The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-11-18

R. Il. stoddard.
A MOURNER'S HORSE.
Recently on my way across the downs
overlook the national schoolmaster and
walked some little distance with him dis
cussing free education and what would
come Of it. The schoolmaster is town bred
"A thin. clean shaver man, whose black
habit and tall hat, though considerably
oronzed, refused to harmonixe with the
scenery amid which they move. His speech
II formal and slightly dogmatic. On the
subject OF free education he talked with
angry positiveness. - one acquainted with
the facts His cold eyes sparkled behind
his spectacles, and, tucking his umbrella
tightly under his armpit, he licked of his
arguments. tapping his right forefnger on
the palm Of bis left hand.
Thus occupied, we were passing the wall
OF . farmhouse on the edge Of the downs
when an ugly sheepdog, q grizzled, tail
less brute. came leaping over it and dew at
our legs
! had wheeled around and my ash sap
ing was lifted for blow when the school
master arrested me with a peal of horrible,
d1scordant laughter. He was crouchinR.
with hand on either Thigh and his snec.
tacles almost on q level with the do6's
jaws His hat had shifted to the back of
his head, and the look OF derision on his
face was something devilish At intervals
OF about three seconds he flung yell Of
unnatural mirth straight in the dogs face,
Down went the brute's tail, and he skunk
around and back over the wall. rubbing
his belly on the coping in his abject dis
comhture.
The schoolmaster Strengthened himself
and resumed his somber responsibility at
once. l stared back on the empty road
without speaking. The mans impish out.
burst, to tell the truth, had startled me
not little. I saw its success. of course.
but somehow it had been too we'll done.
and wondered II he would take up his
argument again.
Instead he chuckled dryly after q mo
ment and began:
That's a better weapon than gun"
"Ridicule!"
He nodded.
You used it uncommonly well," said L
Oh' IT'S easy. The test Of any creature
man or dog-is. Can he parry it, Inever
met one that could. You see, every living
being has some secret shame; man or dog.
we all pretend to be what we are not II
10 all very we'll to say like to the crack.
ling OF thorns under a pot but the point
h that we're all in the pot and liable to be
cooked"
de walked on dozen steps and resumed
In tone altogether lighter:
I'll tell you tale on this point that
may amuse you at my expense. am Lon
don bred, as you know-a cockney in the
grain to this day, though when l came
down here to teach school ] was barely
twenty and now I'm fifty-six Twas dur.
Ing the summer holidays that first set
loot In the neighborhood, a week before
school opened again. came early to look
for lodgings and find out little about the
people and settle down a bit before be-
ginning work.
1.-THE wharf.-the late vicar-commended
me to the farmhouse we had just passed.
1t was occupied in those days by an old
farmer called Retallack. a widower and
childless- His sister, Miss Jane Ann, kept
house for him, and these were the onlv
two souls on the premises till | came and
was boarded by them for thirteen shillinps
a week. For that price they let me have
bedroom. fair sized sitting room and as
much as could cat.
"A mouth after l arrived Farmer Retail |
lack was put to bed with bad attack Of
collie. This was on a Wednesday, and on |
Saturday morning Miss Jane Ann came to |
my door with message that the old man
would like to see me. So | went to his |
room and found him propped up in the bed
with pillows and looking very yellow in
the gills, though clearly convalescent.
"'Schoolmaster,' said he. I've summat
OF a favor to beg o ye. You give the chill.
dren half holiday, Saturdays-hey,
Well, dye think ye could drive the brown
boss into Tergarrick this afternooni Fact
is, my old friend, Abe Walters, that kent
The Packhorse, is lyin dead, an they bury
en- at half after today. I'd he main glad |
to attend the feast an tell Missus Walters |
how much deceased III be missed. but l
might 80 well try to fly. Now if you could |
attend an just pass the word that I'm laid !
on my back with collie, but that you've |
come to show respect j. my place-there'll |
be lashins O. vittles an drink; no Wal |
tiers was ever inferred under a kilderkin.
exceptin their second child that died in
teethin-an he took nine gallon cask. be-
sides port an sherry wine to an uncertain
amount. l had that from the mother
NOW the fact was, had never driven a
horse in my life and hardly knew, as they
say. horses head from his tail till he be-
gan to move But this is just the sort of
ignorance no young man will confess to,
SO l answered that l was engaged that
evening. We were just organising night
classes for the young men of the parish
md the vicar was to open the first. with a
hort address, at half past q.