Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-05-14
MOSES
THE POEM OF LIFE
IN THE FOOTPRINTS
OF PROVIDENCE.
BY TOM BENTON.
CHAP. .VII.-BETHEL SCHOOL.
ALL R1eHTs REsERvED.


was similar to Grindstone Acad-
emy, only its Fireplace was much
larger, occupying about half the
east end of the house; with the
door in the south side. To this
was added a frame room about the
same size, with another south
door. A large wood stove stood
in the center. Two windows on
the north, one on the west and
two on the south gave good light
and ventilation. The new room
had long benches with nice backs
quite comfortable, used for the
Bethel church and Sunday service;
these benches were piled up in the
north side of the room, except one
or two used for recitation purpos-
es.
About this time David's uncle
William Rivers was teacher. He
had been educated under rod dis
cipline and knew no better plan, so
his "hickorys" were always ready
to punish the negligent or misbe-
having. David was in his glory,
for he had great fun making Port
Rivers, Witty Joe Willis and his
waggish brother Bob, playful Ike
Nichols, good humored Allen Bur-
nam, overgrown Dick Bedford and
mirthful, pleasure seeking Bob
Harris his chums. These he dearly
loved, but his counterpart was his
uncle Jacobs son, Sanford. This
youth was a JOY to his soul. Both
loved mlsic and all kinds Of art
work. Sanford was two years
younger, built for strength. He
had dark hair, and deep blue eyes,
with arched brow, Roman nose,
double chin, rather large mouth
and q soft, musical voice. David
was tall, had broad shoulders, but
a very slender body, long arms and
lower limbs, auburn hair, medium
high forehead, a very heavy suit of
hair, heavy eyebrows, while large
gray eyes tinged with yellow and
green, set far back in the head, a
Grecian nose, large mouth and
strong double chin marked the
face. His voice was generally low
and soft, but when in the excite
ment of some game it was loud and
strong; when angry the eye flashed
fire and the voice was so sharp and
shrill it cut like a knife.
David and Sanford were always
trying to excel each other in ath'
letic sports. Sanford could run
faster; David, longer; San fore
jumped farther, David higher
Sanford could understand machin
cry, from his Buckeye dropper
reaper to the old wooden clock up
stairs. David could sing all the
popular social songs, quote poetry
and show Sanford his lessons. Da
vid was a talker, Sanford gooC
listener and would make some wit
ty comment that would get botl
in great glee. Playmates from
|, infancy they never had a quarrel
OF at any time doubted or distrust
J ed each otheri each had more in
fuence over the other than any
outside of the family. Their low,
for each other was like that of Da
vid and Johuathan.
} The fall and winter term o
school at this place was taught b.
/ MIR. VIM. Rivers, Porter's olde
r brother. at playtilne a boy VIII,
had attended school some, passing
the sehool-house, cried,
|, "Schoolbutter, chicken tiutter,
! Rotten eggs for your MASTER
1 supper"
2 The teacher hearing this gave th
! boys permission to catch tn
young man. A half dozen boy
/ ran parallel with the road in
8 field and then turned into the roa
/, ahead, while the remaining boy
i closed in behind. His bride We
seized and his mule led back TO OF