The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-10-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MARCHING ON.
By KATHERINE CHAPMAN.
Observation-Disclosures

attend the N. E. A. Convention in
Boston l sighed with relief to think
that for a long summer vacation
should have no hoy problems to solve.
Neither did / expect to meet any old
friends.
In company with some of the 9th
er women teachers from my State,
lost myself daily in making little
Journeys to Revolutionary relics,
climbed monument stairs in order
that l might tell the children all
about it, occupied q niche on the
sightseeing auto and had started to
edo" the churches, when | saw Him.
1t was on a narrow little street
that served to bound one side of the
huge temple, which, with its big
dome, looked much like church
capped with a toad stool. He was
standing midway, swinging his arms
around in circles. At first, he ap-
peared to be giving an imitation of
Tom Sawyer playing steamboat or
Mr.. Cyrus Young curving balls; in
stead, he was merely throwing stones.
Because he aimed none of them at a
convenient flock of pigeons, / noticed
him particularly.
For all the world he resembied a
5oston terrier. His large, broken
.ys were set wide under his rounded
forehead his fat, little nose divided
plump, Drowned cheeks and his small
ront teeth separated two lips of gen.
frous size. His clothing beggared
description. AS far as observation
went, it consisted of very short pants,
b a sleeveless white shirt and the crown
portion of cap.
AS I neared him I saw a familiar
figure approaching us. Through her
veil recognized a widowed friend,
although she wore such heavy black
that even in moonless night she must
have cast shadow. Oh, yes! I
recognized Amelia at once. Not very
long ago | saw her husband laid away.
was there, too, when her little boy
died, and, while l shall always SYM
pathize with her, l remembered that
her love was tyranny to her hus-
band and that she really coddled her
boy into the grave.
She has always seemed like a.deli-
cate green vine which circles around
the tree, ever growing thicker and
closer, until at last the strong tree
dies in that intense embrace.
This day she came droopingly to-
ward me. To my horror that street
Bamin thrust dirty fist i2to his pock-
ct and threw something at her.
In the moment l hesitated whether
Or not to use corporal punishment.
The boy turned his head, gazing at
me with such look of perfect self
possession that / involuntarily took
back seat.
Amelia reached him first. She
raised his chin with the palm of one
hand, while in the other she held his
missile--a rosebud, broken at the
stem. When she had looked long in
to his eyes she spoke to him and
wrote something in her cardcase. The
youngster cantered down the street.
Amelia and l talked together some
little time, went over the beautiful
temple together and parted, after ]
had promised to visit her at her sub
urban home. That visit was neces-
sarily postponed one year. When ]
made it Amelia's house was embow-
cred in green, and l walked to he1
cool veranda between hedges of box
and pulled the bell. Immediately q
gong rang out startlingly. Amaze.
ment must still have been on my face
when Amelia let me in, for she ex.
p.ained:
my boy wanted that bell; he says
It's like fire engine"
Your boy!" l exclaimed.
Then Amelia exclaimed that sht
had adopted a ten-year-old boy. II
one miserable moment my mind trav
eled back and recalled that care-free
independent, wholesome knight O
the road had met in Boston. M,
heart sank, for l could not bear t,
see that boy feminized.
Surely, l thought. Amelia canno
help curbing and blithing that fire,
soul of which l caught a glimps
through the boys big eyes.
Later she called him into the room
He seemed to have suffered man,
changes. Those aggressive teeth hal
been Strengthened, but he was still
barefoot boy with cheek of tan"
His feet were bare, Amelia assure
me. because he liked to go wadin
In the fountain. She found resem
blance in this fancy to one of tn
Presidents sons.
i inquired what were his occupa
tions. Proudly Amelia escorted m
over the place. A corner of the law
in back of the house was given owe
to two small houses. In one of tier
lay brand new Boston terrier;roun
the other played large frame
black and white cat whose nieke