Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-02-19

other side and watched the teachers
departure with q puzzled face.
Tod was at school next morning
long before the call Of Books IN
fact, so early, that he availed himself
of his isolated situation to chalk the
handle Of the teachers pointer, to
bore a gimlet hole in the water buck
ct, to slip a chip under one corner
of the clock in order to tilt it out or
balance and time, and in many more
ingenious ways to contribute to the
coming troubles of the day. The most
audacious act, however, was to climb
above the teachers desk and paste
a paper scrap over a letter so" in the
motto, "Be Good" that had offered
him its vain advice for years. AS one
by one these depredations met the
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 race.
In sheer daring Tod laughed aloud
a hollow, hungry laugh that had no
mirth in it-but as suddenly subslded
in a close investigation of a problem
in mental arithmetic, when the teach
er backed slowly toward his desk
and stood covertly awaiting further
DEVELOPMENTS. But Tod was left again
to his own inclinations, after having,
with a brazen air of innocence, so
licited and gained the masters assist
ance in the solution of a very knotty
problem, which it is needless to say
he knew no more of than before.
Throughout the remainder Of the day
Tod was thoughtful, and was evident
ly evolving in his mind problem
far more 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 his 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 the
walk, he whispered to himself with
bated breath: whats the durn fool
up to, anyhow"
From that time Tod grew to be a
deeper mystery than he could fatnom'
i inasmuch as some strange spirit of In
dustry fell upon him, and he became
| a student.
Though a perverse fate had seem
ingly decreed that Tod should remain
a failure In all branches wherein most
schoolboys readily succeed, he rapidly
advanced in reading; and in the de-
clamatory art he soon acquired fame
/ that placed him high above the reacn
Of competitors.
Tod never cried when he got up to
Speak" Tod never blanched, looked
silly. and hung down his head. Tod
never mumbled in an undertone, was
never at loss to use his hands, nor
ever had chs piece" so poorly men,
orized that he must hesitate with
awkward repetitions, to sit down at
last in wordless misery among the
unfeeling and derisive plaudits of the
school. Tod, in a word, knew no such
word as fail when his turn was called
to entertain his hearers either with
the gallant story of the youthful Gas
| abianca," "The Speech of Logan" or
| "Catiline's Defiance" Let pupil BIO
in training for the old-time exercises
| of Friday afternoon, and he was told
to speak out clear and full-not hang
his head-not let his arms hang down
| like empty sleeves-but to stand up
like a king, look 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 out
| like a mani"
When Tod failed to make his ap-
pearance 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-tie school
committee, and the minister, Tod's
father, who occupied Tod's desk alone
when Books" was called. The teach
er, with his pallid, care-worn face, tip
toed up and down the aisles, bending
occasionally to ask a whispered ques-
tion,. and to let the look Of anxious
wonder deepen on his face as the re-
spectful pupils shook their heads IN
silent response. But upon whis-
pered colloquy with the minister, his
face frightened, as he learned that
TOD was practicing 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
been able to find any trace of him.
ooh, he'll be here in time enough
said the teacher alphabetically to the
sad-faced minister. Hes deeply in
terested in his effort for this after
noon, and I'm certain he wouldn't pur-
posely disappoint me-" The good
man in reply shook his head resigned
ly, with a prayerful flight of the eyes
indicative of long suffering and for
bearance.
The opening services of singing and
prayer. No Tod.
First class in arithmetic called-ex-
amined. No Tod.
Second class, ditto; still no Tod.
Primary class in ditto, composed OF
little twin sisters, aged six, with very