Smyrna times., 1931-04-22
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TINE AFTER DAYS CHORES
"Sam Tow Stuck by His Crowd .
An Interesting Short Story
Written by Charles Sloan Reid

Written by Charles Sloan Reid
CAM TOW stood in the doorway
- of a small log cabin on the side
of Stumphouse mountain. In the
distance was a group of houses
which constituted small town. The
distance was three miles. Sam was
gazing upon the site in fond an
ticipation, for he expected to en-
ter school there the next day. Tow
was eighteen, a young giant in stat
ure, being six feet high. He would
have tipped the scale beam at one
hundred and eighty pounds. Sam
had never seen the inside of a
school room. Not a Tow of his
family for three generations had
known a letter of the alphabet.
What had inspired Sam with the
idea of getting an education had
been a mystery to his family. But
Sam was determined. He was a
trapper and had saved a little
money from the sale of his pelts.
He knew that trapping was good
around the Stumphouse, and he
figured" he could build a cabin
there, attend his traps, and go to
school, making the three-mile trip
to town and back each day on
foot.
Sam stood and watched the dis
tant town dissolve into the shadows
of the evening, as the sun went
down behind the ridge above his
cabin. He wondered what it would
be like, this thing of going >
school. He had tried to picture
some magical process through
which men became possessed OF
book knowledge. but nothing def
mite resulted of his efforts.
Il reckon I'll know a thing or
two about it, come tomorrow" he
sighed, as he turned back into the
cabin to prepare his frugal meal
for the evening. He rolled some
sweet potatoes in wet paper and
buried them in the hot ashes from
his small fire.
While the potatoes were roasting
Sam sliced some bacon from
rasher he had hung to jOist over
head by a white oak thong. This
he dropped into a small frying pan
which he set upon some Goals,
squatting before the fire as he did
so.
Tow had set his traps during the
afternoon the following morning,
with a pine torch in his hands, he
made the rounds before daylight,
securing a mink and three musk
rats. The pelts from these animals
would bring about three dollars in
the market.
Tibet amt no bad beginnin'," +"
said Sam to himself, as he stretched
the last pelt on a hickory bow. Il
reckon now, agin git TO town, hit'n
be school time"
Sam paused at the edge of the
campus and gazed with wonder
upon the large school building.
Keeping well away from the groups
of pupils he found his way to
the superintendent office.
what can do for your" he was
asked.
81 came down here to go to
school," Sam declared.
The superintendent smiled. what
school have you attended,"
"Hain't never been to none," he
admitted.
"Can you read or writer"
mo, hain't never had no books,
nor nothin'."
THAT is unfortunate for a young
fellow of your size. You will have
TO enter the first grade"
81 reckon So" Sam had little
idea of what was meant by first
grade, but he was determined TO
take a chance.
A few preliminaries were ar
ranged, then the superintendent
conducted the new pupil TO the room
of the first-grade teacher. Sam
stood in the middle of the room and
looked about him. Around him
were half a dozen boys and girls
six to seven years of age, who were
gazing upon the young giant with
curiosity and amusement. On a
small rostrum sat the teacher, a
tiny little woman whom Sam Tow
might have carried at arms length
OD Vi
things began to happen. however,
and Sam slid down into seat in
the back row. AS lessons proceeded,
light began to break upon his big,
healthy brain, and he found himself
interested and quite eager.
II was soon known throughout
the school that big mountaineer
was among the first-grade pupils,
and when the noon recess came, al
most half a thousand pairs Of eyes
were waiting for glimpse of the
mountain boy.
AS the little ones from the first
grade department filed out upon
the campus, Sam Tow brought up
the rear. Outside they gathered
about him, gazing into his face
much as the Liliputians might with
evident admiration and proprietor
ship. A little distance away the
football squad had lined up for
practice. The leaders soon had
their heads to. ether. and 1t was
agreed to invite the young man TO
ioin them at once. Accordingly the
captain of the team came forward,
making his way with difficulty
among the little ones who surround
ed Sam, until he stood before the
new pupil.
TOW" began the captain, I'VE