Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-08-26
Home Work
By JANE OSBORN
e by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)
(WNU ServiceD


~ his sister Sally. He likened her
to a duck. Water sliding on
ducks back. Sally had been like
that-responsibil cares, things
that other people would be troubled
whitewater that would soak through
the plumage of any bird but a duck
always sliding off Sally, whose feath-
ers were always as smooth and
glossy and perfectly dry as those on
a ducks back. Nice metaphor that,
thought Stanley Jones, as he drove
home from his Office to what he had
once considered his coy, comfortable
bachelors apartment. 1t was no long
er either coy or comfortable-not
even a bachelors apartment since
Sally. the duck, and her husband, Bill
Ames, had sailed away to the south
Of France for the remainder Of the
winter. leaving eight-year-old Stan,
named after himself, to share the
apartment with him.
Having proceeded thus far with his
meditation Stanley found himself In
front of his apartment house. He
found young Stanley joyously play
ing In the basement with the jani-
tors children. That was the only
arrangement that could be made on
afternoons when Stanley could not
get home from work early enough to
take charge after school hours.
Now 1t was Eve, and there would
be an hour and a half before they
would be out for dinner-and an hour
and half that had once meant peace
and tranquility with pipe and book
for Stanley. Now it meant home work
with Stanley. Young Stanley had
been rather slow with arithmetic, but
before Sally left for France she
had explained to STAINS teacher that
the deficiency could be easily made
up when young Stan was staying with
his uncle, who was a good mathe-
matician. said Sally. and would have
nothing to do but help his nephew.
There was neatly penned note
that first afternoon In STAINS school
bag. 1t was from his teacher. Dear
Mr.. JONES'" 1t said. STANLEY still
needs help in his tables. He under
stands the theory apparently, but he
has not had enough drilling. And
Stanley is careless. Would you please
see that he knows his tables better
and please drill him in accuracy" 1t
was signed Matilda Hawkins.
I'D like to see that teacher Of
yours" said Uncle Stanley, with a
fine tone Of sarcasm that was lost
on his nephew. "How old Is she?"
"Oh, she must be very old. ]
shouldn't wonder If she was forty OF
maybe sixty"
SIS she good looking-at all?" said
Uncle Stanley.
swell, some of us fellows think SO
but you wouldn't. She's got kind
of roundish face with a sort of a
funny nose and bump on her head
and a kind Of queer mouth"
"She doesn't sound like a beauty"
observed Stanley, undoing the buckles
of his nephew's school bag. Spelling
came first and then some written
work in English, and after that, drill
with the tables. Stanley found that
since the day before his nephew had
quite successfully forgotten all he had
ever known Of the seven times table.
It didn't worry Stan very much.
Teacher says you ought to drill me
MORE" he observed.
The next day STAINS bag contained
note from his uncle for the teacher.
He regretted his failure as a tutor,
and asked If arrangements could be
made for her to tutor the boy from
five to six every evening.
Stan brought back word that teach
| er said that 1t would be against the
| rules of the school for the teacher to
accept fees for tutoring, but teacher
had said she would come around at
ave to help, and would talk things
over with Uncle Stanley.
So at q little after five that eve
ming teacher arrived. But when
Stanley answered her ring at the door
and saw the pretty young woman
standing there in the hall he hadn't
the faintest idea that she really was
his nephew's teacher.
els Mr.. Stanley Jones at homer"
she asked, somewhat perplexed.
why, am Stanley Jones-won't
you come inT
"You are not little Stanley Ames'
uncle?" she gasped. ~ am little
Stanley's teacher. He said you
were"
They stood regarding each other
with amazement "He said you were
quite an old man-probably sixty at
least-with wrinkles"
'Tve got wrinkles teaching him."
laughed Stanley. 81 happen to be
Twenty-Five. No one would guess that
you were somewhere around fifty
yourself"
"Pm twenty-three." protested the
teacher. THE little wretch"
Together they worked with little
Stanley, somewhat bewildered over
the mysteries of the multiplication
tables. At six Matilda rose to CO. but
little Stanley, with his arm around
his teacher begged her to stay, and
big Stanley suggested that they all
dine together. Matilda had already
ala che Had ...o.