The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-09-30
HouU Speed "Got
 EUen. :"
By William Wallace, Jr.l

It was Speeds first day in the Bee vile public school. Beeville was a town of but few hundred inhabitants, there fore it boasted of only one small frame schoolhouse of two rooms with one teacher for each room. Speed was in the advanced" room, fourth-rea1er grade. Not only was thls Speeds first day in school, but his second day in the town, for his parents bad just moved there from farm many miles away. Their object In coming to Beeville was to give their son the advantages of an education.
 Speed was q good. studious boy, loy- ing his books and anxious to learn all that was to be gained at the little pub lie school, and 1t was with real pride that he walked Into the schoolhouse on the first Monday morning of the fall term with his hal- brushed till 1t shoue like mirror, his face aglow from soap and water and his cheap, well-worn clothes as tidy and neat as could be; while under his arm were his new books. carefully covered with bright print-the thoughtful work of hls fond mother.
 As soon as the teacher looked at Speed she knew that he was no common boy. that he was well-reared chap. with A certain refinement and grace of manner which bespoke a gentleman for a father and lady for a mother, though indica- tions pointed to the fact that they were not counted among the rich, or even the well-to-do.
 The last bell had just rung and the struggling pupils were choosing their seats and seat mates amidst a confusion of whispers, shuff1ing feet and rattling states and books. Speed, on entering the room, bowed respectfully to the teacher: then waited in the ailse till some seat should be left vacant for him. But there being more pupils than desks many of the seats held two children, and Speed was obliged to wait till the teacher should assign him to a place. At last he found himself seated beside a rough. slovenly dressed boy who looked as though his face was a stranger to water and his hair unacquainted with a comb. When Speed took his end of the seat he kindly smiled an introduction to his seat fellow, who glared back with a defiant air, as if saying: How dare you, stranger, intrude yourself upon me, sirT' But Speed did not pay any attention to the rude conduct of his rough companion, but began to place his books neatly in his end of the desk. The rough boy. seeing that he was to be ignored, de. cided to pick a fuss with Speed, and be- gan by whispering In a loud voice during the singing: Say, green-goose, where did you git such pretty covers for your books? Tn look like gurl-baby books. Geel I'd hate to be a little Lizzie; an that's what you are."
 Still Speed Ignored the boy, and drowned bis voice by joining in the sing ing This infurlated the boy who whisn- cred more loudly, putting his mouth close to Speeds ear and forcing his words upon him: ..Say, Lizzie, mammals s darlin' baby-boy, l can lick you at recess with my right hand tied. Do you hear, sissy ?''
 Speed, not wishing to be so annoyed, turned to the boy and said:
 'If you don't like my looks please keep your eyes on either your books or some other point in the room. I'm not going to bother you, and 1 don't intend that you shall bother me. If you want to get another seat there's one down there on the aisle"
 ''Ya-yah-yahI" said the boy. stick