The Elbert County tribune., 1909-12-09

| Farmers getting rattled.' whis-
| pered the boy on the back seat
| Richard made another mental note
and plunged on.
Time" 1t was the voice OF the as
sistant
| Richard dropped his pen and gath
cred up his scattered notes. running
his eyes hastily over them. They
were enough to funk him. He could
see that at a glance. He handed them
in with sullen face.
I'm half an hour the oral examina-
tion will be held in this ROOM" an
nounced the assistant in a stereotyped
voice.
The boys plunged into the open.
Richard sought out the boy of the
back seat ard salved his wounded
feelings by hand-to-hand measures.
you've got muscle" he said envi-
ously.
stopped for a moment to watch the
contest. He'll have a try for the
| team" said one.
They strolled on.
TITS the shoulders that count"
''Partly-and muscle"
"And grit. Did you see his face?
Looked as If he was chewing iron"
Richard and the boy shook hands
and went back to the classroom The
professor was on the platform. He
had mild brown hair and large nose,
surmounted by spectacles. He
glared through them at the hapless
, youth. He had sensitive ear for
Greek accents and the entrance exam
nations wore on it. The assistant had
been showing him the written work
1t was very poor. His face was pre-
pared for the worst. The oral exam
ination would consist of reading in
the original Greek.
The boys subsdea beneath his glare
and there was ominous silence.
Next growled the professor He
surveyed Richard-his heavy shoul-
ders and big hands-and groaned in
wardly He resigned himself to his
fate.
Richard struggled to his feet. His
face was red and his throat dry The
words came with rasping hoarseness.
Then the swing of the rhythm caught
him. His voice opened and deepened
and he was off on the lines. The ST.
lence of the woods was about him,
and the sound of the cross-cut saw
rose upon it. He swayed to its tune,
the words rolling out-rising and fall
ing to kind of heavy chant The
professor on the platform started a
little He pushed his spectacles high
on his forehead and rubbed his great
nose. The wrinkles smoothed from
his brow and the peace of days settled
upon his face. The boy on the back
seat nudged his neighbor. Farmers
getting there" he whispered.
'H-s-hi" growled the professor.
Richard came to a stop, looking up
blinkingly. He had forgotten the class
and the professor. He and Tom had
been swaying back and forth to the
sound OF the cross-cut saw, chanting
the deep, monotonous sounds.
| The professor beamed on him. A
/ faint, half-scared cheer went up from
| the class. The spectacles descended
and glared at them. Time to cheer
when you are out of the woods" he
said. Next"
The next youth rose and blundered
on. The hour wore away and the class
escaped. but bruised and sore.
The professor detained Richard by
gesture. Where did you ft?" he
asked brusquely.
AT home"
"Where?"
In Ashton
Massachusetts? p
Yes"
There's no school there"
mo. sir; l studied by myself and
with an old man."
"Umph!" The spectacles regarded
him.
And did he read Greek the way
you do?'
The boys face reddened. Not ex-
actly. We did it that way. saving
logs-I got into the swing of it and
forgot
The professor leaned forward, tap
ping the Odyssey with his spectacles.
You recited Greek in the woods?"
Yes, sir
The professors face grew light. He
chuckled. And we think we can
teach them indoors!"
rs it all right, sir?"
4. "All right?" growled the professor.
ITS the way they did it in Greece
5000 years ago. Go home and thank
your lucky stars you had something
besides boards over your head while
you learned it,
CTo BE CONTINUED)
Ngss.;ss< s. Il