The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-10-05

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gray hair and deep-set eyes, that look
ed out almost lercely from under
Shaggy brows.
LIT w-cl TIE nee man h. learn
ed the reason GOr Nat an call. his
eyes frightened. ana he Strengthened
up into an attitude of dignity befitting
his office.
Very we'll he said, rising from
the mlkng-stool on which he had
been sitting. "Tf you will step into
tho house | will proceed to examine
YOU"
But here the old captain interposcd,
in a tone of command that fairly
startled the visitor.
you dent need 20 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 20 do
his figurin on. I'm tired Ct being
left to work alone while you are in
the house taking your time examin.
in"
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 a barn
and without books or paper could
not be a very formidable matter.
But i'm It's 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; and not only was he
familiar with all the knotty prob
lens in Greenleafs National Arith-
metic, but, as ne often boosted, he
could make up sums right out of his
head.
For nearly two hours the inquisl.
ton lasted, ana through it all poor
Nathan was conscious that he was
faring lady. He know that there
were plenty of questions that he
could answer, but somehow these
seemed to be Just the Cnes that did
not get asked Then the supervisors
knowing smile at the numerous mis-
takes was very dsconcerting, al.
though perhaps not more so than the
shifts and grants from old Captain
Dasgett as the examination wore on.
At last the ordeal wEs over. and
the superv. sor announced his decis-
ion.
I'm afraid I can't conscientiously
give you certificate" he said I'VE
want to elevate the standard of our
schools, and 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 couldn't do any better than you
have, but | kept studying, and now
You see where | ami
Nathan rose from his milkiug-stool,
glad to be released on any terms.
His legs were crampel, and the per-
sp'ration stood in drops on his fore.
head
81 wcnder if YOU would give me a
driak Of water before I go?" lie asked.
"Sartin! S2rtin!" cried tho old can.
tain, jumping up and leading the way
out of the barn to the well in front
OF the house.
That's fine water" oil served Ma.
than, gtaterully after quenching his
thirst
The captains face frightened. ITS
the rest water in town by all odds!"
h' ~Tscrted, VIGOROUSLY. Il dug that
vcll myself just ffty-two years ago
this fall and It's never run dry from
that day to this. How deep do you
suppose it is? Well, I can tell you.
It's jus. twenty-cne feet deep.
But here is something that l don't
know. nor anybcdy else" he contin
ued, pointing 10 the EN- under which
they were st}rding, "and that is the
height of this tree.
"But Id give n good deal to know
! set out that tree siXty-two years
ago. when ! was a youngster. 1t was
just my height then-fve foot two.
We've both grown since that day
knew how much ! have; I'm just six
feet when I stand up straight But
how mu-h has the tree grown? That's
the question that I W sh somebody
could answer. I'm too old to climb
the tree myself / did ct JEFF start
ed mp one day lie had a clothes
line tied to his waist ana a pole in
his hand. and he was going to climb
as far as he could and measure with
the pole the rest of The way But he
met with a mishap and came near
breaking his NECK. and nc never dared
90 ,ry again. euess ! shall die with
out ever knowing low tlll that tree
isl he concluded. mournfully.
~ think that ] could measure II
for you. Captain Daggett" said Ma.
than, with q twinkle i'm his eye.
you could?' said the captain,
doubtfully We'll. you do look like
witty little chap. IF you want
to try. TN get YOU the clotheslinc
and the pole ard rll give you some.
thing handsome if you do it"
"All I want is that two-f1ot rule"
said Nathan glancing at The pocket
in the old mans overalls ooh. yes
end another shinelo IU get that
from the barn"
Now captain he began brisNy.
Just take your hat of. please. and
stand stocksHll ont here fin the sum
shine"
This order the old gentleman obey.
q d.