The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-10-08

for his hopes Of q day with his
books! The sky was blue and clear.
the ground hard with black frost!
THE lads who start out for Dinck-
ly Mills will wish they'd waited, and
had their match" said uncle over
the steaming porridge. "As pretty a
day for ice hockey as any one could
wish"
Roberts heart bounded He had ex-
pected sharp orders to be off in time
for the match. His uncle's mistake
gave him the chance he SO bitterly
needed. He could stay at home, and
puzzle out those triangles and rec
tangles which perplexed his dreamy
mind.
"They like walking" he said, con-
graduating himself that he was not
uttering an untruth. "It's nice to
have sunshine for that"
He rose, nervously anxious to es-
cape further conversation, and made
his way to the attic. What his stern
old uncle might say-or do-when
he found out that the hockey match
had really taken place. he hardly
cared. What the boys would say,
when they had to put on a weaker
substitute for himself, he hardly
cared. This days grind" at geom-
etry meant too much to him. It
meant perhaps freedom life
among books, escape from the gro
Gerry business-it meant happiness.
That his departure would leave lone
ly an old man who had, after all,
brought him up; that he might be
showing little gratitude for many
benefits, did not once enter his mind.
The match was set for two in the
afternoon. Robert worked steadily
till nearly noon, and then came to
what John would have called a
stumper,-a problem that baffled ev-
cry effort to understand it! And
the principal had already reviewed
it, he could hope for no more help!
Suddenly he remembered an old
book of explanations which had help
ed him in the earlier stages OF his
geometrical studies. It might have
some notes upon this problem. With
feverish haste he began to turn out
box of out-grown textbooks, search
ing, searching!
He never did find the one he want
ed But, seeing cover somewhat
resembling that of the volume in
question, he opened it. 1t was just
an old reader, OF the grammar school
stage Of his education, and 1t open
ed at a picture of little George Wash
ington, standing before his father; an
axe lay ON the ground between them.
Robert remembered. too, as he look
ed, the words of the teacher, spoken
at the reading lesson, so long ago.
eyes," he seemed again to hear,
yves. we've lot to be thankful for.
The Father of his Country was a
great man; there never was great
er. And remember, boys, he was .
Truth-teller!"
The book fell back into the box.
Robert stared out at the bright blue
sky.
'Bob," called out his uncle's voice
from the foot of the stairs. "if you're
sure the boys won't have that match.
I'll take the cars to Philadelphia,
and have a chat with your aunt
Mary But I'd rather see that match;
you think they won't have it, eh?"
Robert hesitated. One word from
him. and he might be left in peace.
with the intense quiet of the empty
house and might grapple VIGOROUSLY
with his geometry.
"He was a truth-teller!" He seem.
ed again to hear the words.
Bob" called out the impatient
voice.
The boy went to the stairs.
They'll have the match, uncle.' he
said. IF the ice is firm"
He lost the scholarship. But
what did he win?-Christian Regis
ter.