The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-10-05
Nathan
Thorpe's
Examination
BY F. f. 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 a teacher.
His father thought differently, and
tried to dissuade h m from the under
taking. You don't know enough to
teach school my son." Mr.. Thorpe
declared, bluntly.
Il don't believe it takes a great
deal of knowle lgc to teach the Swamp
Hollow school," sa d 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 one Mr. Nil
lett, who was the agent of the Swamp
Hollow school district
mo, l haven't hired any master
for the winter school yet" Mr. Mil
lett admitted. when Nathan had
stated the purpose CT his GRAND.
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 whan
inspecting live stock. q
Nathan had mo1esty owned to the
correctness OF this conjecture. Il
d'know as that need to bar you ont
The deestrict voted not to pay over
ten dollars a month. and board the
master round. and as ] told EN- at
the meeting, you can't expect much
at that figure. / dknov but ia as
soon risk it with young chap just
beginning as l 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 No
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.
"Jen 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
ne 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 Jcf
will give YOU a certificate. I don't
mind telling you that you're the fourth
chap that's been a ter tn school. and
said to EN- all that I'd hire EN- II
they could GET a certificate. and I
haven't seen nary one of 'em since
But maybe youll have better luck
seeing as you've been ~ Walnut Ur
Academy You can go right ND ana
see Jeff this afternoon. and if YOU get
your certificate, Iu'hra YOU straight
on. You might es 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 ne should
look upon his honest face again.
After q walk of a mile on SO. IA.
than had no difficulty in finding the
white house. with the tam tree fin tho
front yard that had been described
TO him. or I'm finding the supervisor
Of schools who was i'm the barn.
with his father. engaged fin huskinq
corn
Mr.. Daggett was an understood
man. with stopping shoulders and
very short chm AZ nrst glance he