St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-02-18
Selected Sfnru.
JOHN TEMPLE.

tona was the fastest boat on the
Ohio And / stood for the Daniel
Boone. The Boone had given u
dinner to which my father and
mother were invited, while his were
not On these facts weeach based our
conclusions on the comparative speed
of the different boats, and, tooth and
nail, rolled over in the dust to main
tain them.
We were picked up variously by old
Cerberus, who was picking his banjo
at one end of the hotel gallery, and
by a journeyman shoemaker and
telegraph operator playing chess at
the other end This they did with
divers words of scorn a the kicking
boy. To this dav | believe that if
we had been left alone l would have
whipped; for although small l was
active.
Shortly after we moved away to
Washington, where my father spent
one year in getting a consular APP
pointment which he held for six
years. Then we came back to our
village life. John Temple was now
a beautiful youth, strOng-limbed,
broad-shouldered, with head like
Greek god. To these physical per-
fections he added charm of manner
as captivati to his fellows as to
the opposite sex. Underneath this
lay a tenacity of purpose which
made him invincible.
He was adored frankly by all the
girls of the school of which | speedily
found myself a member. Among
them he scattered his attentions &C
cording to his royal pleasure. Those
who received them were elated and
grateful. Those who did not, patient
ly waited their turn.
Although younger than the others,
/ held their barnyard acceptance of
John Temples attentions with silent
scorn. I'D hate to run after boy"
was my inward comment.
But l was soon singled out as the
one he most delighted to honor.
was younger than the others. Thus
might an older boy play with child,
for the years had not greatly in
creased my stature. But while the
other girls sued for his attentions [
only accepted them. That l made
no response encouraged him the more.
When a class was called John Tenn
pie always went out first. AS he
walked by me he would say, and he
had a fredericksburg way of talking
under his lips, Kitty, come and sit
by me-"
When it was evident where he
would choose to sit, there would be
a scamper from the feminine side of
the house to sit by him. Busying
myself, l would wait until the com
motion was over, and seat myself
as remote as possible. Those who
were successful were happy. Those
who were outfooted got as near
as they could, and John Temple
would curl his lip and look at me,
when my secret citation at knowing
myself preferred would be great.
We were in the same Virgil class.
Now everybody knows that the gods
and goddesses were not ladies and
gentlemen, and that the Trojans and
Greeks were uncomfortab1y plain OF
speech, and that there were ladies
among the Carthagenians who were
very careless of their language. John
Temple always looked ahead. He
knew about how much he would
have to translate And if he saw
that any disagreeable passage was
likely to fall to my share he would
man9uvre some change of seat until
he could take the objectional lines
upon himself.
There are plenty of ways in which
school boys can show their chivalrous
consideration for girls, and these
John Temple always showed to me.
1t was thoroughly understood there
was always some one looking out
for Kitty Black. AS 1 was not
permitted to go to parties where
there were boys, an arena remained
where John Temple could not be
contended for by others. At school
l was supreme.
AS | moved, his gaze followed me.
When l achieved an honor, no one
was so proud as he. There was a
stolen word here, a pressure of the
hand there. When we played, and
no one was so needless and reckless
as l, protecting arm always stood
ready to shield me from harm.
Never did [ show any signs of my
conquest, although was fully aware
of its value in the eyes of others
Never was | Jealous; | was toe
comment, loo assured lot JealOuSly
l often wonder now if l cared fol
him then. l do not know, but 1 dc
know that 1 lived and fed on his
preference. 1t may have been only
vanity.
For three years this lasted, and
was matter of general comment al
school. John Temple was always g
matter of comment. Dashing girls
from other towns came and bid fol-
John Temples smiles. He gave then
now to one, and now to another
Meanwhile l played tag and rur
races, but no one succeeded in win
ming any thing that was mine.
care you going to marry Kitty
Black when she grows up?" one o
the older girls asked.
.Yes',