News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-06-28

didn't you have some dinner std o.
! just lunch, an what did you have t.
eat?"
ut really was what we call dinner
SIS" laughed Joe, "but not quite sc
much of it. Those very busy people
up there eat snack in the middle OF
the day and call it a luncheon, and
then at o'clock, or along that time
they have what they call dinner-at
the time we eat supper"
II think it's very silly to change
things up so. But tell me what do
presidents eat-cake and pie and ice
cream" persisted Annie, 'like kings
do?" as she grasped Joe's hand
81 don't know what kings eat sis,
and l don't know what presidents eat
all the time, but I know for lunch we
had some mighty good potato soup
and some fine roast beef and mashed
potatoes and dish of spinach and
poached egg on it and a glass Of rich
cream and big slab of apple pie'
GLOW was the pie?" anxiously in
quired Mrs. Weston.
at was good pie" judicially admit
ted Joe, ''but | don't think it was as
good as you make, ma"
She gave him a hug, and her face
was radiant the rest of the day. 1t
was comforting thought to her the
balance Of her years to think that she
could make better apple pie than the
president of the United States had set
before him.
Anything else?" persisted Annie.
mo; except the president said he
liked turnip greens!'
"And when was it he told you that
about the farmer?" asked Mr.. Weston.
Just before he sent one of the door
keepers back to the hotel with me.
And he gave me a picture of himself
with his name written on it, l saw
him write it. And the last thing he
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 good farmer-a real good farmer
and an honest nan-is just as useful
and occupies just as high a place in
this country as president, senator or
congressman. Don't forget that. Be
proud of the fact that you are 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
quired Mrs. Weston.
''Just trying to get some books to-
gether Pm going to start to school
again tomorrow"
But you studied those books last
year,
"Yes'm, and | don't know 'em either.
I'm going right back and make it up"
Wont that put you in classes with
a lot of boys much younger than you
are?"
Il guess it will, ma, and 1 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"
Il kind of hate for you to do it."
mused his mother. you ought to be
able to go in higher classes than that?'
"Oh, | reckon l could keep up, but
I'm trying to be honest with myself.
don't know my arithmetic, and l
don't know grammar, and don't know
how to spell. | didn't study like I
ought to have done when | was there
before so it's for my own good"
What started you on such an idea,
JOe?"
"The president. When he told me
yoodby 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 J
t. l hadn't been honest with myself |
he last year l was in school because
skinned, and it wasn't honest to the
eacher either. I'm going back and
make it good.''
1t took good deal of courage to go
20 the teacher and be placed in classes
with boys three and four years young
er than himself, but Joe took his med
cine like a man. OF course he was
yuyed, 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.
II you'd tell the truth about it lot
If you would be right in this class
with me. Go ahead. I've got it COM
ng to me, and it don't make me mad"
He grinned amiably at their chaff-
ng, and when the boys found he
would not lose his temper over it they
ct him alone.
The second week after he started to
school the county superintendent of
,ducation came over to start the Boys
corn club again and TO get ready for
he approaching season. Somehow
here seemed to be an utter lack of en-
husiasm among the boys. They did
lot applaud his utterances, and only
/ few of them went forward and sign
I'd the roll
what on earth is the matter with
hemp whispered the superintendent
o the teacher, CONSERVATION written
Ill over his countenance.
Goodness knows, but it is some
&. At. |