The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-02
(BY JOHN BARR

One afternoon nearly 40 years
 ago I went to pay one of my ire
 quent visits to my friend Prof
 Edward Boyer at Public Schoo
 NO. 77.' As I was going up the
 outside entrance steps from Am
 sterdam avenue, big automobile
 drove up (automobiles were nov
 city then) and stopped in front
 of the school entrance, and a
 handsome six-footer of about 27
 or 28, leaped out of the car and
 rushed past me two steps at a
 time.
 MT. Boyer'S office was on the
 second floor and just as l had
 reached the door-it opened and l
 witnessed a scene that I'll never
 forget: The handsome young man
 who had passed me in such a rush on the entrance steps, was bidding Mir. Boyer a most affectionate
 'vood-bye.' Each had an arm around the others shoulder as the young man was saying - "Of course I couldn't go away for so long without coming to see the best friend I've got on earth. I'll keep you posted on my where abouts and be thinking about you and blessing you every day of my life" Then with a parting hand clasp and look of affection the handsome young men turned and hurried down the stairs two at time.
 There was a mist in MT. Boyer's eyes as he turned, and seeing me he reached out cordial hand, drew me in his office and closed the door behind us.
 I'm glad you happened to come just at this time" he said, flor l have a great story to tell you, and this is the very time to tell 1t, and as school is over for the day and we'll not be interrupted"
 MT. Boyer was sitting in his swivel-chair at his desk and sat near him in a comfortable arm chair, as he began:
 One day a dozen years ago when I was sitting right where I am now, truant officer came in dragging a defiant looking boy of thirteen or fourteen by the coat collar, and set him down with a bump in a hard wooden chair over by the wall.
 Well, I said, officer, you've done your duty, so you may go and leave the boy to me; and he went shak- ing his finger menacingly and growing, Don't let me catch you playin' hockey again"
 "The boys dark hair hung down over his eyes so I couldn't see them, but his general appearance made me know that l had diffl- cult case to handle and must move very carefully, so I began by say ing in a friendly tone, Seems to me that officer was pretty rough"
 Well I should S-a-y he w-a-s,' replied the boy, with clenched teeth.
 T wanted to consult the boys room teacher privately, and after asking his name and room, devised 8 plan to get him out of the way for a few minutes. Addressing the boy, said, I was going to call for district messenger to do a little errand for me, but if you would like to go can pay you instead
 Yes. Sir, I'll go,' the boy an- swered as he came quickly to my desk So I wrote a note to a druggist that I knew a few blocks away, and gave 1t to the boy to deliver and bring the answer back to me.
 The boys teacher told me that he was the strangest boy she had ever had in school. Something is on his mind she said. He's so worried about something that he can't fix his mind on his studies. He is not vicious boy she want ed 1t understood. He is courteous to me and wants to please me, and he is friendly with the other boys, though very reticent, but SO restless that he gets up and walks put of the room without saying to anybody
 This is a very strange case" [ said. "Let's work together to solve 1t right. Hell be in his place n the morning. Let 1t be under stood by the other boys that when he goes out of the room in class hours 1t is because he has some- hing to do for me-"
 "When the boy came back from his errand, I thanked him and handed him a quarter, but he- to take 1t. "Ten cents is Ill it's worth for a short distance ike that" he said. The only way could get him to take the money vas telling him that I had some nore errands for him to do next morning, and that l needed a reg liar boy right there in the build ng to do my errands instead of having to send outside for one.