The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-09-28
Nathan
Thorpe's
Examination
By +. T.. ROBBINS.


When he applied for the Swamp
Hollow school Nathan Thorpe was
barely seventeen years Cd, but he
was large and strong for his age
and having attended the academy for
nearly two terms, he considered him
self we'll qualified to begin his career
as teacher
His father thought differently, and
tried to dissuade m from the under
taking. You don't know enough to
teach school my son." Mr.. Thorpe
declared, bluntly.
Il don't believe it taxes a great
deal of knowledge to teach the Swamp
Hollow school," sal Nathan.
Maybe not, Nathan. maybe not"
replied his father, significantly. But
still it must take some
But Nathan was not to be discour-
aged, and one pleasant Saturday late
in the autumn, he walked four m les
across the fields and through the
woods over into the town Of Farm.
ingdale to the house Of enc Mr.. MI
lett, who was the agent of the Swamp
Hollow school district
''No, l haven't hired any master
for the winter school yet" Mr. Nil
lett admitted, when Nathan had
stated the purpose Of his crrdnd.
But you're pretty young, amt ye?
/ shouldn't set we over twenty at the
outside" he suggested squirting his
eye in his accustomed manner when
inspecting live stock
'Howsomever," he went on. after
Nathan had mo1estly owned to the
correctness of this conjecture. Il
d'know as that need TO bar you out.
The deestrict voted not to pay over
ten dollars month. and board the
master round, and as ! told EN- at
the meeting, you can't expect much
at that figure. ] d'know but I'd as
soon risk it with a young chap just
beginning as ] would with an old fell
Ter that was willing to work for that
price.
Il know you come OF a good stock
and judging By your looks. you ought
to be able to handle the school 40
very big boys to go, anyway. But
there Is one thing may bother YOU
you've got to have your certificate.
you know. before YOU can begin the
school Maybe you don't know JET
Daggett, our school supervisor? This
is his first year. and he kind of feels
his importance, / guess.
'Jef isn't much ac- cunt i'm most
responsibilities long OF his father.
old Cap'n Daggett. and is just as
much under the old mans thumb as
he was before ne was enc and TWEEN.
ty. But he's got learning. and they
do say that you have TO pass an aw.
ful tough examination before Jcd
will give YOU a certificate. ! don't
mind telling you that you're the fourth
chap that's been after tn school and
I said to EN- all that I'd hire EN- n
they could get a certificate. ana 7
haven't seen nary one of 'em since.
But maybe youll have better luck.
seeing as you've been % Walnut Hm
Academy You can go right MP and
see Jen this afternoon. and if YOU get
your certificate, Ill hire you straight
on. You might as we'll come back
this way. anyhow. and let me know
how YOU come OUT
Nathan murmured his thanks for
this conditional engagement. but as
he shook the farmers hand he felt
by no means sure that he should
look upon his honest face again
After a walk of q mile or so. Na.
than had no difficulty in finding the
white house. with the TAN tree i'm tho
front yard that had been described
TO him or In finding the supervisor
Of schools who was in the barn.
with his father. engaged i'm husking
corn.
Mr.. Daggett was an understood
man. with STOPPING shoulders and a
very short chm At FIRST glance he