The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-05-22

lessen with humorous enthusiasm
that inspired the pupils to pleasing at
tentlon
For a while Richard Hamilton sat
erect, with an air Of attention SO tense
that It seemed strained, smiling In a
forced, mirthless kind of fashion when
the class smiled. But soon his mother
and the doctor saw his erect form grad
ually relax. His eyes, while still fixed
upon Miss Hlnton's face, grew absent,
his manner listless.
.And yet continued Miss Hinton,
briskly, "Cornwallis must have had a
reason for his delay in crossing the
Delaware when so much depended ON
it. What was it, Rlchard?"
as, raising her voice at the name,
Miss Hinton uttered 1t with decided
emphasis, the little fellow started,
stumbled to his feet and gave dazed
look around. Then, meeting his moth
ers anxious gaze, burning flush
spread over his face.
I@ssI-I-,Hg he stammeFsd, Z==s=
"That blush shows sensitlveness,"
thought the doctor. "The boy is not
stupid nor doltish."
Now Mrs. Hamilton, turning impuls-
lively to Miss Hinton, spoke out In her
clear, sweet voice: 81 am quite sure
that he knows, Miss Hinton, II you win
let him try again. Richard, | am sure
you can tell Miss Hinton why 1t was
that CORVALLIS delayed In crossing the
Delaware"
The harassed, worried little face in
stantly changed, and was lit up by
beaming intelligence. He turned to-
ward his teacher. why, yes, beg
your pardon, Miss Hinton. You see,
our soldiers-W Washington and his fore
es, l should say--had taken every boat
they could find at Trenton, and had
moved them up out of the water after
crossing, and CORVALLIS, instead of
constructing others at Howe's sugges-
ton, waited for the river to freeze,
that his men might cross over on the
!, Ice Meanwhile Washington"
every good" said Miss Hinton, in her
rapid way; "but why did you not an
swer me at firstT
Richard made no reply. His eyes
were fixed on his mothers face, as If
awaiting her glance of approval.
ANSWER Miss Hinton, Richard"
said his mother. did you not hear?"
and she repeated the question.
The bright look faded, the hunted,
harassed look, that promised shortly
to change to sullen, returned. Il
did not know she was talking to me
| -I-didn't quite seem-to-tO under
stand" he faltered, with an appeal
Ing look.
The doctor, feeling for his dangling
glasses, nodded his immaculate blonde
head, and fancied he was beginning to
understand. He listened attentvely
throughout the history lesson and the
dictated lesson in spelling and senten-
ces which followed,
After the written exercises were col
lected and brought up to the desk, the
doctor was seeking Richards, when the
sound OF the small boys worried voice
arrested him. The doctor, elevating
his glasses, gazed at the hopeless little
face anew.
"But did. not know you gave us any
written work In grammar to prepare
at home" the boy was explaining. 81
knew you did in composition, and
heard you say, Study the next two
pages In grammar-"
The doctor, leaning toward Mrs,
Hamilton, pointed to the column of
words down Richards paper. "The
order as dictated here from the book, .
he explained, was 'constrict, consist,
constringe, constitute and he has just
reversed their order here on his paper,
Again here, below, where the words
read were Infallible, indelible, intelli-
gible,' he has done the same thing
again. He has written them from a
memory OF their order on the page,
not from the dictatlon-"
A bell again interrupted, and Miss
Hinton announced: "As this Is the
] day for oral review by Professor
Strong, no boy is to take his arith.
metic with him" She tapped her bell
for the class to pass out, then turned
J to Mrs. Hamilton and said:
"The principal, Professor Strong, as
sembles all the pupils of each grade in
, the chapel several times a month tC
drill and review them in their work
In numbers"
: Richard was among the last IN the
, line and as he passed by the platform
/ his arithmetic was plainly to be seer
, tucked under his arm. So Miss Hin
} toms voice rose stern: Richard Ham
ilton, remain behind the class!"
/. The boy, turning a startled face to
: ward the group on the platform, drop
5 ped out of the line.
J. "Why have you your book?' she con
: tinued; did you not hear what l said p
e Richard nodded In hopeless way.
: The doctor spoke up quickly: "Wha
t did she say"
The child swallowed hard severa
/ times before answering, 'I-I-heart
b her say Professor Strong and arith
: metic,' and sometimes-some of us
forget to take them, and sol
+ thought-she was-remlnding us
] ~.