Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1934-06-21

was at creek where some boys, big
and little, had been in swimming.
The little fellows were crying; they
couldn't get their clothes on-the
big boys would throw mud on them.
AS fast as the little fellows would
clean up, they would get another
smirch. To vex the little fellows,
and have them crying, was what
the big hoodlums called sport.
stranger came riding along horse
back, took in the situation at
glance, drew up his rein and told
the little fellows to wash, that he'd
see whether there would be any
mud singing while he was there
The bullies were smart enough to
see that they were facing real
man and they skulked away. In
time it leaked out that the man was
George Smith. Mr. Smith was a
keen observer of human nature, IN
fact he was almost infallible IN his
decision of character. He was
school teacher in his earlier days.
ruled with the rod, and the "blg
! stick was the most prominent
thing in the school room. Not 50
with Mr.. Smith; he taught for nine
! consecutive years in the same place,
| and in all that time, had no oc-
| casion to use the birch. 1t was IN
the school room that Mr.. Smith be-
came expert in reading character
! Sometimes he would doubt ms
ability. but circumstances later
would prove that he was right. At
! one place where he taught he had
quite an interesting and lively
bunch Of rather good sized girls.
They were full of life ard sport
but one seemed to be more modest,
reserved and retiring than the rest,
yet Mr.. Smith thought that he
could read in her a spirit of self
! reliance and determination, tnat III
| the occasion should arise, she might
rival a Joan of Arc, of French MS
tory, or Betty Zane, famous III our
own history. However Mr.. Smlth
was not certain. that modesty might
be her great hindrance. One day
during recess he heard great COM
motion off some distance among
the girls, more hilarity than usual.
! He FASTENED to the window to see
| what it was all about. Here she
comes, on the gallop pell nell, he'll
ter skeiter, our modest CIR rldlng
| astraddle of an old sow, holding on
to the ears. her hair streaming out
! behind and the rest of the gang try
ing to keep up, yelling and scream
ing their delight in the rare sport
| Modesty all knocked into a cooked
hat. When Mr. Smith was living az
] Caldwell and the writer was q
| Young married man, he was paint
inc in that town. Measles pfoke
out and he was exposed to them'
Neither he, nor his mother, or MS
wife or her folks. had ever had
| them. Although the mother, dread
inc the disease Of course told nm
to come home, yet he didn't want to
| and was in a dilemma. II was dur
inc this interval that he got Wofd
that Mr.. Smith wanted 20 see nm !;
lob of house painting. perhaps,
He went and after some brief pre-
liminaries, Mr.. Smith says, ell
young man, l understand that you
have been exposed to the measles
what are you going to do about II,
4 ii YOU should take them?' we toio
him the predicament that we were
in. and how mother had invited me
home etc. Now here!' ne says
DO you see that room back there
pointing TO an open door, "4 es.
! "Do YOU see that fire in the crate.
lthis was early spring. Yes do
Won see that bed there to one
side?" yes" We'll, you stay
around this town and Whenever
YOU feel sick, or think you're tax
ing the measles you come rlghl
here and occupy that room, ana
the bill is paid" We broke down
and wept: it was beyond our power
to control our emotions. But az
! that time we escaped the epidemic
! Such was the character OF George
I 4 Smith