The Monitor-register., 1896-03-13
EzEKIEL's STORY.
BY ELLA RoDMAN cHuRcH

STORY beller-put greatness was thrust
upon him; first without his knowledge.
and then against his inclination.
He was only week old, fatherless baby
when Grandmamma Allen came to visit
her daughter.in- law and her dead sons
little boy; and as she patted the soft
cheek, she asked: "What shall you call
him Susan ?''
You shall name him, Mother" was the
half-tearful reply; for, of course, the old
lady would naturally name him after his
father, and this was just what young
Mrs. Allen wanted. 1t was such nice
name, too-Ferdinand. But Mrs. Allen.
senior, chose to call the tiny morsel after
his fathers father, instead. And this is
how the dead weight of 'sEzekiel'' came
to fall upon him.
The little mother shed some tears in
private, but she would not go back from
her word; and by the time the owner of
the name came to think anything about
it he was SO used to it that it did not
trouble him at all. He grew up quiet
little fellow except when he was very
much aroused; and his favorite friend
and companion was his cousin Hugh, just
year older, and his opposite in every
respect.
"Why can't you say something e''
Hugh would ask, in despair at the silence
that reigned supreme when he stopped
talking.
"You talk" Ezekiel would reply.
when thus driven into speech, "and I'll
listen.''
"Any post can do that" with an indig-
nant sniff. "There's no fun without
somebody to talk back.''
Ezekiel's dark, serious eyes looked as
tho he were taking the idea into consid
Grafton; but nothing ever came of it.
The boys at school had long ago nick.
named him "Chatterbox"; but this didn't
appear to disturb his serenity.
Hugh's conversational powers we're
inexhaustible; and being rapid reader,
with an excellent memory, he could
repeat the whole of book or story
almost as he had read it. Ezekiel
delighted in this, and would stretch him.
self out on the grass in perfect content
while Hugh held forth for an hour or so.
There was also in .Ezekiel's house a
lady school.teacher who bo.gded with his
mother; and who, with wonderful head
for mathematics and all sorts of abtruse
things, could tell the most interesting
stories, it seemed to the boys, that ever
were invented.
Miss Mead was usually very busy,
even out of school, with examination
papers and all sorts of dry things; but
she liked to hear on occasional evenings,
a peculiar knock, which she knew by
experience, to mean that two eager boys
were outside, hungry for stories and look
ing forward to an hour or so of uninter-
rupted enjoyment. She never had the
heart to put them off, tho often wonder
log where she was to get anything stir
ring enough to satisfy thcm. But she
liked boys, and always managed to enter
tain the two little gentlemen who behaved
SO naturally, and yet with perfect
propriety.
1t must be confessed, tho, that on GER
tain evening after very hard day, and
with pile of troublesome papers before
her, Miss Mead heard with a start of is
may the we'll known summons at her
door, and opened it to confront two
beaming faces and faultless bows.
We've come to visit you, Miss Juli-
anna" was the very direct announce.
ment.
"You haven't got headache or-any-
thing, have your" in tone of dis
appointment from Hugh.
mo-" was the smiling reply. sI'm
only tired out. But don't run away, fol
| am not willing to lose your visit. Give
me just fifteen minutes to straighten my.
self out and then come back again.
"All right" in relieved tone, for the
prospect had looked dark at the first
sight of that weary face; "we'll be
punctual, Miss Julianna.o
She feared that they would be; and
hastily thrusting away all signs of work,
the exhausted teacher threw herself back
in the deep lounging chair for ten min
utes' perfect rest.
There they were on the stroke of the
quarter-only it did not strike: anc
when the smiling boys had paid their
respects, and told their hostess, as they
always did, that her room, with itt
pretty chintz coverings, student lamp
and open fire, was perfectly delightful
Hugh inquired modestly: ''Do you know
any stories tonight, Miss Julianna ?"
IL do not feel that 1 know anything
to night" was the laughing reply, "a
am SO completely tired out that could
scarcely tell story to save my life. Blu
can listen; and really think that yor
boys each owe me a story by this time
Tell me anything you like-somethine
you have read"
"OhF gasped Hugh, as the atmos
phere seemed to tighten. swell, II
begin, then, as I'm the Oldest"
Ezekiel was simply dazed by this
astounding proposal; but it was some
thing to gain time; and he settled him
self to listen to Hugh's performance will
very much the feeling of a reprieved
malefactor.
His cousin plunged CALAMITY in, and
repeated long and interesting accoun
OF stirring piece of beroism from on,
of the periodicals, which Miss Mead had
lately read; but she would not hay,
minded had he been saying the alphabe
backward, all she wanted just then was
not to talk herself.
Hugh did wonders with the length,
narrative; but it came to an end all TOT
soon, and Ezekiel received vigorou
punch, with the announcement, "You
turn now"
i-l-don't know anything" STAN
mered the embarrassed youth.
Yes, you do, too; you know lots. Ga
on,
Poor Ezekiel was in state of hopeless
dread at the ordeal before him, aud Miss
Mead compassionately came to the rescue
''You shall not be forced to tell a story
1
Ezekiel, " she said, kindly, eff you would
rather not; but / believe you could tel
one very well worth hearing. Besides
such practice is improving, and will he'll
you to become fluent speaker some day
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