Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-11-28
A TRUE ENDEAV0R.
by d. X. II. GOODALE.

+ II sha'n't try any longer; It's nj
use" said Frank, passionately
Albert only screwed up his mouth ir
: his characteristic fashion, as II he were
having struggle with himself not tc
speak too quickly; perhaps it was so
But after n little space Of silence on
the part Of both boys, he looked keen
ly at Frank with those beautiful
brown eyes Of his and said said quiet
ly: II never can find any chance to
stop trying"
Frank laughed, forced laugh that
sounded Is II It would be rather easier
to cry.
well, lean; I've got good chance
now"
Albert shook his head, ose-cropped
and brown. "'Twon't work, Frank.
Come along and have game OF ball;
you'll feel better tomorrow.
The two boys went out together
They had been lingering in the school
library; but Frank Alcott was too
much out Of sorts for wholesome sport
and he started home in mood half
morose, half reckless.
lie was moody boy, that cannot be
denied With less self will and more
application he would easily have led
his class; for he was boy Of fine nat
ural abilities, the first TO understand
and the last to forget any new prin.
ciple or important fact brought up In
study. His mother was u widow, only
too anxious for his real good; perhaps
that anxiety did him harm by making
too much OF both his faults and his
virtues. She was too openly distressed
when anything went wrong, and on
these occasions Frank was very apt TO
go from bad TO worse.
Albert Hardy was the Oldest Of eight
children, and, naturally, when he was
not in charge Of one or several Of his
brothers or sisters, no was left some
what TO himself lie had, besides, m
even thoughtful disposition, slow to
take or give ollanse Frank Alcott
wa, high spirited and sometimes over
bearing, and made few friends among
boys While everybody liked Albert,
therefore, Frank was both feared and
dislihcd, but between themselves there
was the best possible understanding
Albert ,rudged home with his books
over his shoulder, not caring for the
ball game, since Frank wouldn't play.
Poor fellow' he said to himself II
must contrive some way to help him
out OF these scrapes."
You sec that the 'scrape" was no I'M
usual occurrence.
Miss Atwater was the history teach
err She was n tall, dirni6ed person, in
gold glasses with light hair neatly
crimped and parted above rather
high, straight forehead, Exact and
precise in all her ways, she liked exact
statements and exact knowledge. Now
Frank Alcott had n true love OF tho
study Of history; he had an unusual
knowledge Of the subject, too, for a
boy OF his age, as he had read n con-
siderable number q important his
torical works In the fine library left
him by his father. But with vivid
imagination and unusual power Of gen.
eralizing, he cared more for the large
effects than for detail. lie grasped
firmly the real connections In the story
OF the nations and loved to dwell upon
the growth and development Of
govern ments and institutions; but
he was indifferent to the dates
OF battles, or Of the birth and death
OF any prominc mt man. Miss Atwater
did not see that this interest made him
her most promising scholar; she
found him lacking, too often, in the
precise information which she re-
qulred, and she did not hesitate to re.
prove him severely for Incidence and
carelessness. Nor was this all. lie
had a habit OF asking questions and
bringing up subjec for discussion in
class entirely outside tho set lesson
though connected with 1t or naturally
suggested by 1t Miss Atwater detest-
ed these unexpected questions, which
she was not always prepared to an.
swer, and condemned oil discussion Of
principles as troublesome Interrupt.
ton 1t happened, therefore, that al.
though history was his favorite study,
and he was conscious OF deeper and
more thorough preparation than most
members OF the class, Frank was doing
himself no credit In IT, but, on the
contrary, was repeatedly marked as
having failed, and marked, as II Ap-
peared TO him. most uniustlv.
There was irritation on both sidea
AS have said, his temper was by no
means perfect, and his vexation over
some Of the rulings OF his teacher was
quite too manifest Perhaps nothing
makes II harder to do right than feel.
ing that you have done wrong and
that the person whom you offended Is
making the very most OF the offense.
On the day In question Miss Atwater |
bad repeated to the principal IN I'm.
pudent remark Of Frank which had
. tone OF disrespect, and Mr. Bates had |
given him. before the class. singing |
reproof
All this ranked deeply, and Is he
walked home Frank Alcott was q
thoroughly miserable as boy who 10,
at heart, anxious to do right. can
well be
Like most villages. Hillsdale had It's
Christian Ehdeavor club The Young
women, among whom Miss Atwatef |
was almost an oracle. had planned 4 \
course OF lectures, and one of he 6est I
was to come Of that evening n,
two boys usually wsni tossthnrs ~