Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-11-10


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that the athlete had grappled him 50
that he could not have struck a blow
in self-defence even had he wished
to do so.
After this, the 'larnin' went on
right steady according to Squire
Barton, who often sauntcred in to
see after the success of his expert.
ment. The sight of his own Bob
head of the class, .toeing the mark
like Christian, was nuts for him
to crack, as he told Melindy, his
wife. But the teacher taught TO-
graphy' in a way that made the
Squire's hair stand on end. He
had a story for every country. some-
thing to impress the scholars with
the hshits of the people, O animals
native 20 the place. Il is to be ap-
pretended that when his knowledge,
which was not profound, failed him,
he made his information to order.
'There's lot of things you men
tion,' said the Squire. 'as | don't
recollect to have heerd on nowheres
before
Geof laughed. Il told you / was
no teacher said he. Il don't
know much, aud I'm no reader.
Wall, you go ahead said the
Squire approvingly; but I'd keep
as close to the mark rs | could if |
was you. Hipperpatamussd amt
wallerin' round South America, |
know for dead certain. But you 90
ahead-that's you
Geof did not take .his frank crit
icism of his biography amiss, and
he went ahead in his own original
way, aiming to improve the man.
ners, even if he could not do much
for the brains of his class. The
boys were obliged to drop their
cavalier mode Of asserting them
selves as lords Of creation when the
girls of the class were in question.
Nor was his own dainty cleanliness
of person without its effect upon
both sexes. Geof's eyes were apt
to show spark of disgust at dirty
hands and toused hair, bringing
such feeling of discomfort to the
owner as generally tended to super
induce more thorough ablutions.
When Geof's success in 'hoeing'
out the school became an establish
ed fact, the parents grew enthusi-
astic in his praise. Naturally, this
was distasteful to the bully Tom,
who smiled to himself as he listened.
You better shet up he remarked.
Il be going to school come Monday
Of this, Geof was forewarned by no
less man than the Squire's Bob.
'Ah,' said Gcof, with a sparkle Of
interest in his blue eyes. Give
him my compliments, and tell him
| have been expecting him for some
time
When Tom received this message,
he nodded his head knowingly.
Hes beginning to knuckle down,
poor little chap, said he, surveying
his own giant frame with the ap-
probation of its merits.
Geof walking in the ten acre pas
ture, met and had another tussle
with the belligerent calf. Bob, who
haunted his footsteps like faith
full dog, saw the conclusion with
broad grin Of satisfaction.
SO Tom Bats is going to school
Monday, ch' said the Squire with
sly look at Geof. Going to run
yen out, / s'pose, as he done the
rest of 'em.'
Bob, who was present, joined in
his fathers grin, as he pictured to
himself the sprawling in the ten
acre pasture. He had never looked
forward to a circus as he did to the
coming encounter between the coun-
try bully and the athlete.
Monday came. The school was
in full working order, when the
door was noisily thrown open and
in staggered Tom Bats. He sat
himself down opposite to Geof, and
whistled aloud as he began cutting
a roll of tobacco into guilds. Mean
time, he was audibly chewing, his
huge jaws working back and forth,
while the floor around him was
speedily covered with stains. All
eyes were on Geof, who calmly went
on ruling copybook.
Presently he looked up. Now,
Dir. Bats, / am ready for you,' he
said pleasantly. Please to walk
this way