Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-12-04
JOE


But the few settlers were hardy men
and women, living honest lives, and
going on slowly but steadily to pros
perity, and I had pleasant time
among them.
NV schoolhouse was a very primitive
affair indeed. 1t was small, implanted
and upholstered, but had a good floor
and fairly comfortable seats; and my
pupils, of whom there were u, were
mostly hearty, wholesome boys and
girls.
One warm day in spring I opened
the windows and doors to let in the
genial sunshine and was busy with
nv classes, when in walked strange
how. whom l had never seen in the
neighbOrhood.
He was thickly freckled, had red
hair, and was poorly dressed, but was
very clean. He came directly to my
desk.
MAY [ come to school, teacher?" he
asked, looking at me earnestly.
Where do you live, my boy?" l
questioned.
'Just back here by the edge OF the
woods" he replied.
''What is your name?' l asked.
''Joe Norton said he, adding: 1--WE
just moved here
well, Joseph" said I, you may
come to school Come this afternoon,
ov5 I,rino oil vOur hooks -
A bright look came into his face as
I said this, but he made no reply, and
went out as unceremOniously as he
came.
He made queer picture as he went
down the aisle. His clothing was
patched, his coat was too big for him,
and he carried large, ragged hat In
his hand. But he held up his head in
a self-respecting way, and felt sure
that Joe Morton was good and manly,
and I resolved to help him all could.
I was afraid he might not have a
very pleasant time with a certain few
of the boys; for, although they really
were not bad boys at heart, they were
much given to making fun Of any
new conner, and sometimes made it
very unpleasant for boy who seemed
odd or strange to them.
The leader of this set was Tom
Anterior, bright boy, but one who
had very little kindly feeling for any
one in school excepting his little sister
Pearl.
Pearl Atherton was about seven
years old and the most beautiful child
I have ever seen. Tom loved her with
a love that was almost worship; but 20
the rest of the pupils he was something
of a tease and a torment, always teas
ing and making fun of some one, and
sometimes in a most thoughtless, I'M
kind way.
I had many serious talks with him
on the subject, but as soon as he was
out of the schoolroom, he seemed to
forget, and went back to his old ways.
AS Joe went down the aisle | glanced
at Tom, and saw that his eyes were
twinkling mischievously, which I was
sure BODIED no good to Joe, but thought
he would be able to defend himself.
In the afternoon Joe came, and after
I had assigned his lessons, took his
seat quietly.
At recess 1 heard Toms voice sing
ing out:
Il know boy whose name is Joe,
With boots all out at the toe, toe,
toe"
I heard no answer from Joe, and
soon Tom said, mockingly:
What am 1 offered for the hat? Bid
quick, The only one left that came
out of the ark! How much am I Of
fered? Who'll make it one dollar?
Who'll make it one dollar?"
And so it went from day to day,
Tom saying unkind, jeering things as
soon as he supposed himself out of
sight, and Joe taking it quietly.
Sometimes a quick flush would pass
over his face, and his lips would quiv-
er, but no word escaped him.
I thought best to appear not to
know what was going on between them
thinking it would soon wear itself out
and perhaps Joe would feel better to
think I did not know, but 1 kept him
with me as much as [ could and grew
to like him very much.
He made rapid progress in his stud
les, and his everyday life showed
strength Of character.
could always depend on him to tell
the truth on every occasion, and look
get the baggy clothes, the fiery red
hair and the ragged hat.
Not far from the schoolhouse was a
wild, deep stream of water, which ran
dank and turbid in the spring. 1t was