Middletown transcript., 1895-09-28
He found him in a very gloomy humor.
and it required a good deal of persua-
sion to get him out. Mrs. Alcott's

and it required good deal of persua
} sion to get him out. Mrs. Alc0tt'
face, too, showed signs of tears.
81 wouldn't be hired to worry oyei
things night and day. as you are and
your mother dsp' Albert exclaimed, az
soon as they were out-of-do0rs.
"'Tis beastlyW was the brief re.
sponse.
81 tell you, Frank, I've been puz.
zling over it all the aft ernoon myself.
I say let's do our history together af-
ter this; you come home with me one
day and I'll go with you the next;
we'll take it the first thing after onr
grub. We'll do it brownl I'll put you
through on ali the dates aud "what
next" points, a: d you can Jenlighten
me on general ideas. III tell you,
we'll beat the crowd"
Frank hesitated-ha from a proud
sensitiveness which made him quick
to refuse any help. but at that mo-
ment Albert's hand slipped through
bis arm affectionately; the scale tipped.
'All right, Bert, begin Tomorrow"
To be boy is not to lack feeling,
but often it is his greatest care to hide
| it.
The lecture was a good one-on
character building. The two boys
were in an impressible condition and
some of its sentences struck home.
"Keep right with yourself. then no.
body can ruffie your temp"r." And no
quoted from Marcus Aurelius: "What-
ever anyone does or says, I must be
good, just as if the gold. or the emer-
aid, or the purple were always saying
this, Whatever anyone does or says, 1
must be emerald and keep my color. !"
Towards the close of the lecture a
few terse but impressive sent ences
were added to those in charge of the
young. "Never wrong a young per-
son by taking him on lower plane
than that of his own intention;" and
again. IAN independent view of life,
or ofanY subject. is far more precious
than mere information. Cherish it as
sacred possession.
What was it that reused in Miss At
water sudden sense of having fallen
below her true standard? Was it that
just then she caught sight of Frank
Alcott, in an attitude of absorbed at :
tention, with the two bright spots of
red in his check that sometime showed
so vividly in class, that vivid color
which she always regarded (too hastily
as mark of "temper2"
If she was somewhat rigid, she was
woman who strove to live in obed
fence to conscience. Have I wronged
that boy? The question filed her
with dismay.
The audience poured out. The side
walks were slippery with ice, and, as it
happened the two boys were just be-
hin Miss Atwater, who walked on,
rather gingerly, by herself. They all
turned off the main street at the same
corner. But few steps further on
she suddenly slipped, caught herself,
hesitated for moment, evidently in
pain, and, after few halting steps
looked about her for some resting place.
What is it. Miss Atwater?" said AL.
bert, at her elbow.
"It's sprain-that's ALL" but her
face was very pale; and the boys, half
frightened, yet brave and manly, one
on each side, supported and almost car
ried her along to her own door, fortu-
uately not far away.
Once in her own arm chair. she still
held Franks arm; she was not one to
lose time when she saw her way.
"Wait minute" she insisted. Then,
after a moments struggle with the
pain "Frank, think that lecture was
meant for me. [ haven't done you
Justice"
"Ihaven't done myself justice, Miss
Atwater; Pm going to take new
start,' said Frank, bravely.
And so ne did-not alone, for per-
haps it was Albert who was the true
endeavorer,
Albert was bit of philosopher.
"You can't make people over; take'em
as they are" "was favorite reflection
with him.
Miss Atwater was confined with her
spaiued ankle for three weeks. But it
was aturning point with Frank Alcott.
Not only his standing and influence in
school, but his happiness at home aid
his growth in self respect and personal
weight as power OF good dated nat
ural1y from tthe time when Miss At.
water spreined her ankle"
The New Garb.