The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-04-11
CHAPTER XII.
The Thing and Other Things.

The Thing and Other Things.
returned to Mr.. Hacket's house
late In the afternoon of New Years
day. The schoolmaster was lying on a
big lounge In q corner Of their front
room with the children about him. The
dusk was falling.
welcome. my laddie buck - he ex-
claimed as l 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 We patience! It'll
soon be over"
After supper he got out his boxing
gloves and gave me lesson in the art
Of self-defense, in which, l was soon
t. learn, he was highly accomplished,
for we had few rounds together
every day after that. He keenly en-
jOyed this form of exercise and l soon
began to. My capacity for taking pun
ishment without flinching grew apace
and before long 1 got the knack of
countering and that pleased him more
even thar my work in school. have
sometimes thought.
| God bless We, boy" he exclaimed
one day after had landed heavily on
his cheek, we've nice way O. sneakin'
In with yer right I've notion We
may find 1t useful some day"
| l wondered little why he should
say that, and while l was wondering
he felled me with singing blow on
my nose.
| "Ah, my lad--there's the best thing
] 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.
Nov, 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
ye maysnever have told before and I'll
dc what l can to help ye."
For some months had been study
Ing a book just published. entitled,
"StenOGraphic Sound-Hand," and had
learned rs alphabet and prncticed the
use OF II. That evening l 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
chi!aren.
"Since the leaves fell our little vii
lage has occupied the center of the
stage before an audience Of millions
ir The great theater Of congress. Our
leading citizen--the chief actor-has
been crowned with immortal fame. We
who watched the play were thrilled by
the query: Will Uncle Sam yield to
temptation o. cling to honor7 He has
chosen the latter course and we may
still hear the applause In distant gal
lerlc.s 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 written
this letter to me out Of a full heart:
- 'S--f------- -
"'Your fellow townsmnn, Silas
Wright, Is now the largest figure In
Washington. We were all worried by the
resolution of Henry Clay until It began
to crumble under the irresistible attack
of Mr.. Wright. On the 10th he sub
nitted report upon it 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 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 to L."
With what pride and Joy ! heard OF
this great thing that my friend had ac-
complished!
Go;pg out with the crowd that eve
ming, set Sally and Mr.. and Mrs.
Dunkelberg. The latter did not speak
to me and when ] asked Sally IL i
could walk home with her she an
swered CURLY, mo, thank YOU"
have got bit ahead Of my history.
Soon after the opening Of the new
year-ten days or so later 1t may have
been-I had begun to feel myself en-
compassed by q new and subtle force.
1t was a thing as intangible as heat
but as real as fire and more terrible, Ii
seemed to me. ] felt II first In the at
titude Of my play fellows. They de-
MED me the confidence and intimacy
which I had enjoyed before. They |
whispered together In my presence. In
all this had not failed to observe that
henry Wills had taken leading part.
The invisible, inaudible, mysterious
thing wrought great change in me. 1t
followed me through the day and lay
down with me at night. wondered
what ! had done. / carefully surveyed |
my clothes. They looked all right to
me. My character was certainly no
worse than Ii had been. How 1t preyed
upon my peace and rest and happiness
that mysterious hidden thing!
One day Uncle Peabody came down |
A. y A. tIa