The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-18
! Our Daily Short Stories !
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LEONARD BOCG'S IDEA.
BY ERNEST M'CAFFEY.
Copyright 1901. by Authors Syndicate,

err The general had once known
bfand, and Leonard had a note of in
PRODUCTION from him.
sorry, my boy" said the banker,
put we have all the help we need. In
ract, we have one more clerk than we
have really any use for. And no extra
gests."
Have You got anything to do about
your house?" asked Leonard. do you
want any horses taken care of, or any
one to saw wood?"
We'll, now" was the generals re-
ply, Il do want some one to look after
the horses, for the stable man left
yesterday. But do you wish to do
work about a barn?''
Anything TO help me in getting
through college" was the boys an
swer.
The result of this talk was that
Leonard was engaged to help about the
generals stable, and he sawed wood
and did all sorts of odd jobs around
the house as we'll.
He did everything he was directed to
90 thoroughly, and the generals fam
lily commenced to take an interest in
him. The tan was gone now and he
was thinner but his appetite for both
food and study was keen. And how he
did advance in his classes! LAS smart
as whip" they said of him. But the
lamp in his little room could have told
story of application which counted
IN his studies. Every week he wrote
home. and when his mother scraped
up nVe dollars and sent it to him, he
returned it with the cheering news
that ne was working his way through
and would come out all right.
All this time he was interesting him
SELF IN college matters, contributing to
the college paper, devoting some time
TO athletics, and he was particularly
active in debating societies. He had
naturally talent for talking, and as
the year went on he began to be noted
for the clearness and f1uency of his ar
guments, the force of his logic and the
earnestness of his delivery. The boy
was growing Ike corn after a rain. He
was in an atmosphere where all his
latent powers crowded to the front and
his deep founded ambition held him to
ms work as steadily as a team in the
burrows.
A year went by and the state orator
lcal contest was held. Many colleges
were represented, and RichvilIe's hopes
were pinned on her brilliant junior
Leonard Boggs. And when his turn
came to speak he flashed upon them
such an grafton as is seldom heard
from the lips of a young man. His
theme was Lincoln, and in rapid, glow
ing words he painted the great Amer
leans career from rail-splitter to Pres
ident. The effect was electrical A
storm of applause rose from the audi
ence, from both friends and opponents.
so fine and true was the force and Ell
feet OF his Grafton. He gained the
prize, and when he went to the little
side-hin farm he was a hero.
I've just begun, mother he said
as they both looked from the rickety
front porch out to the west, where
the sun went down in a sea of glory
and the clouds lay painted by the
scarlet brush of the dying day. He had
now come to a point where he could
help his family little, and they would
have doubly appreciated what he did
had they known of the rigid economy
he practiced to do so.
The interstate oratorical contest
came two years after, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa and Minnesota sending represen-
tations TO compete for the prize. Again
Leonard was chosen 10 represent Rich
Vile from his state, and this time his
theme was Liberty" Those who
heard him tell of it yet as something
that moved them to tears sometimes,
and once to a thunder of cheers. That
there was a beauty about it that SEEM
ed to sing itself to the hearer, a blend
ing of truth and eloquence irresistible.
The prize was easily his, and now in
deed his state and college were proud
of him. A professorship was offered
him and accepted. AS a teacher he
showed the same qualities that distin-
guished him as a scholar, and outside
of his classes he mingled with the boys
and encouraged everything helpful to
the college in his own energetic way.
After another year he went to an
Eastern college and took course there,
earning the degree of doctor of philos-
ophy Returning to the Western COL
lege, he resumed his position and work
ed early and late in fitting himself for
the place he had determined to fill.
He was now able with his teaching
and his pen to do a great deal for his
family. Before he was Is he had lift
ed them from the rut Of poverty into
the broad road of comfort. The fam
lily lived !n Richville now and Leonard
was its mainstay. His mother idolized
him.
When Leonard was 29 the president
of the Richville college died. He had
been popular and well loved. The
question of the appointment was set
tied unanimously by an offer to Leon
ard Boggs, in his twenty ninth year.
The cup of his joy was over7owing.
After installation as president, after
the congra tulations and cheers had
subsidized, he went straight home and
got his mother. hired a buggy and
drove to the northwest.
1t was a hot summer day, much the
same as when he had seen the presl-
dent Of the college wheel round the
corner of the old farm in years past
He drove to the fence where the spring
still gushed from the gravel. The
farm had changed hands many times
in the interval but the spring dubbed
up and out, cool and inviting as Of OLD.
The gourd was gone, but a bright tin
cup hung on a nail driven into fence
post. He tied the horse to the fence, got
a full cup Of spring water and came
back 10 the buggy where his mother
was sitting.
Mrs Boggs drank the water and
her son filed il again and drank IL.
Then he said: Mother. it was just
stopped here to get a drink Of water.
when I met 'Ras' Ellison. President
Wing drove by just then, and 'Ras
said mockingly: Why don't you quit
blowing, and be a college PRESIDENT
and ! said: I believe ! will IL was a
wild idea then, mother, for a pillow boy
10 get into his head, and If il had not
been for you ] should have failed" he
looked at her tenderly, and his hand
trembled as he placed the cup back on
the nall
AT was a good idea, Leonard, SAID
his. mother. as she gazed proudly at
her son. but your old motto was
vol1r best friend" He broke into a
smile that lit his face and freshened ii
to boyishness.