The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-09-10

who was tall and erect, with bristling
gray hair and deep-set eyes. that look
ed out almost fiercely from under
shaggy broms.
But when the little man had learn
ed the reason for Nathan's call, his
eyes frightened, and ne Strengthened
up into an attitude of dignity befitting
his Office.
Very WE'LL" he said, rising from
the milking-stool on which he had
been sitting, IF you will step into
the house will proceed to examine
| you"
But here the old captain interposed,
! in tone of command that fairly
startled the visitor.
.You don't need to go into the
house. You can just as well stay
right where you are and keep on with
your husking while you're putting the
young Teller through his PAGES. Get
him another stool, and let him sit
down, and then fire away with your
questions. He can take some shingles
out of that bunch by the door to do
his f1gurin' on. I'm tired of being
left to work alone while you are in
the house taking your time examin-
| in'!n
The supervisor looked a little an-
! noyed, but he finally acquiesced in
this program. Nathan, on his part,
was rather pleased with this turn of
| the affair. 1t seemed to him that
an examination conducted in barn
and without books or paper could
not be a very formidable matter.
But in this he was mistaken. Super
visor Daggett needed no book. He
knew his Weld and Quackenbos's
Grammar from cover to cover, fine
print and all; sand not only was he
familiar with all the knotty prob
lens in Green1eaf's National Arith-
metic, but, as he often boosted, he
could make up sums right out Of his
head.
For nearly two hours the inquisi-
ton lasted, and through it all poor
Nathan was conscious that he was
faring badly. He knew that there
were plenty Of questions that he
could answer, but somehow these
seemed to be just the ones that did
not get asked. Then the supervisors
knowing smile at the numerous mis-
takes was very disconcerting, al.
though perhaps not more so than the
shifts and grunts from old Captain
Daggett as the examination wore on.
At last the ordeal was over, and
the supervisor announced his decis-
ion.
I'm afraid I can't conscientiously
give you certificate" he said. eve
want to elevate the standard of our
schools, and I maintain that the only
way to do it is to employ more highly
educated teachers. But you mustn't
be discouraged. When was your
age I couldn't do any better than you
have, but | kept studying, and now
you see where I ami"
Nathan rose from his milking-stool.
glad to be released on any terms.
His legs were cramped, and the per-
SEPARATION stood in drops on his fore.
head.
II wonder if you would give me a
drink of water before / go?" he asked.
"Eartin! Sartini" cried the old cap
tain, jumping up and leading the way
out of the barn to the well in front
of the house.
That's fine water observed Ma
than, gratefully, after quenching his
thirst
The captains face frightened. cts
the best water in town by all odds!"
he asserted, vigorously. II dug that
well myself just fffty-two years ago
this fall and it's never run dry from
! that day to this. How deep do you
suppose it is? Well, / can tell you.
It's just twenty-one feet deep.
"But here is something that don't
know, nor Anybody else" he contin.
ued, pointing to the elm under which
they were standing. land that is the
height of this tree.
But I'd give a good deal to know
set out that tree sixty-two years
ago, when was a youngster. It was
just my height then-fve foot two.
We've both grown since that day.
know how much have; I'm just six
feet when stand up straight But
how much has the tree grown? That's
the question that wish somebody
could answer I'm too old to climb
the tree myself. / did get JEFF start
ed up one day. He had clothes
line tied to his waist and pole in
his hand, and he was going to climb
&C far &c he could and measl1ra with
the pole the rest of the way But he
met with a mishap and came near
breaking his neck, and he never dared
to try again. ! guess shall die with
out ever knowing how tall that tree
is" he concluded, mournfully.
81 think that / could measure it
for you. Captain Daggett," said Ma
than, with a twinkle in his eye.
"You could?" said the captain,