Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-02-17
Jimmie S
School Marks
By F. A. mitchell

"A>' W w "o' IN" " u lIlollCS
to her son in another city. The presi-
dent was the only n of the officers
present, and the oma was referred
to him. She was Il garrulous old lady
talking about their sons, poured a
steady stream in the presidents ears
of her sons superiority over other wo-
mems sons, mingled with some hard
luck he had had.
Jimmie she said. was always an
affectionate child, truthful, thoughtful
and lever gave me Il bit of trouble,
He was so smart when he was at
school that he never needed to study
much at home, and his marks were
always G and d, which are the high
est. He never got \ but once, and he
said that was a mistake. One day he
came home and said he wasn't going
to school any more; he didn't approve
of the system Of education. He
thought the boys were treated like
sausage meat-all put into q hopper
and ground out together. He said he
ltAu oullu I'D Nv Noulu w Olc LIllIS
we'll and it was very easy for him. l
asked him what it was, and he said it
had nothing to do with school work
and didn't need any education at all.
He would show me instead Of telling
me; then l would understand him. He
it all to pieces and put it together
again.
"'For lands sake. Jimmie l said,
are you going to be satisfied to be a
clock tinker:
"'Oh, mother he said, giving me a
hug, you don't understand what I'm
driving at!
THE next day he bid me goodby and
said, You won't see me again till I've
made some success in the world
"'You won't make much of Il sue
cess | said, without an education. l
was in hopes you would have some am
bition and 90 to college. l could have
paid part, and you could have earned
the rest teaching school or something.'
81 haven't time to go to college, he
said. I've got a big work before me.
I'm going to make something that has
never been successfully thus far o II
structed.'
HE went away, and I've not seen
him since. Pm sure he will succeed,
but wish he would tell mo how he is
getting on. You see, he has had a lot
to contend with. First he was taken
sick and didn't earn Il cent for months,
besides paying something for being i'll
Il hospital. Then he
"Nadam,' interrupted the banker,
I'm too busy to listen to all this.
From your description Of YOUR son l
judge that he is a nc'er-do-well."
The old lady looked at the banker
wondcringly. Jimmie Il ne'er-do-well.
Why, he's the slmartest boy You eve
saw. How do You suppose he ever got
those high marks at school unless
Tho banker cut her short, asking her
how much money she wanted to send
her son, but when she said that she
was going to let him have $1,000. for
which he was to send her a thousand
shares of stock in Il manufacturing
concern he was organizing, the preSi-
dent implored her not to rob herself by
putting her money in some wild scheme
that would surely explode and leave
her in the lurch.
wild scheme!!" she exclaimed. DO
you suppose my boy would let his
mother put her money in a wild
scheme? Why, he wouldn't
Enough, madam. Let me have your
$1,000 and II! give you a draft for it
that Will be as good as money for your
SON. But remember that l warned you
The old lady opened Il hand bag and
took out a stocking, from which she
poured q quart measure OF bills, gold
and silver. The banker called a clerk
and directed him to count the money
and, finding the amount as the old lady
had stated, gave her a draft for it.
Two years passed. One day Il car
riage drove up to the bank, and an old
lady wrapped in expensive furs wa
helped to alight by a maid who carried
a satchcl and, going into the bank.
asked for the president.
I've got a lot of papers, she said,
L want Suu " luhC CulG OL lOE IlG.
And, opening the satchel, she drew
forth Il pile Of securities which the
president, on looking over, found to be
Of great value. lie locked them in a
box i'll the safety deposit branch of the
bank and, handing her the key, told
her that she, and she alone, would be
able to unlock the box and would have
access to it ut any time during business
hours.
You don't seem to know me- she
said.
Really" replied the banker, II must
confess that 1 don't"
Don't you remember my coming in
here and emptying Il stocking full Of
money and you giving me a paper for
it to send to my boy? Well, Jimmie
was getting up a company to make
something he had invented. He'd saved
$1,000 himself and needed $1,000 more.
L sen it to him, and he gave me a
third interest in the concern. After he
got to making money he 'watered the
stock Vbafavar that maopc on1 payo