Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-21

ly at one with nature.
In Donald there appeared singular
| combination Of spontaneous Judgment
and deliberate action. AS child he
would respond to questions slowly and
with care, even when the expression
of his eyes showed that the correct
answer had flashed through his mind
instantly. Ills greatest and most OBJ
stinate fault was secretiveness. Though
his nature was very affectionate and
his sympathy most tender, he lacked
the natural tendency to confide his
troubles, his joys or his hopes to those
he loved, even to his mother. He had
no slyness. He was ut no pains to
keep secret. He simply said nothing
about it and gave no sign Of its ex-
! istence.
We were often grieved to find that
he had left us in ignorance of some in.
cident of his daily life, some act nei.
ther praiseworthy nor blamable or one
| perhaps involving a moral question be.
| yond the appreciation of his years.
When reproved for such an omission.
his customary-and. believe, sincere
reply would be:
why, it never occurred to me that
you didn't Know"
1t was frequently necessary to give
him quite an elaborate explanation be-
fore he seemed to realize that we had
had no means of knowing.
By all this do not wish to give the
impression that he was markedly
phenomenal boy, but it is important of
course. that should point out all par
ticulars In which he differed from the
average. 1 have therefore with great
care selected these three peculiarites:
He thought very quickly and spoke
very slowly.
He had an unconQuerable habit of
keeping his own affairs to himself.
He enjoyed remarkably good fortune,
Including notable immunity from ILL
ness and injury, In which connection I
may record the fact that he never had
one of the so called diseases of child
hood.
In other respects he was the typical
American boy. He played as much as
possible and studied when his con-
science or his elders compelled him to
TO so. He had his friendships ard his
childish loves. He romped gayly in
the long summer evenings and COM
mitted clever and amusing mischief
once in awhile, in regard to which
think that even the recording angel
always waited for Donald's confess
sion and never attempted to know the
facts In advance of it.
AT the age of sixteen he was ready
for college. He was then six feet in
height and weighed 40 pounds. He
resembled both his parents, but was
generally called his mothers boy, for
he had her red gold hair and bright
blue eyes. His fathers nature lay the
deeper in him. 1t came to the surface
most plainly In moments of excitement
and at such times, even during his
childhood, young Donald would exhibit
the solemn, superficial calm and ex-
IRENE precision of speech which had al
ways characterized the deacon" when
in high state of nervous tension.
If he had during his youth such
psychic experiences as are not the COM
mon lot of humanity, was not able
to observe them. A few vague hints
of no more importance than the school
girls remark which l have quoted
would have been the best evidence
that could have adduced previous to
the month Of June in the year 1899.
We We're expecting him home from
college in week or two when we were
surprised by receiving this telegram;
Last exam. today. Leave Immediately.
You will see me tomorrow.
We knew that he had intended to
stay beyond class day and that the
varsity baseball nine, of which he was
member, had not closed its season, SO
the message puzzled us and gave rise
to considerable anxiety. His mother
telegraphed for an explanation, but no
answer came. On the morrow, how
ever, came Donald himself, hale and
happy, and handsome beyond the
dreams OF romance. When we assailed
MIN with questions, ne stared at US.
why, there's no particular reason
for my coming said he. Il merely
felt like it; that's all"
Then after pause he added:
II wonder why the dickens I did
come? can't think, unless 1t was be-
cause wanted to see my very best
girl"
Whereupon he put his arm across
his mothers shoulders and kissed her
tenderly upon the forehead and hair.
III alI amman ra noes Dorothy mipht in.