The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-03-30

NNat.s <s2@- oDlonS c ool-
T@SSSIsA room. Mr.. Har-
W M rison Jenkins, the
s n presiding genius
-21-- N of the place, stood
SN--M scowling behind
-o-H[ his desk, strug-
49, Cling with the
class in Latin. These young boys and
girls, who looked pityingly up TO his
dark face, were struggling with the
verb "sum.
The lesson had been poorly prepared,
and the issue of thunderbolts were
soon expected to shower from this
pedagogical Olympus. Atlast it came.
Mr.. Jenkins brought his fist down
upon theplain deal board with a thump
that awoke every languid mind in the
room. els this what you come to
school for?".he began, as if addressing
a jury. 'Is this the way you use one
of the most precious gifts that God has
given to you? Here you are, a whole
class of bright boys and girls, with
brains enough to do anything you de.
sire in this great world, throwing away
the greatest opportunity of your lives.
If this was an institution for weak
minded children / would have some
compassion for you. But your faces
are all bright and your eyes all clear,
and yet you will como to me with such
a lesson as this!' Mr.. Jenkins punct-
uated every sentence with that echoing
thump on the desk which carried con-
vio;ion and modification to the minds
of each boy and girl before him.
1t was then that the red-headed girl
on the back seat wrote "Jovi non
placet" (''It is not pleasing to Jupi-
ter')
Geraldine Coffin was Mr.. Jenkins
pride. He had no favorites; at least,
such never appeared in the little com
monwealth, which he held in the hol-
low of his hand. But in Geraldine he
was intensely interested, aud he often
found in her his greatest irritation.
While Mr.. jenkins held the whole of
his fifty odd young spirits in the hol-
low of his hand, the red-headed girl
was the one person he was not quite
sure of. Geraldine had given him the
name of Jupiter, and it fitted so
we'll that it was at once adopted by all
his subjects.
"When he pounds his desk and that
great shaggy head shakes so, and his
blue eyes flash, all you can think of is
Jupiter sending thunderbolts to
earth"-and in this remark Geraldine
had christened him. Many times
he had thought he heard the name
Jupiter Jenkins"-but he had never
been able to capture one of these err
ing mortals. OF course, he knew he
was called Jupiter" he had been
told so by admiring parents, who
knew he would be pleased, and he
was.
But it is with the red-headed girl
that this story is chiefly concerned.
She was the only human problem that
Jupiter Jenkins could not solve.
Geraldine Coffin had been an inmate
of the schoolroom only q few days
when Mr. Jenkins discovered that she
possessed an unusual mind. He laid
his plans to make the most he could
the parable of the talents in the school
room, and to say that of him to whom
much was given much would be re.
quired. The getting of lessons was
an easy matter TO Geraldine Coffin.
She not only learned them, but the
truths and principles were digested,
and sunk into her mind, clearly un'
derstood aud stored away, until the
day which would call them in use.
Jupiter Jenkins was accustomed to
say that hardly more than one child
in twenty really digested knowledge
He had come TO complain to Ger
aldine's mother that her daughter
sometimes failed in her lessons, and
that it was inexcusable in one who
| had such a mind. 81 have come tC
tell you this, Mrs. Coffin, when ]
would not take the trouble to inform
another mother, for this reason, an(
this alone: Geraldine has an unusua
mind, and she can make anything sht
pleases of herself. If she knows yol
and are one in this matter, she viii
not care to trouble us by neglecting t,
! get her lessons.
Geraldine's mother was as mucl
fiattered as any other woman woulC
be, and. of course, Jupiter Jenkin
was upheld. Thus he dealt with Ger
aldine, conscious of his power. H
endeavored TO make her fail, an
whenever she did she was compelled t
remain after school and get her les
sons.
But with a wonderful mind ther
was a somewhat wayward nature i
the texture of Geraldine Cofiin's pei
sonality. She was often rough an
hoydenish, and she caused no end c
trouble. With the deep interest til
young master took in her a sense {
power developed. When Mr.. Jer
kins supposed he had her solfdly i
his control, there would burst forth
fit of "don't care" in her, which al
toDished and alarmed him.