Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

might turn out in the end to be little
boys like himself, but this last point
his philosophy could not understand in
its fullness.
He came to a white meeting house
sort of place, in the squat tower Of
which great bell was changing i'm.
pressively. He passed through an iron
gate into playground worn bare as
the bed Of Il mountain brook by the
endless runnings and scuffings Of little
children. There was still half an hour
before the final clangor in the squat
tower, but the playground held a mum.
her Of frolicsome imps. A lettering
boy espied Johnnie Hedge, and he
howled: "Oh! Oh! Here's a new fel.
Ter! Here's a new fe'lerw He advanc
ed upon the strange arrival. What's
your name?" he demanded belligerent-
ly, like particularly offensive custom
house officer.
Johnnie Hedge" responded the
newcomer shyly.
This name struck the other boy as
being Very comic. All new names
strike boys as being comic. He laugh
ed noisily.
"Oh, fellers. he says his name Is
Johnnie Hedge! Haw, haw, haww
The new boy felt that his name was
the most disgraceful thing which had
ever been attached to human being.
Johnnie Hedge! Haw, haw! What
room you in?" said the other lad.
81 dunno" said Johnnie. In the
meantime small flock Of interested
vultures had gathered about him. The
main thing was his absolute strange
ness. He even would have welcomed
the sight Of his tormentors Of Satur-
day; he had seen them before at least.
These creatures were only so many
incomprehensible problems. He dlHi
IDENTIFY began to make his way toward
the main door Of the school. and the
other boys followed him. They de-
manded information.
care you through subtraction yet?
We study jogerfre-did you ever? You
live here now? You goin' to school
here now"
| To many questions he made answer
as well as the clamor would permit,
and at length he reached the main
door and went Quaking unto his new
kings. AS befitted them, the rabble
stopped at the door, A teacher stroll
ing along corridor found small
boy holding in his hand note. The
boy palpably did not know what to do
with the note. but the teacher knew
and took It. Thereafter this little boy
was in harness.
A splendid lady in gorgeous robes
| gave him seat at double desk, at
the end of which sat hoodlum with
| grimy finger nails who eyed the inau-
guration with an extreme and person
al curiosity. The other desks were
gradually occupied by children, who
first were tod of the new boy and
then turned upon him speculative
and somewhat derisive eye. The school
opened. Little classes went forward 10
Il position in front OF the teachers
platform and tried to explain that they
knew something. The new boy was not
requisitioncd Il great deal; he was al
lowed to lie dormant until he became
used TO the scenes ana until the teach
er found approximately his mental
position. In the meantime he suffered
a shower Of stares and whispers and
giggleS. as If he were Il man ape,
| whereas Ee was precisely like other
children. From time to time he made
funny and pathetic little overtures to
other boys, but these overtures could
not yet be received; he was not knowE;
he was foreigner. The village st hoOl
was like n nation. 1t was tight. Its
amiabiity or friendship must be won
In certain ways.
At recess he lowered I'm the school
room around the weak lights Of society
and around the teacher In the hope
that somebody might be good to him,
but none considered him save as some
sort Of specimen. The teacher, Of
course, had secondary interest In the
fact that he was an additional one to
class Of sixty-three.
At II o'clock, when the ordered files
Of boys and girls marched toward the
door. he exhibited-tO no eye-the
tremblings of coward in q charge.
He exaggerated the lawlessness Of the
playground and the street.
But the reality was hard enough. A
shout greeted him:
ooh, here's the new feller! Here's
the new fellerv'
Small and utterly obscure boys teas
ed him. He had hard time of It to
get to the gate. There never was any
actual hurt. but everything was com.
petent to snite the lad with shame.
1t was curious, groundless shame.
but nevertheless it was shame. He
was newcomer, and he definitely felt
the disgrace of the fact. In the street
he was seen and recognized by some
lads who had formed part of the group
of Saturday. They shouted:
"Oh. Jimmie. Jimmie! Here he Isl
Here's that new feller!'
Jimmie Trescott was going virtuous.
ly toward his luncheon when he heard
these cries behind him. He pretended
noe to hear. and in this deception he
was assisted by the fact that he was
engaged at the time in a furious argu'
ment with friend over the relative
merits of two Uncle Toms Cabin"
companies. 1t appeared that one COM
pany had only two bloodhounds. while
| the other had ten. On the other hand.
| the first company had two Topsys and
| two Uncle Toms, while the second had
only one Topsy and one Uncle Tom.
But the shouting little boys were
hard after him. Finally they were
even pulling at his arms.
"Jimmie"-
"What?" he demanded. turning, with
snarl. "What d'you want? Leggc
my arm"
Here he is! Here's the new feller.
Here's the new feller! Now!'
81 don't care IL he is," said Jimmie,
with grand impatience. He tilted his
chin. 81 don't care il he is."
Then they reviled him. Thought
you was goin' to lick him first time you
caught him? Yah! You're a 'fraid
catw They began to sing: "'Fraid cat!
'Fraid cat. 'Fraid cat!" He expostu-
lated hotly. turning from one to the
| othnr hut they would not listen. In