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

sang. And then he ran away from
school that afternoon. and sang Cap.
tain Kidd, from A 70 lizard, In the
full hearing OF the Industrial Hive"
70 the very evident amusement OF
the workers. and tho discontinue OF
the ruler OF "the swarm.
The teacher called on the good min
lister that evening, and after a long
talk On the back porch, left Iate IN
the dusk, uiping his eyes with one
hand, and shaking the other very
warmly with the preacher. And Tod
slipped noiseIessiy along the roof
above them, and slipped aown the
ether side and watched the teachers
departure with puzzled face.
Tod was at school next morning
long before the call OF Books" In
fact. 10 early. that he ayaiIed himself
oR bis isolated situation to chalk the
handle OF the teachers pointer. to
bore q glmiet hole In the water buck.
et, to Slip a chip Under one corner
Of the clock In order to tilt IL out Of
balance and time, and IN many mere
Ingenious wars to contribute 10 the
coming troubles or the day. The most
audacieua act. however, was to climb
above the teachers desk and paste
q paper scrap over a letter To- In the
motto. "Tle Good" that had ofrared
him its vain advice for years. As one
by one theae depredations met the
toacher'a notice through the day, the
culprit braced himself for come 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
a hollow, hungry laugh that had no
nirth ia it--bnt as suddenly subsidized
flu q close investigation of problem
In mental arithmetic, wfsn the teach.
er backed slowly toward bis desk
and stood covertly awaiting further
Developments. But Tod was left again
to his own inclinRtioRs, aster having.
With brnzSn dir OF innocence. So
licited and gained the masters assist
ance In the solution OF very m0tty
problem. which II Ii needless TO say
he kneN no more OF than before.
Throughout the remainder or the day
Tod was thoughtful. and was evident
iy evolving In his mind o problem
far more serious than could be found
in books. or bis own accord, that
evening at the close Of school, no
stayed IN for some mysterious reason
that even his deakrnate could not com,
prehand, When, an hour later, this
latter worthy from the old barn OPP
poslte, watched Tod and the teacher
hand In hand come slowly down the
walk, he whispered 10 himself with
hated breath: what's the dnrn fool
I'D to. anyhow"
From that time Tod grew 10 be
deeper mystery than he could fathom,
inasmuch as some strange spirit OF In
duatry fell upon him. and he became
q student.
Though perverse fate had seem.
ingly decreed that Tod should remain
q failure In al branches wherein most
achouiboys readily succeed. he rapidly
advanced In reading. and In the de.
ciamatory art he soon acquired fame
that placed him high above the reach
Of competitors.
Tod never cried when he got up 10
speak" Tod never hianched, looked
Silly, and hung Down his head. Tod
never mumhled In an undertone, wah
never at loss to use his hands, nor
ever had his piece" 30 poorly mem
orized that he must hesitate with
awkward repetitions. 10 sic down al
last in wordlesa misery among the
and derisiye piaudits OF the
school. Tod. In a word, knew no such
word a. 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
sCatLIine'H Defiance Let q pupil DO
In training for tina old.timo exercises
Of Friday afternoon. and be was told
10 speak ont clear and fall--not hang
hls head-not let bis arms hang down
lika empty sieeyea--hnt TO stand up
like 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 ont
like a mani" v
When Tod failed TO make his ap.
pearance with his uaual 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
and the minister, Tod's
father. who occupied Tod's desk alone
when Books was called. The teach.
or. with his pallid. care.worn face. tip.
toed up and down the aisles. bending
occasionally 90 ask a whispered cues.
ton, 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 colIoQuy with the minister. his
face frightened, as he learned that
Tod was praeticing his oration in the
wood house haif an hour before the
ringing OF the BEN"
"A boy was sent to bring him, but
returned alone. To say that ne had rot