The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-04-10
CHAPTER XII.
The Thing and Other Things.

I returned to Mr.. Jackets house
late In the afternoon OF New Years
day. The schoolmaster was lying on a
big lounge In a corner Of their front
room with the children about him. The
dusk was falling.
welcome. my laddie buck !" he ex-
claimed as / entered. "We're telling
stories o. the old year an you're Just
In time for the last o. them. Sit down,
lad. and God give ye patience tn
soon be over"
After supper he got out his boxing
gloves and gave me a lesson In the art
Of self-defense, in which. was soon
&c learn. he was highly accomplished,
for we had a few rounds together
every day after that. He keenly en-
joyed this form of exercise and / soon
began TO. My capacity for taking pun
ishment without fiinching grew apace
and before long l got the knack Of
countering and that pleased him more
even than my work In school, / have
sometimes thought.
God bless ye, boy" he exclaimed
one day after | had landed heavily on
his cheek. 'ye've nice way o. sneakin'
in with yer right. I've notion ye
may find 1t useful some day"
/ wondered little why he should
say that, and while l was wondering
he felled me with a singing blow on
my nose.
"Ah, my lad-there's the best thing
l have seen we do-get up an come
back with no mad in ye," he said as he
gave me his hand.
One day the schoolmaster called the
older boys to the front seats In his
room and among them.
"Now. boys, I'm going to ask We
what We want TO do In the world" he
said. Don't be afraid TO tell me what
yC may never have told before and I'll
dc what / can to help ye."
For some months had been study
ing book just published. entitled,
"Stenographic Sound-Hand." and had
learned its alphabet and prncticed the
use of II. That evening took down
the remarks of Mr.. Hacket in sound
hand.
The academy chapel was crowded
with the older boys and girls and the
tCwnfOlk. The master never clipped
his words In school as he was wont TO
do when talking Familiarity with the
children.
"Since the leaves fell our little vii.
lage has occupied the center of the
stage before an audience of millions
In the great theater of congress. Our
leading cltlzen-the chief actor-has
been crowned with immortal fame. We
who watched the play were thrilled by
the query: win Uncle Sam yield to
temptation or cling TO honor? He has
chosen the latter course and we may
still hear the applause in distant gal.
leries beyond the sea. He has decided
that the public revenues must be paid
In honest money.
"My friend and classmate, George
Bancroft, the historian, has writer
this letter to me out OF full heart:
"'Your fellow townsman, Silas
Wright, is now the largest figure In
Washington. We were all worried by the
resolution of Henry Clay until II began
to crumble under the irresistible attack
of Mr. Wright. On the 18th he sub
mitted u report upon II which for lucid
and accurate statements presented In
the most unpretending manner won
universal admiration and will be re-
nembered alike for Its intrinsic excel
lence and for having achieved one OF
the most memorable victories ever
gained In the United States senate.
After a long debate Clay himself. COM
PEELED by the Irresistible force OF argu-
ment in the report of Mr.. Wright, was
obliged TO retire from his position, his
resolution having been rejected by
vote OF A 10 L."
With what pride and Joy l heard OF
this great thing that my friend had ac-
Going out with the crowd that eve
ming. l met Sally aud Mr.. and Mrs.