Middletown transcript., 1895-09-28

NMIA chara C terist ic
~ " fashion, as If he
+ x " were having a
N n struggle with
himself not to speak too quickly; per-
haps it was 80. But after a little
space of silence on the part of both
boys he looked keenly at Frank with
those beautiful brown eyes Of his and
said, quietly: "I never can end any
chance to stop trying"
Frank laughed forced laugh, that
sounded as if it would be rather easier
to cry.
swell, | can I've got good chance
now."
Albert shook his head, close-cropped
and brown. "'Twon't work, Frank.
Come along and have a game of ball;
you III 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 for home In mood half
morose, half-reckless.
He was a moody boy, that cannot be
denied. With less self-wiH and more
application he would easily have led
his class for he was boy of fine
natural abilities; the first 10 understand
and the last to forget any new prin-
ciple or important fact brought up in
study. His mother was widow, only
too anxious for his real good; perhaps
that anxiety did him harm by making
too much of both his faults and his
virtuss. She was too openly distressed
when anything went wrong, and on
these occasions Frank was very apt to
60 from bod to worse.
Albert Hardy was the oldest of eight
children, and naturally. when be was
not in charge of one or of several of
his brothers and sisters, he was left
somewhat to himself. He had besides,
an even, thoughtful disposition, slow
to take or to give Offense. Frank
Alcott was high-spirited and some
times ovverbearing, and made few
friends among boys. Whileeverybody
liked Albert, therefore, Frank was
both feared and disliked, but between
themselves there was the best possible
understanding.
Albert trudged home with his books
over his shoulder, not caring for the
ball game, since Frank wouldn't play.
Poor fellowl he said to himself, |
must contrive some way to help him
out Of these scrapes.
You see that the ''scraps" was no un-
usual occurrance.
Miss Atwater was the history teacher.
She was tall, dignifed 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 true love of the study of history;
he had an unusual knowledge of the
subject, too, for boy of his age, as he
had read considerable number of i'm
portans historical works IN the fine
library left him by his father. But
with vivid imagination and unusual
power of generalizing, be cared more
for the large effects than for dttail. He
grasped firmly the real connection in
the story Of the nations and loved to
dwell upon the growth and develop
ment of governments and institutions;
but he was Indifferent to the dates of
battles, or of the birth and death Of
any prominent man. Miss Atwater did
not see that this interest made him her
most promising scholar; she found him
lacking, too often, In the precise infor-
nation which she required, aud she
did not hesitate to reprove him severely
for Incidence and carelessness. Nor
was this all. He had habit Of asking
questions and bringing up subjects for
discussion in class, entirely outside of
the set lesson, tho connected with it or
naturally suggested by it. Miss At
water detested these unexpected ques-
tions, which she was NOT always pre-
pared to answer, and condemned all
discussion of principles as "a trouble
some interruption. 1t happened,
therefore, that allho history was his
favorite study, and he was con- cious
Of deeper and more thorough prep
aration than most members of the class,
Frank was doiug himself no credit in
it, but on the contrary, was repeatedly
marked as having failed, and marked,
as 1t appear to him, mos. unjustly.
There was irritation IN both sides.
AS have Sald, MS temper was ny o
means perfec', and his vexation over
some of the rulings Of his teacher was
quite too manifest. Perhaps nothing
makes it horder to do light than feeling
that you have done wrong and that the
person whom you have offended is
making the very most Of The offense.
On the day in question, Miss Atwater
had repeated to the principal an im-
prudent remark OF Frank,swhich had
tone Of disrespect. and Mr.. Bates
had given him, before the class,
singing reproof.
All this rankled deeply; and as he
walked home Frank Alcott was as
thoroughly miserable as boy who Is,
At heart, anxious 10 do right can well
be. IS.