San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-11
JAMES PREFERRED 70 STAND.
Story of a Bright SchOOImaster and the
Budding Genius of Art.

Story OF Bright SchOOlmaster and tle
Budding Genius of Art.
The schoolmaster was very athletic
person, a fact of which the boys had failed
perhaps TO take note. He had large hands
and much endurance; indeed he needed
both. Hands were unusually necessary in
his department, as those who have tried to
manage boys between the ages of ten and
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, that 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 n
certain libelous picture, a composite figure,
the body cut from one of the colored car
toons in a comic paper, the head that of a
prize goose clipped from an agricultural
journal beneath which was printed in in
verted Ms and weary lettering of unmis-
takably boyish make rhymed insinus-
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 astrayi 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, have
determined to give to you all a half holi-
day"
"Hurrahr' shrielsed one of; the third row
boys
Restrain yourselves, boys" said the
master gently. "Wait until have finished
We viii have nc lessons during the morn
ing hours"
"Hoorayl" cried one of the fourth row
boys.
THAT will do, Willie" said the master,
raising his hand, which Willie nc sooner
was than he had "a 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 very clever piece
of artistic and poetic work. | 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
and ALTO show to friend of his who IL
on the editorial staff of one of the maya
Zines, because he thinks the magazine
might like to.publish it, but l am disln.
clined to let him do this.
mot that am not proud of some one Of
mypupils whoprefers not to put 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
/ 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. p
Tell i'm, Jimmie" came a smothered
voice from the fourth row.
"Silence, boysT' said the master. En-
couraged by this valentine, / expect &c
start you all off IN art work in a very Short
sition of this figure of The Educated Goose
that we have amopg us youth Of eXtraor
binary tal"-
Pm him" came from Jimmie Perkins.
of the third row, his bosom heaving with
pride. 'If you can get fifteen dollars foi
it, Mr.. Smoker, I'm willin."
"Ah!'' said Mr.. Smoker, smile light
ing up his features 'It was you, was it,
Jimmie?"
YES, sir" said Jimmie with enthusi
asm. II done it ali by myself. No help
from anybody. If it's worth fifteen dol
lars''-
"We'n talk that over together, James"
interrupted Mr.. Smoker, ''if you will
come into my private room. A matter OF
so great Importance should not be talked
over so publicly. The school is now dis
missed until o'clock"
Mr.. Smoker disappeared into his private
room, and Jimmie stalked proudly after
him, hardly deigning to notice any one,
while the rest Of the boys departed for the
skating pond with envy in their breasts.
Jimmie alters aTas a lucky feller," said
one.
"Reg'ler cat for iandin on ais feet" said
another.
And so the time went on.
At o'clock school opened again, and a.
the boys trooped in they were surprised tC
see that Jimmie, standing by Mr.. Smokers
desk, looked deeply panied and thoroughly
Disguised.
James," said Mr.. Smoker, as the boys
QUOTED 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 time