Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-28

sang ana an OYErnDW Oh tears nH nc
sang. And then hs ran away from
school that afternoon, and sang Cap.
tain Kidd, from A 10 lizard, In the
fun hearing OF the Industrial Hive"
To the very evident amusement OF
''the workers. and the discontinue OF
the ruler os "the swarm"
The teacher called on the good min.
lister that evening. and after q long
talk on tho back porch, left late in
the dusk, wiping bis eyes with one
hand, and shaking tho other very
warmly with the preacher. and Tod
slipped noiaelsesly along ahe roof
above chem, and slipped uown the
other side and watched the teachers
departure with d puzzled face.
Tod was at school next morning
long before the call or Books" In
fact, 30 early. that he avaIIed himself
Of bits isolated situation to chalk the
handle Of the teachers pointer, TO
bore q gimlet hole In the water buck
OF, to clip q chip under one corner
OF the clock In order to tilt IL out OF
balance and time. and In many more
ingenious ways to contribute 10 the
coming troubles OF the day. The most
andacieua act, however, was to climb
above the teachers desk and paste
d paper scrap over a letter 20" In the
motto, "T3e Good" that had ofrered
him it's vain advice for years. As one
by one these depredations met tho
teachers notice through the day, the
culprit braced himself for some dis
astrous issue, but HIS only punishment
was the assured glance the teacher
always gave him, and the settled yet
forbearing look OF pain upon his face.
In sheer daring Tod laughed aloud
q hollow, hungry laugh that had no
Tnirth In it--hut as suddenly subsidized
I'm q close Investigation of d problem
In mental arithmetic. when the teach.
er backed slowly toward his desk
and stood covertiy awaiting further
developments. But Tod was left again
60 his own inclinations. after having,
with hrazen afr OF innocence, so
Iicited aud gained the masters assist
ance In the solution Of very knotty
problem. which II 10 needless to say
no knew no more Of than before.
Throughout the remainder OF the day
Tod was thoughtful, and was evident.
Iy evolving I'm his mind q problem
far moro serious than could be found
In books, OF his own accord, that
evening at the close OF school, he
stayed In for some mysterious reason
that even bis deskmate could not com.
prehend. when, an hour later, this
latter worthy from the old barn OPP
posite. watched Tod and the teacher
hand In hand come slowly down tho
walk. he whispered to himself with
hated breath. whats tho durn fool
up to. anyhow
From that time Tod grew 10 be a
deeper mystery than no could fathom,
inasmuch rs some strange spirit of I'm
dustry fell upon him. and he became
d student.
Though q paryerse fate had seem.
ingiy decreed that Tod should remain
a failure IN all branches wherein most
schoolboys readily succeed, he rapidly
advanced In reading: and in the dc.
ciamatory art he soon acquired a fame
that placed him high above the reach
OF competitors,
Tod never cried when he got mp TO
Speak" Tod never hlanched, looked
silly, and hung down his head. Tod
never mumbled In an undertona. was
never at loss TO use bis hands, nor
ever had his piece 30 poorly mem.
orized that no must hesitate with
awkward repetitions. to sit down at
last In wordlesa misery among the
unfeeling and dertsive plaudits OF the
school. Tod. In word. knew no such
word an fail whom his turn was called
TO entertain his hearers either with
the gallant story OF the youthful Gas
ahianea.n 1.-THE Speech OF Logan" or
''Catillne's Defiance" Let q pupil DO
In training for the old.tiIne exercises
OF Friday afternoon, and he was told
to speak out clear and fuil-~not hang
his head not Tot his arms hang down
like empty sleeves--but 10 stand up
like a king. lock everybody In the
face, as though he were doing some
thing to be proud of---in short. TO
take Tod for his model and speak ont
like o mani"
When Tod failed 20 make his APP.
pearanca with his usual promptness
one Friday afternoon. and the last day
OF the term. there was evidence OF
general disappointment Tod was to
deliver an Grafton written especially
for that occasion by the teacher, The
visitors were all there-~the school
committee. and the minister. Tod's
father. who occupied Tod's desk alone
when Books" was called. The teach
or, with his pailid. care-worn face, tip
toed up and down the aisles. bending
occasionally 10 ask a whispered aues-
tion, and 10 lot the look of anxious
wonder deepen on his face as the re-
sneotfui pupils shock their heads In
silent response, But upon q whis-
pered colloquy with the rninister. his
face frightened, as he learned that
tod was praetioing his GRAFTON in the
wood house half an hour before the
ringing OF the bell"
A boy was sent TO bring him, but
returned alone, TO say that he had not