The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-07

boy could not master in as many months.
Few teachers had been able to do any
thing with him. and it is a question whether
it would not have been batter for his COM
panions if he had been ruled out Of school
altogether. Most farming communities
boast of at least one such boy, dull OF eye
coarse in feature, stumbling in gait, a
coward and bully and disturbar OF
schoolroom peace.
Mr.. Hutchins had the teaching quality
and he was able to make the lessons inter-
esting With force added to his other
accomplishments he would have been q
success. AS il was, the morning passed
pleasantly.
At the afte rnoon session Mr.. Hutchns
was hearing the first class in reading
Mabel Stillson stood up and read;
Pretty soon thosa in the balcony heard
the sound of drums"
This seemed to ba the cue for roll OF
drums from the fingers of Ike Roberts
Duh, dub. dub dub dub dub, dub, duh
dub dub-followed by the bassdrum-
heavy heels on a loose board under his
desk.
Such an impudent de'anc, Of authorii y
could not have been passed. over by any
teacher and Mr., Hntchins, who had been
anxious to show the school that he was
"Sit down sold he to Mabel Some
up here" he called out to Ike.
Jim Stebbins, still somewhat swayetl
by the lofty ideals that Symonts had inn
planted, rose to his feet, intending to give
Yves no friend Of his, He wac followed
by Jason. who rose for tho anne eas onf
but poor. isguided Mr.. Hutchns mistook
the action for more mr'inv, ard in thun-
derous voice he roa.sd
.11ke yoEr , seats ald /. f odd, your arms
Jim ard Jason wave,td moment and
then sat down hard. and the imract broke
the r loyalty 10 their teacher.
Ike walked up to the desk With wayinR
neck and a leering smile, He WINS not
at all abashee. for he felt hint eli physic a
match for the teacher. Mr.. Symonde
the late instructor, had been a small man
but he he'd wav Of saying things that
admitted no doubt Of his intentions IN
the minds Of the most misguided. and Ike
mouthed man would be dead easy,
Hold out your hand, sir sa-d Mr.
Hutchins.
Ike held his hard out palm down nr
wiggled his fingers. looking over his shout
ders at the other children and grinning
oaflshly. The wigRle was followed by a
giggle from the pupils. -,
dSilencer roared Mr.. Hutchins. II will
be mas to-.
Then followed an exhibition pi,iable
in the extreme. Ike would not hold his
palm up, and after vainly trying to make
him. Nj. Hmohinf brought the ruler down
on his knucke9. a. he supposed, but n
turn Of the hand at the right moment saved
them and the rule de- cerd cd with some
force on the teacher own knee.
a. litter ran arourG tho school, ard the
poor schoolmrster colored to the roots
OF his hair. No man ever had better in
tentions than Slas, hut he lacked tact TO
a surpri-i ing derree. and now. inctead of
eiecting the muinous pupil bodily from
the school. which act would have ree 'ored
his prestige for Ike was a muscular boy
he said petuantly:
$50. stand In the corner for quarter
of an hour"
OF course Ike rcfns ed, and Henry Martyr,
n small. deli, ate boy, aged !, said under
hR breath: go, d bow Ike"
MI Hutrhine hoard him ard immCdi-
a,elv droppcSlIk oG cesC.
"Wha, d YOU my. I'D raid he 10 Henry.
Henry Immediately hogan to whimper,
How dare YOU incitc rebellion sir2
Go into that closet and stay there until
! tell you you may come out,
Henry, n nervous. pallid little lad, obeyed
with trembling legs. After he had squeezed