The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-26

The p~hiianthTopist didn't attempt to
excuse the beer. the mug or the saloon.
He didn't attempt to excuse the mugs"
of the four pupils. He merely said that
an iIliterate man who had arrived at
the age Of forty-five had to be handled
a little differently from a ten-year-old
schoolgirl. The attendance on his night
school was rather slim at present. but
would grow and flourish with time. He
would call OH Nj. Bowser rs the guest
of the evening to tell the pupils some
thing about Christopher Co.umbus.
Nj. Bowser arose amid IL further rat
tie of mugs. He picked W Columbus as
being oct Of a job and looking for any
sort of work and sent him off On a voy-I
age of discovery. lie mixed him up
with tie pilgrim fathers AID had him
sailing tie MayAowor past the pyTa-
mids of Egypt, but everything went
with that gang Even Mr.. Theopolus
Darlington White clapped his hands
and cred. Hear, hearr
When Columbus had been finished off
in a first class n and NJ. Bowscr.
had taken his seat with a wilted collar
there was an eXpectant look on five
faces. After a minute four beer mugs
ratified. After another minute five pairs
| of eyes looked full at Mr.. Bowser. AS
he didn't take the hint, there were five
long drawn groans and then the teacher
arose and said:
"AIr. William Scroggs, who began to-
write only our weeks ago, will now
write a sentence on the blackboard to
show our guest what improvement he
has made"
MI. Scroggs modestly and blushingly.
stood before the blackboard, and after
| scratching his head for awhile to get
! the kinks out of his fingers he wrote:
! Il would like a schooner of beer"
Mr.. Bowser started to turn red and
boil up, but the philanthropist headed
him off with:
"You see, we must let them choose
| their own subjects for awhile yet. A
| month later and | will have Mr.. Scroggs
writing about shadowy glades and syl-
van dells. Mr.. Stubs will now read a
paragraph from the First Reader. It
was only six weeks ago that he COM
menced to learn his A B C's. Stand
up, MI. Stubbs."
Mr.. Stubs, who wasn't a stubby
man by a long shot, stood up and
cleared his throat and read:
II love school. I also love NJ teach
er. I also love a glass Of lager beer
when it is cold. This is all at present"
isn't that wonderful progress?'
asked the teacher as he turned to Mr..
Bowser.
Mr.. Bowser didn't reply. He was
getting things into his head, and the
lobster red color on the back of his
neck was a warning that should have
been needed.
"Mr. Juggings will now spell a few
Words" said the teacher as he nodded
his head at q cock eyed man. MI. Jug
gings couldn't spell cat a month ago,
but we will now see how we'll he can
do. Spell 'Bowser,' if you please"
"B-o-w-s-e-r, Bowser," announced Mr.
Juggings, with a good deal of pride.
Correct. You may nov spell the
word 'foamy.'"
"F-o-a-m-y, foamy."
couldn't be better. Now spell the
w,rd beer"
Beer, beer"
Fright as a trivet, and you a si'
down. What do you think Of it, Nh
Bowser?"
81 think you and your gang and you
philanthropy ought to be kicked down
s~tairs!' was the vigorous reply.
"What?' shouted the FIVE as the.
sprang to their feet.
) at is evident that I was brough
here to be worked for a good thing,
said Mr.. Bowser, but you have mad
. a mistake. If you want any Of tn
: foamy, buy it for yourselves. AS TO
f you, Mr.. Theopolus Darlington White
I have no hesitation in p%ronounein
you
But it didn't come out. With one az
e cord the enemy moved ON Mr.. Bowser'
t works. He defended them bravely, br
what is one man to five when h fv
r are thirsting for cool lager just off tn
ice? The one went down to rise agai
. and be bounced downstairs and to /
chased home at the top of his speed.
d He reached and unlocked his door te
t feet ahead of the nearest purSuer. MI
Bowser was still Up and reading
book. She rose and came down tt
l. hall to find Il man who had been role
over ami over in the dirt. He looh'
lr detected and forlorn. There was a bi
break i'll his ST. hat. and the coll
lie of his overcoat hung by a thread. The
n was blood or his left ear n dust
III his chin.
r. "Well, 1 see you found the phila
lie thropist's night school?" she observed
De But Mr.. Bowser passed her and we
De upstairs without a word. He did
ever say anything about divorce. 1
v hour later, when she followed, he W
in bed and asleep, and there was a
an tear on his cheek. He had met t
y foamy and been laid low.
an NJ. QUAD