The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-11-23
HER BIGGEST PUPIL.

Ing her. his stalwart form perched on
The edge of an easy chair.
AS she enters his eye brightens. he
smiles, and dropping his broad brim-
med hat OH the floor he rises.
Mary-You wished to see me!
Jim-Yes, Miss Mary. N1e eagerly
puts out his hand. She takes it in
hesitating manner.) You don't know
ne. l was afraid you wouldn't. f1f-
| .een years, and beard, and any num-
DER of hard knocks do change man.
But yOu-why, you've scarcely altered
a particle. Can't you guess who it is:
Mary-You remind me-somethinS in
your voice-in your smile-reminds me
of-of boy l once knew.
Jim, lightedly-Tm the boy.
Mary-Not-not Jim Thrasher?
Jim-The very identical.
Mary-I'm SO glad TO see you. (She
takes his hand impulsively) Sit down.
please. 1t is SO kind of you to hunt
me up. I've thought about you many
tines and tried to wonder what you
were doing and what you had become.
Jim-That's very good of you, Miss
Mary. hardly supposed you'd cher
lsh such pleasant remembrances for
your biggest pupil. What n gawk /
vas! l can't imagine how you had any
patience with me. Let me see.
Vas just 20 that last winter in the old
red school house and head taller than
you-and two years older. wasn't l:
What an awkward problem l must
nave been for you! Too old to learn
and too big to whip.
Mary-Ah, but you never needed
whipping. You were my right hand
man, my prop, my encouragement. l
don't know what l would have done
with those big boys from down the
creek if it hadn't been for your strong
muscles.
Jim-DO you remember how you talk
ed to me the first day came TO school?
l had come with those very creek boys
to make trouble. My mother died when
l was very young, and no other woman
had ever talked kindly to me. When
you appealed to my honor, and putting
your hand on my shoulder begged me
not to bury the good that was in me-
something seemed to swell in my
breast, and from that moment | re-
solved TO be a mana man whom you
would one day be proud to say you
knew.
Mary-YOu make me very happy. 1t
is 4 wonderful pleasure to feel that my
poor efforts were not all wasted. 1t
makes life worth living.
Jin-Life, then, hasn't always-but
tell me something about yourself.
Mary-There is very little to tell. Ny
mother died the summer after you went
West, and l had to return home and
keep house for father. In a year or
two his health failed, and after long,
long sickness he died. My brother and
l were alone, and after he found sit
uation on the railroad we moved here
When the war broke out brother en-
listed, and died at Tampa of fever
Jim, after Il pause-And so you have
no ties to keep you here!
Mary-NOne.
Jim-And may I ask
Mary-How support myself? have
five little pupils whom l am teaching
the rudiments, and do some fine sew
ing. l get along very well-only there
is always the fear of sickness. Now
tell me about yourself.
Jim-One moment. l want to say to
you, Miss Mary, that I've been trying
to find you out for a long time.
wrote to the old neighborhood, asking
for you, but they answered that nobody
knew where you had gone. | wouldn't |
have traced you down here if it hadn't |
been for Joe Slater. You remember |
little red-headed Joe, the scamp of the |
school? Well, he came out to Montana, |
looking for work, and gave him job, |
and, one day, in recalling old times, he |
said he was sure he saw you in this |
tOwl. That's how l came to be here. |
About myself? Well, whatever am,
1t Is you that gave me the start. / fancy |
I've done pretty well. I'm something
of mine owner and something Of a
capitalist, and I've served n term in
Congress and could have gone back.
there's enough idle cash lying around
to enable me to travel as much and as
far as l please. You understand Pm
not blowing my trumpet for the per-
sonal qualification there is in it-and
yet it is a personal qualification to blow
it before you. Pm accounting, as it
were, for the use I've made of those
talents you called my attention to tif-
teen years ago.
Mary-im very glad to hear of Your
success. l knew you had it in you
You have made the day very bright
for me.
JIM am not yet quite sure whether
it will be Il bright day for me or not
The fact is. II want to ask you n
favor, Miss Mary.
Mary-A favor. jim?
Jim-Yes, great favor. II want
to be your biggest pupil again!
Mary-I-I don't understand
Jim-And l want to be your only pupil.
l need your help. They're talking of
making me governor next fall, and III
require lots Of polishing up. Oh, it
will be hard work, but you'll find me
a willing pupil. L
Mary-I don't know what you mean.
Jim Qislng and coming closer)-Fll
explain. They say, you know, that
well-ordered boy usually falls in love
with his teacher. That's his very first
love. And most well ordered boys get
over it. But this boy is different He
doesn't get over it, That teacher has
been to him the one ideal Of sweet
est womanhoOd through all his fifteen
years of hard knocks and growing
success. Do you understand now?
Teacher, guide, friend, will you be that
grateful boys wife?
Mary covering her face with her
Jim, Jim, I'm so old!