The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-03-06


the "Fisher's Hornpipe." What romp
of merry music filed the housel /
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" 1t led me out
of my sadness into world all new to
me.
"Now, God bless your soul, boy |" he
exclaimed, by and by, as he put down
his instrument. 1--WE shall have a good
time together-that we will. Not q
stroke O. work this day. 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 1 had no knowledge.
'sThe microscope is like the art O. the
teacher" he said. ."Tve known a good
! teacher to take brain no bigger than
a fys foot an make 1t visible to the
naked eye"
One Of the children, of which there
were four in the Hacket home, called
us to supper. Mrs. Hacket, stout
woman with red and kindly face, sat
Mt one end Of the table, and between
them were the chlldren-Mary, pref
ty daughter Of seventeen years; Mag
gle, six-year-old; Ruth, a delicate
| girl Of seven, and John, noisy, red
faced boy of ive. The chairs were Of
plain wood-llke the kitchen chairs of
today. In the middle Of the table was
an empty one-palnted green. Before
he sat down Mr.. Hacket 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
impoliteness," Mr.. Hacket explained.
II believe that Sally Dunkelberg Is
your friend" he said to me presently.
"Yes. SIR" 1 answered.
"a fine slip of girl that and a born
scholar. I saw yod look at her as
the Persian looks at the rising sum-"
blushed and Mary and her mother
and the boy John looked at me and
laughed.
"Puer pulcherrime Mr.. Hacket
exclaimed with kindly smile.
Uncle Peabody would hive called 1t
"stout snag." The schoolmaster had
hauled 1t out of his brain very deftly
and chucked it down before me In a
kind of challenge.
"What does that mean2" l asked.
"You shall know in week, my son."
he answered. ~ shall put you into
the Latin class Wednesday morning,
and God help you to like it as we'll ms
you like Sally"
Again they laughed and again 1
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
| VIII never know beans
II he hasn't an eye for the girls"
1t was merry supper, and when 1t
green chair from the table, exclalm-
ing:
"Mlchael 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
walk or 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 book by the
fireslde. Soon Mrs. Hacket and the
children came and sat down with me.
Lets play backgammon" Mary pro-
posed.
II don't. want to-" said John.
"Don't forget Michael Henry" she
reminded.
"Who is Michael Henry2" asked.
"Sure, he's the boy that has never
been born" said Mrs. Hacket. "He
was to be the biggest and noblest of
them-kind an helpful an CHEEKY
hearted an beloved O. God above all
the OlnerS' we uy " hNe up tO MIN.
He seemed to me very strange and
wonderful creature-this invisible oc.
cupant of the green chair.
/ know now what knew not then
that Michael Henry was the spirit OF
their home-an ideal of which the
empty green chair was constant re-
minder.
We played backgammon and "old
maid" and everlasting until Mr.
Hacket returned.
mho soo1od anuoIoro .rhtok NJ.