The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-12-02
Jimmie S
School Marks
By F. A. Mitchell

All Olu WOMAN entered Dank anu
asked to be advised how to send money
to her son in another city. The presi-
dent was the only one of the officers
present, and the woman was referred
to him. She was a garrulous old lady
and. like most women when started
talking about their sous, poured q
steady stream in the presidents ears
of her sons superiority over other wo-
mems sons, mingled with some hard
luck he had had.
Jimmie" she said, was always an
affectionate child, truthful, thoughtful
and never gave me a bit of trouble
He was so smart when he was at
school that he never needed to study
much at home. and his marks We're
always c and D, which are the high
est. He never got A but once. and he
said that was a mistake. One day he
came home and said he wasn't going
to school any more; he didn't approve
of the system of education. He
thought the boys were treated like
sausage meat-all put into a hopper
and ground out together. He said he
had found that lie could do one thing
we'll and it was very easy for him. l
asked him what it was. and he said it
had nothing to do with school work
and didn't need any education at all.
He would show me instead of telling
me; then would understand him. He
lifted the clock from the mantle, took
it all to pieces and put it together
again.
"'For lands sake. Jimmie l said.
are you going to he satisfied to be
clock tinker
"'Oh. mother he said, giving me a
hug, you don't understand what I'm
driving at
THE next day he bid me goodby and
said, You won't see me again till I've
made some success in the world
"'YOu Won't make much of a sue
cess said, without an education. l
was in hopes you would have some am
bition and so to college. could have
paid part, and you could have earned
the rest teaching school or something
81 haven't time to go to college, he
said. I've got a big work before me.
I'm going to make something that has
never been successfully thus far con-
structed.'
He went away, and I've not seen
him since. Pm sure he will succeed.
but wish he would tell me how he is
getting on. You see. lie has had lot
to contend with. First he was taken
sick and didn't earn cent for months.
besides paying something for. being in
hospital. Then he
Madam" interrupted the banker,
Pm too busy to listen to all this.
From your description of your son
judge that he is ne'er-do-well."
The old lady looked at the banker
wonderingly. Jimmie ne'er -do-well.
Why, he's the smartest boy you ever
saw. How do you suppose he ever got
those high marks at school unless
The banker cut her short. asking her
how much money she wanted to send
her son, but when she said that she
was going to let him have $1,000, for
which he was to send her u thousand
shares of stock in a manufacturing
concern he was organizing, the presi-
dent implOred her not to rob herself by
putting her money In some wild scheme
that would surely explode and leave
her in the lurch.
wild scheme!' she exclaimed. "Do
you suppose! my boy would let his
mother put her money in a wild
scheme? why, he wouldn't
Enough, madam. Let me have your
$1,000 and Il give you . draft for it
that win be good as money for your
son. But rems ~per that l warned you.-