The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-06-21

rude, 1 always pretend TO De very
busy. Just a light word o. recognition
by way O. common politenessl Then
laugh, If We can an do it quickly. lad,
an she will pass on"
The last words were spoken in a
whisper, with one hand on my breast.
He turned the strings and played
the Fishers Hornpipe." What a romp
of merry music filled the house! !
had never heard the like and was soon
smiling at him as he played. His bow
and fingers few In the wild frolic Of
the Devils Dream" It led me out
Of my sadness into a world all new to
me.
"Now, God bless your soul, boy!" he
exclaimed, by and by, as he put down
his instrument. eve shall have a good
time together-that we will. Not a
stroke O. work this dayl Come, have
guide here that will take us down
to the land o. the fairies"
Then with his microscope he showed
me into the wonder world of littleness
Of which I had no knowledge.
"The microscope is like the art o. the
teacher" he said. "I've known a good
teacher to take brain no bigger than
fly's foot an make 1t visible to the
naked eye"
One of the children, of which there
were four in the Racket home, called
us to supper. Mrs. Hacket, a stout
woman with red and kindly face, sat
at one end Of the table, and between
them were the children-Mary, pref
ty daughter Of seventeen years; Mag
gle, six-year-old; Ruth, delicate
girl Of seven, and John, noisy, red
faced boy Of five. The chairs were Of
plain wood-like the kitchen chairs Of
today. In the middle Of the table was
an empty one-painted green. Before
he sat down Mr.. Racket put his hand
on the back of this chair and said:
"a merry heart to you, Michael
Henry"
wondered at the meaning Of this,
but dared not to ask. The Oldest
daughter acted as kind Of moderator
with the others.
"Mary is the constable of this house,
with power to arrest and hale into
court for undue haste or rebellion or
lmpoliteness," Mr.. Hacket explained.
II believe that Sally Dunkelberg Is
your friend" he said to me presently.
eyes, sir" I answered.
"a fine slip of a girl that and born
scholar. I saw you look at her as
the Persian looks at the rising sun"
I blushed and Mary and her mother
and the boy John looked at me and
laughed.
"Puer pulcherrimei" Mr.. Racket
exclaimed with kindly smile. #
Uncle Peabody would have called it
''stout snag." The schoolmaster had
hauled it out of his brain very deity
and chucked 1t down before me in a
kind of challenge.
"What does that mean2" asked.
"You shall know in week, my son"
he answered. 81 shall put you into
the Latin class Wednesday morning,
and God help you to like it as well as
you like Sally"
Again they laughed and again ]
blushed.
"Hold up yer head, my brave lad,''
he went on. "Ye've perfect right to
like Sally If we've heart to.
"a lad in his teens
Will never know beans
If he hasn't an eye for the girls"
It was a merry supper, and when IL
ended Mr.. Hacket rose and took the
green chair from the table, exclaim-
ing:
Michael Henry. God bless you'll"
Then he kissed his wife and said:
"Maggie. you wild rose of Erin I'VE
been all day In the study. must take
a walk or I shall get an exalted abdo.
men. One is badly beaten in the race
} o. life when his abdomen gets ahead
of his toes. Children, keep our young
friend happy here until come back
and mind you, don't forget the good
fellow In the green chair"
: Mary helped her mother with the
dishes, while sat with a book by the
} flreside. Soon Mrs. Racket and ths
! children came and sat down with me
Lets play backgammon" Mary pro
J posed.
) II don't want to-" said John.
''Don't forget Michael Henry" she
, reminded.
"Who Ia Michael Henry?" asked.
} "Sure. he's the boy that has never
! been born" said Mrs. Hacket. aHt
: was to be the biggest and noblest Of
thern--kind an helpful an cheer,
: hearted an beloved o. God above al
r the others. We try to live up to him.
: He seemed to me very strange ant
: wonderful creature-this invisible oc
. cupant Of the green chair.
know now what I knew not ther
r that Michael Henry was the spirit o
Q their home-an ideal of which til,
d empty green chair was a constant re
g hinder.
We played backgammon and aol,
|. maid" and everlasting until MI
/ Racket returned.
Q The sealed envelope which Mi
Wright had left at our home, d lon
d time before that day. was in my pocket