker disappeared into his prvat
room, and Jimmie stalked proudly afte
him, hardly deigning to notice any one
| while the rest of the boys departed for tn
skating pond with envy in their breasts.
Jimmie alters was a lucky feller" sale
| one.
"Reg'ler cat for landin on mis- feet" sale
| another.
And so the time went on.
At o'clock school opened again, and a
the boys trooped in they were surprised Il
see that Jimmie, standing by Mr.. Smoker
desk, looked deeply panied and thorough.
| disguised.
James," said Mr.. Smoker, as the boy
| quieted down and school began again
you may take your choice-you may re
| turn to your seat or stand in the corner"
And strange to relate, James preferred
to stand in the corner, and since that TIM
he has lost all his interest in art.
Mr.. Smoker still has the valentine
which has not yet been published. -Har
| per's Bazaar.
| A Peculiar Fact About Would Be Suicides
"Did you ever notice that as rule thu
persons who seek death and are rescued
| from the grave never court the society o.
| the dark angel AGAIN."
Tho pronoundar Of tho ouac+iO,, ,u,e ,