The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-07-17

100 AttH tHfAAh HNHfHHf
TO stay after school for punishment
was. IN the eyes Of the girls, something
heroic though painful. hence Tom came
IN for a large share OF their pepper
minis, candy balls and little attentions.
"Why don't you cut sticks and scoot?
] wouldn't stay FOR a lambastlng from
him" suggested q playfellow to Tom.
Il could punch your nose for saying
that, Jim Brown; It's a mean thing 70
say to me. I've got n licking coming,
and I'm going to take what's coming
to me- You never did enough to de-
serve a whaling, so you know nothing
about It. anyway"
Il only thought you'd be glad to get
out Of 1t. would"
II know you would; you'd get out Of
anything coming your way that might
hurt you"
And Tom plunged into the games and
forgot all about the matter. He was
up to the top notch in his lessons dur
ing the afternoon session, and he
spelled down the entire first class at
the close. It required but few mo-
ments to clear the room when the days
work was ended Tom sat with his
cheek resting on his hand as he waited
for the long figure at the platform desk
TO move. Suddenly the young man
looked at Tom and said:
"Lawton, may ] trouble you to 90 to
the closet at the right Of the blackboard
and bring me the long parcel laid
across the upper hooks; here is the
key"
Tom brought the desired article to
the desk and gave a start as a fine
jointed fishing rod was revealed when
the canvas cover was removed. Good.
ness! is he going to lambaste me with
the butt Of that thing?" was Toms
thought, as the teacher took the heavy
piece and tried the working Of the reel.
The next joint was taken up and ex-
ahmed And as the feather-weight
tip was lifted. the teacher said VITA q
CLEAN of fun in his eyes:
Your hand, please. Sorry to be
obliged 10 do this painful thing, my
young friend, but must have my rules
obeyed"
The light tip came through the air
with a swish, but when it reached the
outstretched hand it fell as softly as q
straw upon the boys palm. But the
touch of that tip, slight as it was, en-
to Toms heart, and set his mind busy.
There was a sting in this sort Of pun
ishment, after all.
"There. I'm glad that disagreeable
job is off my hands. Say, Tom, now
that the cruel work is over let's go fish.
ing"
1t touched the boy to see how clev.
erly this new teacher had handled him.
and punished him as he had never been
punished before 1t was a lesson never
to be forgotten. Toms eyes were moist
as he said:
81 can take you where the largest
trout in the stream are; I'll show you
some fun; and, and-I am sorry gave
you so much trouble, I'll never do il
again"
THAT'S all right, Tom, my dear boy
The warm clasp Of the young mans
hand sent a tingIe of joy to the boys
heart, and as he looked into the stead!
eyes and saw something there that tolC
him he had made a friend for life HI
felt supremely happy.
Down the back street the pair wend
:. ed their way toward the stream tina
flowed among the willows, and the few
: pairs of curious eyes that followed
their movements saw the teacher oC
: casionally lay his arm along the sturd.
} boys shoulders
Down among the tag-alders, wher
the dark, deep pools were, the line we
5 cast again and again-baited with
} fat, juicy grasshopper, and as the hant
some trout rose to the casts the youn,
5 teacher was a boy again, while Tor
! LawtOn felt as happy as a lark.
There, Tom, old boy, think I hav
! enough for supper; 1 never believe i
= OVERRIDING q thing-fshing or-or licE
n ing a fellow"
4 Tom only grinned as he looked at tn
a fish. Suddenly the young man lai
S aside creel and rod and said with
4 merry laugh:
d II can throw you, front, back or sid
S hold. was the greatest wrestler j
/, my class; look out for yourself, for II
e at you"
Again Tom grinned as he brace
h himself for the shock; he was clevC
also, and he secured a firm hold an
5. with a quick side-jerk and lightnir
trip he laid the teacher upon his baC
in jiffy. Then they tried back hol
Z. | strnoolnd nNe1. the smooth turf mi