Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-02-19

fact, so early, that he awaited 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 1t out of
balance and time, and In many mora
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 letter 20" 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 face.
In sheer daring Tod laughed aloud
hollow. hungry laugh that had no
mirth in it-but as suddenly subsidized
In close investigation of 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 master'c assist
ance in the solution of a very knotty
problem, which 1t 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 a problem
far more serious than could be found
in books. OF his own accord, that
evening az 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 fathom,
inasmuch as some strange spirit of in
dustry fell upon him. and he became
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 he de-
clamatory art he soon acquired a fame
that placed him high above the reach
of competitors.
Tod never cried when he got up to
speak" Tod never blanched, looked
silly, and hung down mis- head. Tod
never mumbled in an undertone, was
never at a loss to use his hands, nor
ever had his piece" so poorly mem
orized that he must hesitate with
awkward repetitions, to sit down al
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," 1.-THE Speech Of Logan" OF
"Catiline's Defiance" Let a pupil be
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 Ut
like king, look everybody in the
face, as though he we're doing some
thing to be proud of-in short, tc
take Tod for his model and speak out
like mani"
When Tod failed to make his ap
pearance with his usual promptness
one Friday afternoon, and the last dag
of the term, there was evidence oil
general disappointment Tod was te
deliver an Grafton written especially
for that occasion by the teacher. This
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
er, with his pallid, care-worn face, tip
toed up and down the aisles, bending
occasionally to ask whispered ques
ton, and to let the look of anxious
wonder deepen on his face as the re
spectful pupils shook their heads ir
silent response. But upon a whIs
pered colloquy with the minister, his
face frightened. as he learned thai
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. hui
returned alone, to say that he had moi
been able to find any trace Of him.
oh, he'll be here in time enough,
said the teacher alphabetically to thu
sad-faced minister He's deeply in
terested in his effort for this after
noon, and I'm certain he wouldn't pur
posely disappoint me" The COOS
man in reply shook his head resigned
". with a prayerful fight of the eyes
indicative of long suffering and for
bearance.
The opening services of singing ant
prayer No Tod.
First class in arithmetic called-ex
emined. No Tod.
Second class, ditto; still no Tod
Primary class in ditto, composed O
little twin sisters, aged six, with very
red hair and very fair skin, and very
short dresses and very slim legs. Toe
failed to join his class.
The long-suffering minister was il
at ease. The exercise failed in some
way to appease the hunger of the sou
within. He looked out of the oper
window nervously, and watched {
saucy little sapsucker hopping up am