Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-17


the invitation, fearing that I might
lower myself in the estimation OF the
women; but while was casting about
the old man relieved me by saying:
However, we've got plenty of time
before us. It's always we'll to hold a
good thing in reserve, you know. Af-
ter dinner We'll go over and see Ola
Perdue and find out If you can arrange
with him about the school. He's got
the whole thing in charge. General
Lundsford has charge Of nearly eV-
erything else, but he don't take much
stock in free schools. He argues that
nothin' that's free Is any good, and IN
the main he's about right; but we've
had some pretty good schools here, the
only trouble bein' to keep the teachers
out Of the creek. What education my
son ALI has he picked up about home
here, but Guinea was sent off to school,
way over at Raleigh"
Il am glad to see that you thought
so much of the importance Of training
her mind" remarked.
He gave me a troubled look, moved
uneasily, as had seen him move when
told him that was burying a rabbit
ran his fingers through his upright,
bristling hair and for long time was
silent. And as l looked at him fan
cied that he was trying to think OF
something to say, something to lead
my mind away from what he had al
ready said. I had seen the quaint,
half comical side Of his nature, and
now / saw that he could be thoughtful,
and In his serious mood his face was
stlors and rugged. His beard, CROP
ned close. reminded me Of scraps OF
wire, some of them rustcd and when
he wiped his mouth with the back Of
his hand I wondered that he did not
scratch the skin off.
Guinea came to the door and told
us that the meal was ready. The old
man got up, with a return Of his COM
lcal air, and told me to follow him.
The girl continued to stand near the
threshold and as 1 drew near unto her
she said "This door wasn't cut quite
high enough for you, was It? Look.
father, he has to duck his head. The
boys may have time putting him in
to the creek" She was now talking
to her father, but was looking at me,
90 1 took 1t upon myself to answer her.
"Yes, for you have called attention to
the fact that my legs are long and
the rascals may have hard running
with trying to catch me-"
"Oh." she replied. "brt was think
'ng Of your strength rather than your
swiftness. Come this way. Father has
run off and left you."
The old man had stepped down out
# the passage and had gone some dis
tance toward a small house surrounded
by a picket fence.
you go with her." he called. look
ing back. land I'll be there pretty
soon."
mo telling when he will come now,"
the girl remarked, walking close beside
me. He's got two Of the most spite
full chickens out there you ever saw,
and whenever anything goes wrong
with him he bolts right out there, ma
matter who Is here, and makes those
vicious things peck at each other.
Mother and 1 try hard to reform him,
but we can't"
1t was Mrs. Jucklin's time grayed
privilege to apologize for the scanti-
ness of her fare, and this she did with
becoming modesty and regret. She
had not expected company; the regu-
lar dinner hour was over long ago, and
somehow she never could understand
why she couldn't get a meal out OF
the regular time. But II would only
give her a chance she would reclaim
herself. She called my attention to
the corn bread; declared that 1t was
not fit to be eaten, and she didn't
know what made the stove act that
way. But the milk she knew was good.
Oh, she had forgotten that didn't
drink milk Guinea smiled at me and
clucked at her mother. Don't pretend
that you like anything just to please
her." she said, when Mrs. Jucklin had
turned about to keep a hoe-cake from
burning. "All you've got to do Is say
nothing until she gets through-that,
and simply to remember that she en-
oys it."
While we were eating we heard
voice crying. Hike, there, Sam; get
him down, Bob! Hike there!"
"They are warming up to their
work." Guinea remarked, and her
mother sighed: and then she began to
talk louder than was her won't, striv-
ing to drown the old mans voice. 1T
isn't any use, mother" said the girl.
The gentleman viii, find 1t out sooner
Or later"
And l suppose" said l, that you
think that you may find out my name
sooner or later. Please pardon me for
not introducing myself. My name is"
Hike, there, Bob! Get him down,
sam! Now you are at It! Hike,
there!"
MY name is Hawes, William Hawes,
and l am from Alabama"
And you have come to teach the
=chool%' said the girl.
YES, if l can make the arrange
ments.'
But is there anything very satisfy
ing in such an occupation?" she asked.
l felt then that she placed no very
high estimate upon my worth, and on
her part this was but natural, for
among country people school teaching
is looked upon as a lazy calling.
Il have not chosen teaching as my
real vocation" l answered
Hike there, 1 tell you! Hike!"
1T is my aim to be lawyer, to be
eloquent to stir emotion, to be strong
in the presence Of men. My earlier
advantages, no matter how I sought
to turn them about, gave me no prom
ise of reaching the bar; had good pri-
mary training, but in reality had to
educate myself, and in the work OF a
teacher | saw a hope to lead me on
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