Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-02
CHAPTER XII.

mood had brought them to take me to
their hearts and the old man that was
with me as well, was now the only son
left to Elizabeth and David Brewer.
There were those who called 1t folly
at the time they took us in, l have
heard, but he who shall read this his
tory to the end shall see how that kind
of folly may profit one or even many
here in this hard world.
1t was a gloomy summer for all Of
us. The industry and patience with
which Hope bore her trial night and
day is the sweetest recollection Of my
youth. 1t brought to her young face q
tender soberness Of womanhood-a sub
tie change of expression that made her
all the more dear to me. Every day,
rain OF shine, the old doctor had come
to visit his patient, sometimes sitting
an hour and gazing thoughtfully In his
face, occasionally asking a question or
telling quaint anecdote. And then
came the end.
The sky was cold and gray in the late
autumn, and the leaves were drifted
deep in the edge Of the woodlands when
Hope and went away to school to-
gether at Hillsborough. Uncle Eb
drove us to our boarding place in town.
When we babe him goodby and saw
him driving away alone in the wagon
we hardly dared look at each other for
the tears in our eyes.
David Brewer had taken board for us
at the house of one Solomon Rollin,
universally known as Cooky Rollin.
That was one Of the first things learn.
ed at the academy. 1t seemed that
many years ago he had taken his girl
to dance and offered her in lieu Of
supper cookies that he had thoughtful
ly brought with him. Thus cheaply he
had come to lifelong distinction.
.You know Rollins ancient history,
don't you?" the young man asked who
sat with me at school that first day.
"Have 1t at home" answered. "It'a
in five Volumes"
II mean the history Of Sol Rollin, the
man you are boarding WITH" said he
smiling at me, and then he told the
story of the cookies.
The principal of the Hillsborough
academy was a big, brawny bachelor
Of Scotch descent, with stern face
and cold, gray, glazing eyes. When hl
, stood towering above US on his plat
form in the main room Of the building
! where I sat there was an alertness II
his figure and look of responsibility
| In his face that reminded me Of thu
! pictures of Napoleon at yrateslee.-$1xs
always carried stout ruler that hai
| blistered shank Of every mischievoui
boy in school. AS he stood by the lin,
that came marching in to prayers every
morning he would frequently pull out {
| boy, administer loud whack or two
| shake him violently and force him int
| q seat.
The day began my Studies at tn
academy saw him put two dents II
the wall with the heels Of a young ma,
who had failed in his algebra. To {
bashful and sensitive youth just out O
. country home the sight Of such VIC
lence was appalling. My Arst talk Will
him, however, renewed my courage. 81
had heard I was good scholar ant
talked with me in friendly way abou
my plans. Both Hope and were unds
him in algebra and Latin. we'll n
member my first error In his class.
had misconstrued Latin sentence 81
looked ut me, smile and snee
crowding each other for possession Q
his face. In loud, jeering tone b
cried, "Mirabile dictu!'
I looked at him, in doubt Of his NEAR
ing.
"Mirabile dictur he shouted. hi
tongue trilling the r.
corrected my error.
"Perfectl' he cried again. "Puer pu
chre! Nextl''
He never went further than that Wit
me In the way Of correction. My siR
and my skill as wrestler, that short
insured for me the respect Of the boy
helped me to win the esteem Of tt
master. learned my lessons and keI
out of mischief. But others Of equi
proficiency were not SO fortunate. 3
was apt to be hard on light man WI
could be handled without overexertion
Uncle Eb came In to see me one do
and sat awhile with me in my sea
While he was there the master took
boy by the collar and almost LITERAL
wiped the blackboard with him. The
; was great clatter Of heels for m
ment. Uncle Eb went away shortly ar
was at Sol Rollins when came to d.
ner.
Powerful man, amt hep said Unc
BIB.
Rather" said.
Turned that boy into regular hor
fiddle" he remarked. "Must ave uns
his reason"
Unnecessary" said.
"Reminded me o. the time at T
Taylor got his tooth pulled" said !
"Shook i'm up so at he thought he
J had his neck put out o tint"
Sol Rollin was one Of my studies tn
winter. He was a carpenter by trad
and his oddities were new and dsligl
full. he whistled as he worked.
whistled as he read, he whistled rig
merrily as he walked up and down
streets, a short. slight figure with
round boyish face and fringe Of ir
gray hair under his chin. The lit,
man had one big passion-that for g
ting and saving. The ancient thrift
his race had pinched him small a
narrow as foot is stunted by tis
shoe. His mind was bit out Of n
lister, as we say in the printing bu
ness. His vocabulary was hch q
vivid and stimulating.
/ Somebody hsoke into tho arsenic
day." he announced one evening at /
supper table.