The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-02-05
kins' manner became even more at
tentive and expectant

/ ahLlilO IA ctiAAAA appears 10 pt1t1IOt
ism and liberty, but they were to.
conscious of the audience to DO theil
best, and when they went down fron
the platform it was with an uneasy
feeling of having failed At length /;
trim, bright faced boy of twelve OF
thirteen came forward and delivered
an eloquent statement of the Indiar
question. His utterance was clear arG
concise and without the least trace oil
Embarrassment. Mr. Dorkins had liked
/ his appearance from the first, but
when he heard the distinct, rapid flow
of choice words his enthusiasm be
came so great that it was with diff
Guilty he kept his seat AS soon as the
exercises were over he drew the prin-
cipal aside,
"Who was that splendid little feI.
lowg he asked eagerly. "The one
who gave us such clear account OF
the Indian question: ] don't think {
ever saw him before"
NO.? There was surprise in the
| principals voice That's strange
thought of course you knew him. He's
from the mill district-one of your
own people / had an idea that you
were paying their tuition"
"Their?'
Yes; his sister comes with him:
that little girl who took the prize for
singing She has one of the best un-
trained voices ever heard. | am
very proud of them both. But it is
curious you didn't know where they
lived
Mr.. Dorkins looked troubled. 81
haven't been in the mills much late
~" he said, and the principal noticed
that his voice trembled little. Some
how have felt that the young people
didn't like me. They have habit of
throwing snowballs and things, and
and He hesitated a moment. then
broke into short, nervous laugh-"of
calling me New Jerusalem For the
past year or so ! have left things
largely to the management of the su-
perintendent. IL thought it would be
better for me to stay away. But you
haven't told me the children's names
yet" he added more briskly. They
must be looked up. hope their par
ents will be willing to have them con-
tinue at school. Most of my factory
people don't seem to have much re-
spect for education"
Eyes, it would be pity for them to
leave just now, when they are doing
SO well,'' agreed the principal "Still l
think they are safe for year at least.
Each of them has won years tuition,
and it is hardly likely their parents
will take them away until they have
reaped the benefits of the prizes. But
you asked me who they WERE Their
names are Charlton and Charlotte
Burless-a very pretty combination,
think. They were brought here on the
first day of the term by a rough. I'M
calmly fellow, WHO said his name was
Shoger-a twister in the mill, he said |
he was"
AS Mr.. Dorkins walked down the
path he rubbed his hands together |
softly and INDUCED in low chuckle
from time to time.
"Well." he soliloquized gayly, who'd |
have thought it? A pair of mill chill
dren leading the school! 1t will be a
rare joke on DR.. Green and the others.
They'll have to admit that figs do |
grow on thistles sometimes. Well, |
we'll Hello! What do you want |
here?" sharply.
He had reached the gate which open
ed into the school grounds, and there, |
seated nonchalantly upon one of the |
stone posts, was a rough, shock head |
ed boy who might have been any
where between sixteen and eighteen |
years of age. Evidently he had but |
just come from the mill, for his feet |
were bare and there were bits Of cot
ton still clinging to his coarse clothing. !
1t was not often that Mr.. Dorkins |
frowned, but now his face grew hard |
and stern. This rough, disreputable |
figure was not unknown to him. Only |
a few weeks before he had seen him |
in the mill yard thrashing a boy who
was much larger than himself.
At first he had not interfered. The |
big boy was able to take care Of him
self, he thought But when he saw
that he was really being hurt and that
the smaller boy did not seem to have
an idea Of desisting he had caused |
them to be separated. A minute after
ward, as he was walking toward his |
Office. he had glanced over his shoulder
just in time to see the smaller boy |
clinch his fists and savagely renew the
attack
On another occasion his hat had been |
knocked off by a SNOWFALL, and, look |
ing around quickly, he had seen this |
same boy lodging behind a building.
No wonder he had been unsuccessful |
In remodeling such material.
What do you want hereY' he re-
peated as the boy looked up from a
programme he was intently trying to
decipher.
Hello, Jeru-er-oh, beg pardon, Mr.. |
nnrkinC Glad fa GOO vo,, T,l,r NOV,