The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-12-30

4 AOSRSAS - SEP
And he gave me a picture Of himself
with his name written on it. saw
him write it. And the last thing H.,
said to me was. standing there. with
my hand in his and his other hand on
my shoulder:
"'Joe.' says he, just remember this.
| that a good farmer-a real good farmer
and an honest MANS just as useful
and occupies just as high q place in
this country as president, senator or
congressman. Don't forget that. Be
proud of the fact that you are a farmer
if you are a good one"
Joe returned from Washington on
Friday. Sunday afternoon he was
scrambling around in the closets and
on the shelves of the attic room, haul
ing out old school books and busting
| them off.
Whatever are you up to. Joe?" in
CURED Mrs. Weston.
Just trying to get some books to-
gether. I'm going to start to school
! again tomorrow"
But you studied those books last
year.
"Yes'm, and l don't know 'em either.
I'm going right back and make it up"
won't that put you in classes with
Il lot of boys much younger than you
are?"
81 guess it will, ma, and l know the
fellows will rag me something fierce
about it, and maybe I'll have to fight
about it. but right there I'm going be-
cause | belong there"
II kind of hate for you to do it."
unused his mother. You ought to be
able to go in higher classes than that?'
ooh, l reckon l could keep up, but
I'm trying to be honest with myself.
l don't know my arithmetic, and l
don't know grammar, and / don't know
how to spell. l didn't study like l
ought to have done when l was there
before, so it's for my own good"
What started you on such an idea.
Joe?"
"The president. When he told me
goodby he looked me right in the eyes
and said, Whatever happens. always
be honest and absolutely square with
YOURSELF SO l got to thinking about
it. hadn't been honest with myself
the last year l was in school because
| skinned, and it wasn't honest to the
teacher either. I'm going back and
make it good"
1t took a good deal of courage to GO
to the teacher and be placed in classes
with boys three and four years young
err than himself, but Joe took his med
icine like a man. OF course he was
guyed, but he took it good humoredly,
"That's all right. Go ahead, you
fellows, and have all the fun out of it
you can. I'm paying for not studying.
If you'd tell the truth about it a lot
of you would be right in this class
with me. Go ahead. I've got it com.
ing to me, and it don't make me mad"
He erinned amiably at their chaff.
ing, and when the boys found he
would not lose his temper over it they
let him alone.
The second week after he started to
school the county superintendent Of
education came over to start the Boys
Corn club again and to get ready for
the approaching season. Somehow
there seemed to be an utter lack Of en-
thusiasm among the boys. They did
not applaud his ]utterances, and only
a few of them went forward and sign.
ed the roll.
"What on earth is the matter with
them?' whispered the superintendent
to the teacher, CONSERVATION written
all over his countenance.
Goodness knows, but it is some
thing; that is certain" she replied in
an undertone.
Joe Weston instinctively felt that he
was in some way concerned in the re
fusal Of the boys to join. He caught
several of them looking at him out of
the corners of their eyes and shifting
their glances when he looked in their
direction.
Then at recess he overheard a group
of the boys talking. They. did not
know he was near. Reddy Haywood
was holding forth. and the rest of
them nodded ap%provingly.
Amt no use our goin' in that Corn
club-Joe Weston's goin' in. He's al
ready won the state championship and
knows how. What chance we got?
No mOre'n a rabbit in a burning sedge
field. l just amt goin' in. that's
what!'
Me. too! Me, toow echoed several
others.
The whole situation was clear now.
Joe Weston ven to the principal and
the county superintendent.
"I've found out what's the matter
with EN-" he said. "When we take
in. if you'll let me. I think. maybe. ]
can fix things"
Accordingly. after the hell rang and
the school was seated. Joe rose in his
seat.
"Mr. Superintendent, l want to say
u few words. If you please" he said,
in a self possessed manner. The super
intendent nodded affirmatively and
looked at the principal.
THE school will pay attention to Joe
Weston" said thn taacher ranninu FOR