Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-07-05
- s.alls n1, IN DR.. Jarvis's barn. and-and

O myw " anu-ana
rather, do you object?' asked Rob.
ert, from the doorway. oD
| "Objectv' exclaimed his father ond
MS tone was all the assurance the hov
needed why, Robert, you're the
mead of the house nowp'
| II scnool and kid wagon is
-: inquired Doctor Jarvis, with grin,
nuppor, when interviewed concerninn
the stables. "Yes, the barn is hie
| enough, and there's work enough 1v;no
round for boy of your size to do to
pay Tor its use. but when are ron
gong to have time to do it? ?"
Moons" replied Robert. "we have
iiom t"elve to one-thirty, you know"
When will you eat your dinnery'
Oh. that won't take me lone. -
noperts plans were working so we'll
that he had little time to consider 81
uhlmportant matter as dinners.
Humph!' snorted the doctor. in =
dlscourag ging tone. .'And the chores al
home:'' -
A5Ato anu mornings.
The doctor cleared his throat and
scowled. Studying"
In school and nights" Robert.s
hopefulness was not dimmed bv the
old PHYSICIANS pessimism.
And you expect to lead your
classes?''
i must, for that means Keybrook
ana the Swansea scholarship mex:
year"
scholarship" snorted the doctor.
AS one OF the trustees at Keybrook he
was interested in the scholarship.
When are you going to sleep?' This
question Robert considered irrelevant.
Monday morning, at quarter before
nine. Doctor Jarvis sat beside the east
window in his study to see the wagon
pass. 1t was a sight worth seeins-a
heavy wagon with creaking break. a
crude but effective cover OF black oil
cloth stretched over rude frame.
Along the sides of the wagon were
rough but comfortable seats occupied
by twenty jolly boys and girls. Rob-
ert sat on seat which overhung the
dashboard, and swung his feet back
OF the horses. His face was beaming.
and he whistled gaily as he looked at
the big red brick school building; but
Doctor Jarvis shook his head.
"All right in the run for the scholar
ship, Doc?' the physician asked, at the
end of the first month.
Robert handed over a ten-dollar bill
proudly. It was part payment for at
tendance on his father. Yes. sir" he
replied, briskly. Il led the class this
month. but my marks were not SO high
as l should like them to be-
After he had gone. DR.. Jarvis laid
the bill in his wallet as deliberatel
as if he needed it and Robert did not.
They will be lower this month" he
said. musingly.
He vas right. To his own surprise,
Robert fell slowly behind. He spent
as many hours over his books, but they
We're late hours. and the result was not
the same. He did not quite understand
why. but the doctor did. He was not
surprised when the boy said soberly
at the end OF the second month:
Fred Smith is ahead of me now, but
l must catch up"
''Humphv' commented the doctor.
unsympathetically, and drove away.
He carried in his pocket second ten
dollar bill
Then came the December cold, with
drifts and ice, making additional work
for Robert. There was shoveling to
do, path, to break for the sheep from
the barn to the spring, wood to De
chopped, and after all these duties
were done he nodded over the algebra
problems which refused 10 be solved.
Once during the morning session,
after he had faced a keen north wind
for four miles, he dropped asleep be-
side the stove and fell off his chair. to
the uproarious amusement of the stu
dents and the vexaticn of Mr.. Teller.
Robert bowed his head in shame over
the principals sharp words. and begged |
his sister not to mention the matter at |
home.
'I'm getting so stupid, Clara" he
confessed. II don't know what to !
make of myself"
'.No, you're not. Rob-" she declared, |
loyalty; but there was an anxiety in
her voice she could not conceal.
Il stand third in the Glass;" he told !
the doctor, briefly, at the end of Janu- !
ary.
what are you going to do about |
tt" was the characteristic response.
Give up?"
Robert mounted to his seat in the !
'bobs" and gathered up the lines. His |
.one was obstinate rather than hope
ful: mo, sir, not until have to-
THAT fellow" said the doctor, later,