Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-03-27
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OuI W Ill.,.
Mrs. Wright, a fin%e-looking lady who
met us at the door, said that the SEN
ator had gone over to the mill with his
| wheelbarrow.
"We've plenty of time and We'll wait
for him." said the schoolmaster.
81 see him" said little John as he
and Ruth ran to the gate and down
the rough plank walk to meet him.
We saw him coming a little way
down the ST oet in his shirt-sleeves
with his b. ~.~ IT, front Of him. He
stopped and lifted little John in his
arms, and after a moment put him
down and embraced Ruth.
"Well, I see We still love the tender
embrace O. the wheelbarrow," said Mr..
Hacket as We approached the senator.
"My embrace is the tenderer Of the
two," the latter laughed with a look
at his hands.
He recognized me and seized my
two hands and shook them as he said:
upon my word, here is my friend
Bart. I was not looking for you here"
He put his hand on my head, now
higher than his shoulder, and said:
81 was not looking for you here"
He asked about my aunt and uncle
and expressed joy at learning that I
was now under Mr.. Hacket.
II shall be here for a number Of
weeks" he said, "and I shall want to
see you often. Maybe We'll go hunt
ing some Saturday,"
We babe him good morning and he
went on with his ~wheelbarrow, which
was loaded, I remember, with stout
sacks of meal and flour.
We went to the school at half past
eight. What a thrilling place it was
with it's 70 children and its three
rooms. How noisy they were as they
waited in the schoolyard for the bell
to ring! I stood by the doorside look
ing very foolish, I dare say, for /
knew not what to do with myself. My
legs encased in the tow breeches felt
as if they were on fire. 1 saw that
most of the village boys wore bought
Ell clothes and fine boots. I looked
down at my own leather and was a
w VI Sllul1C VII d lOuuudLlOu VI
creased cowhide. Sally Dunkelberg
came in with some other girls and pre-
tended not to see me. That was the
hardest blow I suffered.
Among the handsome, w~ell-dressed
boys of the village was Henry Wills
the boy who had stolen my water
melon. I had never forgiven him for
that OF for the killing of my little hen.
The bell rang and we marched into
the big room, while a fat girl with
crinkly hair played on a melodeon.
Henry and another boy tried to shove
me out Of line and a big paper wad
struck the side of my head as we were
marching in and after we were seated
a cross-eyed, freckled girl in a red
dress made a face at me.
1t was. on the whole, the %unhapDiest
day Of my life. During recess /
slapped a boys face for calling me a
rabbit and the two others who came
to help him went away full of fear
and establishment, for I had the
strength of a young moose in me those
days. After that they began to make
friends With me.
In the noon hour a MAJ came to me
in The schoolyard with a subpoena for
the examination of Amos Grimshaw
and explained it's meaning.
While I was talking with this man
Sally passed me walking with another
girl and said:
"Hello, Bart!"
I observed that Henry Wills Joined
them and walked down the street at
the side Of Sally. l got my first pang
Of jealousy then.
When school was out that after
noon MIR, Hacket said 1 could have an
hour to see the sights of the village,
so I set out, feeling much depressed.
1 walked toward the house of Mr..
Wright and say him digging potatoes
in the garden and went in. 1 knew
that he was my friend.
"Well, Bart, how do you like
school?" he asked.
mot very WE'LL" I answered.
"Of course not! It's new to you
now, and you miss your aunt and
uncle. Stick to it. You'll make
friends and get interested before long,
Il want to go home," T declared.
"Now let's look at the compass" he
suggested. "You're lost for a minute,
and like all lost people you're heading
the wrong way. Don't be misled by
selfshness. Forget what you want to
dc and think Of what we want you to
do. We want you to make a man of
yourself. You must do it for the sake
Of those dear people who have done
so much for you. The needle points
toward the schoolhouse yonder."
He went on with his work, and as i
walked away I understood that the
needle he referred to was my con-
science.
I went about my chores. There was
to be no more wavering in my con-
duct. AT the supper table Mr.. llacket