Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-15

u,l,ed between the desks to the other emu
of the room, where he again nodded and theh
shook hands with the instructor
1t was a country neighborhood, EXTENDING
several miles in every direction from the o'u-
fashioned school building, which stood at one
side of the highway and opposite smal
stretch of woods About forty boys and girls
as a rule. were gathered beneath the rooi;
though in summer there were many more Oh
the latter than the former, but In winter II
was the reverse.
1t was now late in the autumn and there
were twenty-eight boys present and ohly
eleven girls.
Among the boys were quite a number oil
large ones, the ages averaging IRON ioui'eed 10Y ed
TO nineteen Several were fully as tall ana
as strong as Mr.. WilIett, but he had HtIle IIn
difficulty in managing them. lie was sklil-
full instructor, and recognized the goiueh RUE
of a teachers life-that so long as unruy DoNS
can be kept interested anu pusS tneS VIII
cause no trouble. t
Squire Hawkins was past three-score stoop-
ing in figure, and during cool weather always
wore a long snuf-colored overcoat' WIN huge
pockets at the sides and enormous laps az ~
was buttoned to the chin, so that only the
top of his high stock and the imp ouV "l'i'e
clean collar could be seen
That coat had served the squire long and
we'll for no one who knew hlm could recall
the time when he had not worn y titts tntousu
fully two inches in diameter, extended down
the front to the waist, below which there was
none. , .
Squire Hawkins was a good man and use
full citizen. Though OF quaint anu peiiaps L;p's
amusing appearance no boy who knew MN
would show him disrespect. HIS prlght eyes
twinlxed behind his silver spectacles, ana ms
scant gray hair just fringed the lower euge
Of the thick fur cap which he wore ciose M uowIi
about the ears and which had done duty al
most as long as his overcoat. lie had but lew
teeth, but he was wiIy and muscular; and 1t
was hard to believe what was the trutf-that
forty years before he was the WluesV youth
in the neghborhoOd. -.
The squire had been justice of the peace
for a full generation; he was deacon IN the
church, and the most active and useful OF the
three trustees who held official charge OF the
educational affairs OF the nelgho9rhooG. ne
had the reputation of being excellent In hg,,
ures, and he liked to drop into the school
and give to the pupils all sorts OF odd prob
lens and questions. Sometimes ne wouiu
ask them to spell certain words; then he
would want information concerning some lar-
of country, and then again 1T would be a
question in grammar. =,
He was ALWAYS welcome when he made the
calls at school. His quaint and homeiy advice
was good; his problems were amusing, ana
his manner was pleasantly entertaining. All
the boys and girls therefore knew what was
coming when, a few minutes later, the teacher
raped for order; and looking IN that direc-
tion they saw Squire Hawkins standing pc
side the desk the collar of his overcoat turned
up about his ears, so that he suggested the
figure of a turtle peeping out OF Its shell HIS
eyes sparkled and his usual smile played about
his mouth. He had flung his thick woolen
mittens in his cap, which lay on the teacher S
high desk, while he rested one elbow be-
''Boys and girls said Mr.. Willett, when
every eye was turned toward him and silence
prevailed "this morning at recess | heard
several of you say that you wished Squire
Hawkins would come to see us again. | was
very glad to hear such an expression, which
know is the general sentiment OF the school
for none of us has a better friend than he
has proven himself to be. His advice is gooC
and his questions are useful and instructive
He tells me he can't stay long with US this
afternoon, but he has something to say tC
you
The squire could not fail to be pleased will
this speech, proving to him, as it did, tha
the pupils of the school held him in favorable
regard The broad, pleasant mouth expanded
still more, and with a slight preliminary clear
ing of his throat, he said:
F'Boys and girls I'm Obliged to Mr. Willet
for the kind manner in which he has referred
to me, and nothing could please me more thai
to hear that You appreciate my efforts to i'm
prove your minds. pmsgoiag to ask you tw
questions only this afternoon. The first IT
lates to geography. You know that our gov
ernment some years ago bought the eTitor
Russian America. The other day | gave yo
a talk about Alaska, and hope you remembe
what | said.
"Well now, to come to the point, you hav
not forgotten the other day that when W
all had our aliases ] told YOU to notice tha