The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-09-28

VINO was tar ana erect, with briStling
/ gray hair and deep-set eyes that look
ed out almost nercely from under
I shaggy brOws.
LDt Wen TIE II .'e man hal learn
( ell the reason Tor Nathan call. his
| eyes frightened, and he straightened
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. 'Tf 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 dent need to go into the
house. You can just as we'll stay
right where YOU are and keep on with
your huskirg 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 % do
/ his figurin' on. I'm tired Ct being
left to work alone while you are in
the house taking your time examin-
| i'm"
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. It seemed to him that
an examination conducted in a barn
and without books or paper could
not be very formidable matter.
| But in tbs 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 Gieenleafs National Arith-
metic, but, rs he often boasted, 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 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 disconcerting, al.
/ though perhaps not more so than the
/ shifts and grunts from old Captain
Daggett as the Xamnat!on wore on.
At last the ordeal was over, and
the superv sor announced his decis-
ion
I'm AFRAID I can't conscientiously
give you a Certificate he said. we
want to elevate the standard of our
schools, and / maintain that the only
way to do 1t is to employ more highly
educated teachers. But you mustn't
be discouraged When | was your
age 7 couldn't do any better than you
have, but | kept studying. and now
I you see Where I ami"
Nathan rose from his milking-stool.
slad to be released on any terms.
spiraticn stood in drops on his fore
head.
81 wonder if you would give me a
drink OF water before ! go?" lie asked.
"Sartin! S,rtin." cried the old can
tain, iumpinE up and leading the way
ont of the barn to the well in front
of the house.
That's fine water" oil served Ma.
than, gratefully, after quenching his
thirst
The captains face frightened. Its
the rcst water in town by all odds"
ia ~eserted. vigorously. 81 dug that
wcll 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 | can tell you.
It's Just twentyone feet deep
But here is something that I don't
know, nor anybody else" he contin
ued, pointing to the EN- under which
they were standing. and 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-hve foot two.
We've 10th grown since that day !
know how much ! have; I'm just six
feet when I stand mp straight But
how mu 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 mp one day. He had a clothes
line tied to his waist and pole in
his hand. and he was going to climb
as far as ne could and measure with
the pole the rest of the way. But he
met with a mishap and came near
hree king his neck and ne never dared
to ry again. ] guess J shall die with
out ever knowing fcw tan that tree
is he concluded mournfully
81 think that ] could measure It
for you. Captain Daggctt" said Ma.
than with q twinkle in his eye.
you could" said the captain
doubtully well. YOU do look like
witty little chap If You want
20 try I'll get you the clothes]iuc
and the pole. and I'M give you some.
thing handsome If You do &C."
"All 7 want s that twof1ot rule
said Nathan. glancing az The pocket
in the Old mans overa'ls Oh yes
and another shiuglo Ir get that
from the barn.
'Now. captain ne began. brlskly
just take your hat Off please, and
stand stockstill out here in the sun.
shine"
Tbfs ordcr fIc rfd s,cutIrr1ep S.tov