Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-05-11

N
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:
'Iawton, may l trouble you to go to
the closet at the right of the black
board and bring me the long parcel laid
across the upper books; here is the
key.
Tom brought the desired article to
the desk and gave a start as fine
Jointed fishing rod was revealed when
the canvas cover was removed. Good
ness! Is he going % 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 examined. And as the feather
! weight tip was lifted, the teacher said,
with CLEAN Of fun in his eyes:
Your hand. please. Sorry to be
obliged to do this painful thing; but
must have my rules obeyed."
The light tip came through the air
with swish, but when 1t reached the
outstretched hand it fell as softly as
straw upon the boys palm. But the
touch of that tip, slight as 1t was, cut
to Toms heart, and set his mind busy.
There was sting in this sort Of pun
ishment, after all.
There, l am glad that disagreeaDle
job is off our hands. Say, Tom, now
that the cruel work is over, let's go
fishing"
1t touched the boy to see how clever
ly this new teacher had handled him,
and punished him as he had never been
punished before. 1t was lesson never
to be forgotten. Toms eyes were
moist as he said:
Il can take you where the largest
trout in the stream are; III show you
some fun; and, and-I am sorry l gave
you so much trouble. I'll never do it
again"
That's all right, Tom, my dear
boy" The warm clasp of the young
mans hand sent tngle of Joy to the
boys heart; and as he looked into the
steady eyes and saw something there
that told him he had made friend
for life he felt Supremacy happy.
Down the back street the pair wend-
ed their way toward the stream that
flowed among the willows, and the few
pairs Of curious eyes that followed
their movements saw the teacher occa-
sionally lay his arm along the sturdy
boys shoulders.
Down among the tag-alders, where
the dark. deep pools were, the line was
cast again and again-baited with a
fat. juicy grasshopper. and as the
handsome trout rose to the casts the
young teacher was a boy again, while
Tom Lawton felt happy as lark.
"There, Tom. old boy. think l have
enough for supper. never believe In
OVERRIDING thing-fishing or-or lick
ing fellow"
Tom only grinned as he looked at the
fish. Suddenly the young man laid
aside creel and rod and said with a
merry laugh:
II can throw you, front, back or side
hold. l was the greatest wrestler in
my class: look out for yourself, for I'm
at yOu."
Again Tom grinned as he braced
himself for the shock; he was clever,
also, and he secured firm hold, and
with quick side jerk and a lightning
grip he laid the teacher upon his back
in jiffy. Then they tried a back
h~l CT, Id ho
until the teacher lifted Tom up and
laid him gently down upon his back
and said laugningly: you are quick
on your legs, old boy; could make a
great wrestler Of you. l can beat you
sprinting to the maple tree and
back"
Never; there isn't fellow in school
can do that Job. Here you go; we're
Off"
The teacher reached and touched the
tree and started to return before Tom
reached it. 1t was lively race, and
it looked as if Tom had finally met his
match. But with a grand squirt the
boy dashed over the ground, reached
his companion and, passing him, ar
rived at the goal three feet ahead.
'There. Tom. my lad, that will be
enough exercise for the time being.
Now for supper; you are to dine with
me this evening"
That was red letter event in Tom
Lawton's life; supper in the hotel din
ing room with the teacher, who chat
ted and made the boy feel as if he
was in the seventh heaven of boy
bliss. And in the cleaning as they wan
dered to Toms home, the young man
told the other of many interesting
events in his college life. and when
they parted at the gate with good
night handshake. Tom felt in his heart
that this was to he friend for life
And as the teacher walked slowly
homeward he murmured: "As fine a
young fellow as-I ever met. Glad
had to keep him after school for a
licking. We both enjoyed the affair.""
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