The Owosso times., 1921-05-06
The Big Hearted
Miser
co. 1921. western Newspaper Union. i,
BY HAZEL SMITH

In Creston. Ahead of her a wiZened.
bent old man was picking his careful
way where the pavement was most
shaded, for the sun was bistering
hot AS the old man turned the cor
ner the wind caught him like a
cyclone. 1t sent his old-fashioLed
high hat rolling and tumbling behind
him.
Immediately a crowd of urchins
playing in vacant lot just off the
street made dive for the frayed,
discolored headgear.
Get It Get It'll" shouted jubilant
voices. "Old Wilson's hat. Put it on
the post and peg at itw
Boys, boys" chided the young lady,
throwing up her veil and showing a
face tear-stained but resolute enough
even In its rare prettiness to daunt
the lads. She managed to catch hold
Of big boy who had secured the hat.
Give 1t to me-" she said firmly.
The old gentleman is waiting for it,"
"Humph, him!" cried the lad, con-
temptuously. "Why, he's only old
Miser Wilson. Take It, though-just
because you're so pretty, and are 60
ing to be our teacher"
\ The girl smiled brightly and went
up to the old man.
"The wind blew your hat away"
she said.
And you rescued 1t from those
youLg torments," broke in the old
man sharply. "I saw 1t all. l sup
pose," and his keen eyes sparkled,
and he chuckled, "they told you who
! was"
"Yes-Mr. Wilson,"
"And the old miser? Hey, did they
say that? You don't want to go
around doing favors for old misers,
\ do you, young lady?"
Sa-, "Why. If they deserve 1t, surely"
YOU'RE the right sort, Miss Nellie
Merrill" suddenly spoke out the old
fellow. "You see, know you. You
are the young lady they sent for yes
terday to teach the new school here
They pointed you out to me as you
went to see the school trustees this
morning. You'll make a good teacher.
I can see that, and I'm going to tell
the trustees So"
They have given me my expenses
and a trife more for coming down
here" said Nellie. "They were lit
tie premature, you see. Under the
law they cannot begin school until
there are so possible scholars between
the ages of six and eighteen in the
district"
II suppose you've just been study
4 ing yourself half to death to qualify
for the wretched $40 month and
board you were to get here?' he in
\ quired with manifest interest.
!, II am an orphan, and have no fam
lily dependence" said Nellie. 81 feel
pretty bad at missing this splendid
position"
"AE orphan, eh?" repeated old Ga
'briel thoughtfully. $50 is my boy
that is, my adopted son, Sidney. He's
away at college now. studying to he
a lawyer. If I'm miserly, it's for him,
dear boy. So, Miss" and the old man
seemed stirred by strong and sud-
den resolution, 'you were to board
with Miss Briggs, If everything went
smooth, weren't your
"Why, yes. / believe that is the
name of the lady,"
"Well, I'm going to take you there
now"
1t was the next afternoon when old
Gabriel appeared. He was sprightly
and smiling.
II guess there must be a genuine,
warm spot somewhere In this hard
old heart of mine," he said, "for old
Wilson, the miser. feels about as
happy as you will when ! tell you
that the full fifty quota of scholars
has been provided for"
4 "Oh, Mr.. Wilson, can 1t be true?"
cried Nellie joyfully.
"Yes, you can start in tomorrow
and l hope you drive some respecta-
bility into that unruly mob Of boys
who wanted to peg my old hat. My
hat--think of 1t. In the family since
the 4O's, Miss Merrill ~
How did you ever influence the
school trustees" inquired Nellie.
"Just moved a squatter's family
with eight children over the town.
ship line into a vacant house ! own
inside the school district" explained
old Gabriel with a chuckle Of salts
faction and pride.
Life became a dream Of beauty to
Nellie in the lovely little village. At
the end of the term, the first exhibit
tion day, Mr.. Wilson marched proud
" into the place with his adopted
son, just home from college.
The young man decided that II
was a relief to sit for two hours and
take in the simple, yet interesting
exercises of the graduation day OF
half a dozen proud children into class
two. 1t charmed him to note the rare
patience and kindness of the young
girl fighting her first battle in the
arena of life for her daily bread.
All this young Sidney told his
adopted father.
The sly old man heard of skating
fItt.z