The Greenville morning herald. [volume] (Greenville, Tex.) 1890-1956, 1910-11-19
BY GWENDoLlN ADAMS

\ big awkward boy was uezckiah
Griggs, pupil iu the school of Ebcn
Watson The history cmss was up
for recitation. but ne2ckiah though
he had plenty Of brains had not ap.
piled them To studying the lesson
He was growing decidedly uncom.
Portable lie knew well what an un.
prepared lesson meant, for IN those
days no weak leuieucy was shown to
delinqucnts. 70 be- sure, this was tho
first recitation ilezcRah had missed
during the term, but was not that an
aggrayation of the otfcusey Since he
had managed so long without falling.
why fail at allt
He2ekiaH was awarr that as soon az
the class was dismissed he would re.
ceive not altogether unmerited Hog.
ging He was ucrspirmg at every pore.
The iciclcs with NG!ch he had meant
TO refresh the thirsty occupants OF
the back seats melted In The intense
heat and Il tiny stream or ice water
trickled slowly from the extremity of
either pocket aud formed miniature
pool in the bottom OF each cowhide
boot.
The young offender was growing
desperate. aud when the master. hav,
Ing dismissed the other members of
the history class. turned to him with
the command, Take off your coat,
sir!' the boy stepped forward and
obeyed with a feeling OF actual relief.
Your conduct has been most repre-.
hensible, sir!' said the muster push.
ing up his coat sleeve aud testing the
strength of his ruler, while thirty
pairs of eyes gnzcd spclDuund and
awful silence reigued
Most reprehensible, sir he repeat
ed, and the ruler fell with "A thwacL
which sent the blood tinging through
every vein In the culprit's body.
Hczeldah never knew exactly what
happened after that lie remembered
that an insane desire for vengeance
oyercame him. He waited to thrash
the master, TO thrash the whole school.
Before the weapon could descend a
second time he sprang at his assail-
ant with clinched fists aud blazing
eyes.
There was moment of GREATNESS
silence while the angry master col
| Jared his refractory pupil and shook
him as terrier shakes a rat. Then
the fiat sided ruler was once more
brought into active play upon the back
of Hezekiah Griggs.
Now, SIR said the master when az
length, becoming weary of such sever,
exertion, he released his hold ON He2-
ekiah's coal collar, take your seat and
learn your historyr
Needless of the command. the boy
seized his jacket and. snatching ms
cap from its peg on the wall made
rush for the door, He gained II with
out opposition, and before the aston
ished master had time to recover from
his surprise he was racing along the
highway toward home.
Into the big, roOmy kitchen. where
Grandfather Griggs himself sat in
great armchair coming the Weekly
News. with Grandmother Griggs close
by pairing apples, he dashed like
luuu WY tuSlit'
why, Hezeklah," exclaimed the
good old woman, looking somewhat
startled "a body d think you'd been
fired from a cannon by the way you
come flying in! What's happenedY
Hezeliah sat down and began to ex-
plain.
you don't mean to say you've run
a - . .I
when the boy had reached the most
interesting part OF his narrative "Oh,
Hezekiahr'
The exclamation was full OF sorrow
full surprise, aud Hezeklah's eyes fell.
''I'm not going back to school any
more" he said doggedly.
He did not dare look up, for he knew
the old man had set his heart on his
becoming an educated man. and lie
expected him to be very angry But
grandfather took Off his glasses, wiped
them and said:
well, Hezekiah, we won't talk about
It tonight You'd best so to the barn
and thrash peas TIL supper time. and
Wen settle this matter about school
tomorrow
Hezekiah obeyed. He went about TIL
dark looking triumphant.
Staying away from school was next
thing to beating the master, He SLEPT
well and arose firm in his determiDa.
tion not 10 return TO school. When his
grandfather called him aside after
breakfast and tried to convince him
that he was wrong Hezekiah was still
resolute.
well, Hezekah," the old man said
at last. "since your minds made up
there's no use Of urging you further.
I'd have been glad enough II you had
gone, and II you'd have stuck to Il
wouldn't have minded year or two.
at college TO finish OF with. As 1t is,
you'll have TO earn your living some
other way, ana ! suppose the sooner
you set about II the better"
"Tm willing 10 work, grandfather"
Hezeklah snid, IN some surprise.
Eyes. ! know, aud shouldn't won
der n Silas Jones would give you
Job for month or two. He was say
ing he'd like to get boy 10 do chores,
and. although you amt much used to
work. II you get round spry you might
suit him"
"GrandfatlIer"-