The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-12-04

a witty little chap. If you want
to try, I'll set YOU the clothes-l!nf
and the pole, and III give you some
thing handsome if you do it,"
All l want is that two-foot rule,
said Nathan, glancing at the pocket
in the old mans overalls. "Oh, yes
and another single III get that
from the barn
Now, captain he began, briskly
lust take your hat off, please, and
stand stock-still out here in the sun
shine
This order the old gentleman obey
ed without a word, but with look
| of justification on his face that
deepened as Nathan, beginning at the
captains feet, measured off a short
| distance on the ground.
That will do for YOU said Ma
than, as he ran to the base Of the
tree and began to measure again.
| This time his course with the rule
took him across the level front yard
and even into the field beyond the
road.
What on earth is the boy up to-
asked Mr.. Jefferson Daggett, who.
suspecting that something of interest
was going on, had come out OF the
/ barn.
| Il don't know what he is doing,
but maybe he does replied his fath-
er. Hes figuring now he added,
| nodding toward Nathan, who had seat
| ed himself upon the ground, and was
| busily engaged with pencil and shin
gle.
I've got it," exclaimed the boy.
| presently. Here it is, all worked out
in simple proportion. Twenty-Five and
| a half feet, that's the length OF your
shadow, is to two hundred and eighty
five feet, length of the trees shadow.
as six feet, your height is to the height
of the tree Multiply the second and
third terms together and divide by
the first, and you get the answer
seventy-six feet. That is the height
of your tree, captain"
We'll, | snum!" cried the old man,
as he seized the single on which
were Nathan's figures and brought It
to focus under his spectacles. Il
believe you've done it! And here IS
Jeff Daggett, rising forty years Old.
and setting up for learned man, and
drawing pay from the town for being
supervisor of schools, and never once
thought of doing it that way
THAT ERE is a sensibler sum-, ne
roared, turning on his son in wrath.
than you ever gave out in all your
jaw-cracking examinations! And you
wouldn't give the young Teller a GER
tificate! You give him certificate,
or I'll" he paused for an adequate
threat-'Tn tell this round all over
town.
Whether the threat had anything
to do with it or not, it is certain
that the supervisor did reconsider his
decision.
Come to think it all over he
said, II rather guess that, by study
ing up, you can keep ahead OF the
scholars in that district. You're
pretty good in arithmetic, anyway.
and if you get stuck any time, You
can come to me and I'll help you
out"
Thus our young friend was able
to return to Mr.. Millett bearing
document that went to show that
Nathan Thorpe, being a person OF
oIoo aF
disposition suited to the instruction
of youth, and having passed sat
isfactory examination in the studies
recognized by law to be taught IN
the common schools of the State OF
Maine. was authorized to teach the
school in the Swamp Hollow District,
so called.
Mr.. Millett seemed e little sur.
prised, and so did Mr.. Thorpe, Sen
ior, when he learned Of his sons
success. But to neither OF them did
Nathan relate any of the particulars
of his examination.
This was in accordance with the
request of Supervisor Daggett.
1T really amt worth mentioning"
he whispered as he handed Nathan
his certificate, land yet it might
give some folks a handle when
come up, for supervisor another
spring."
Nathan promised not to tell, which
promise he kept for many years. But
after, the lapse of more than gen.
Grafton, it can do no harm if the
story now leaks out.-From Youth
Companion.
Best One-Act Plays.