CHAPTER IV. STEPPING-STONES

When Nat went into school on Monday morning, he quaked inwardly, for now he thought he should have to display his ignorance before them all. But Mr. Bhaer gave him a seat in the deep window, where he could turn his back on the others, and Franz heard him say his lessons there, so no one could hear his blunders or see how he blotted his copybook. He was truly grateful for this, and toiled away so diligently that Mr. Bhaer said, smiling, when he saw his hot face and inky fingers:

"Don't work so hard, my boy; you will tire yourself out, and there is time enough."

"But I must work hard, or I can't catch up with the others. They know heaps, and I don't know anything," said Nat, who had been reduced to a state of despair by hearing the boys recite their grammar, history, and geography with what he thought amazing ease and accuracy.

"You know a good many things which they don't," said Mr. Bhaer, sitting down beside him, while Franz led a class of small students through the intricacies of the multiplication table.

"Do I?" and Nat looked utterly incredulous.

"Yes; for one thing, you can keep your temper, and Jack, who is quick at numbers, cannot; that is an excellent lesson, and I think you have learned it well. Then, you can play the violin, and not one of the lads can, though they want to do it very much. But, best of all, Nat, you really care to learn something, and that is half the battle. It seems hard at first, and you will feel discouraged, but plod away, and things will get easier and easier as you go on." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What does the teacher tell Nat to when he sits beside him?
2. What's something he gives as an example?
3. Which student can't?
4. But what is he good at?
5. And what's something else he said Nat could do?
6. Can any of the other kids?
7. Do they want to?
8. What else does he do?
9. Does he think learning will become more simple for him?
10. What day was this?
11. What time of day?
12. Where was Nat?
13. Did he feel anxious?
14. What was he afraid of?
15. Where did he go to sit down?
16. What made him thankful for sitting there?
17. What else?
18. And lastly?
19. Who gave him that seat?
20. What did he tell Nat not to do?
Answer: 1. You know a good many things which they don't,
2. You can keep your temper.
3. Jack.
4. Numbers.
5. Play the violin.
6. No.
7. Very much.
8. Really care to learn something.
9. Yes,
10. Monday.
11. Morning.
12. School.
13. Yes.
14. He should have to display his ignorance.
15. In the deep window.
16. He could turn his back on the others.
17. No one could hear his blunders.
18. No one could see he blotted his copybook.
19. Mr. Bhaer.
20. Work so hard.

Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American major record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic Records earned a reputation as one of the most important American recording labels, specializing in jazz, R&B and soul recordings by African-American musicians including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Ruth Brown and Otis Redding, a position greatly enhanced by its distribution deal with Stax Records. In 1967, Atlantic Records became a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, now the Warner Music Group, and expanded into rock and pop music with releases by bands such as Led Zeppelin and Yes.

In 2004, Atlantic Records and its sister label Elektra Records merged into Atlantic Records Group. Craig Kallman is currently the chairman of Atlantic Records. Ahmet Ertegun served as founding chairman until his death on December 14, 2006, at age 83.

Artists currently signed to Atlantic Records include Missy Elliott, Coldplay, David Guetta, Bruno Mars, Melanie Martinez, Kelly Clarkson, Charli XCX, Charlie Puth, Kodak Black, Death Cab for Cutie, Ed Sheeran, Flo Rida, Halestorm, In This Moment, James Blunt, Janelle Monae, Jason Mraz, Marina and the Diamonds, Paramore, Portugal. The Man, Sia, Simple Plan, Shinedown, Skrillex, Weezer, Lil Uzi Vert, K. Michelle, Kehlani, Joyner Lucas, Bhad Bhabie, and Wiz Khalifa. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What was created in 1947?
2. Also known as?
3. By who?
4. What genre do they specialize in?
5. By who?
6. Who is one of the famous artists/
7. Who bought them in the sixties?
8. What music did they venture into?
9. What other record studio merged with them?
10. With who?
Answer: 1. the Atlantic Recording Corporation
2. Atlantic Records
3. Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson.
4. jazz, R&B and soul
5. African-American musicians
6. Aretha Franklin
7. Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
8. rock and pop music
9. Atlantic Records
10. Elektra Records

CHAPTER XIV

DEFEAT

A good fire burned on the hearth in the library at Sandymere, although the mild air of an early spring morning floated in through the open window. Challoner sat in a big leather chair, watching the flames and thinking of his nephew, when a servant entered and handed him a card.

Challoner glanced at it.

"Clarke? I don't know any one of that name--"

He stopped abruptly as he saw the word _Sweetwater_ in small type at the bottom of the card. He knew that that was the name of the prairie town from which Blake had started on his quest into the wilderness.

"All right, Perkins," he said, rather eagerly; and a few minutes afterward Clarke entered the room, with an irritating air of assurance.

"Colonel Challoner, I presume?"

Challoner bowed.

"You have brought me some news of my nephew, Richard Blake?"

This disconcerted Clarke. He had not imagined that his object would be known, and he had counted upon Challoner's being surprised and thrown off his guard. It looked as if the Colonel had been making inquiries about Blake. Clarke wished that he could guess his reason, for it might affect the situation.

"That is correct," he said. "I have a good deal to tell you, and it may take some time."

Challoner motioned to him to be seated, and offered him a cigar; and Clarke lighted it before he spoke.

"Your nephew," he began, "spent a week in the settlement where I live, preparing for a journey to the North. Though his object was secret, I believe he went in search of something to make varnish of, because he took with him a young American traveler for a paint factory, besides another man." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who lit his cigar?
2. What was the nephew's name?
3. What was burning?
4. Where?
5. Who was sitting in a leather chair?
6. Did someone hand him a letter?
7. Who?
8. Who came into the room?
9. What news did he bring?
10. What name was at the bottom of the card?
11. What was Sweetwater?
12. Was it evening when all this was happening?
13. What time of day was it?
14. What was Clarke disconcerted by?
15. What was he counting on?
16. How long was the nephew in the settlement where Clarke lived?
17. What was he doing there?
18. What was he looking for?
19. Who did he take with him?
20. Where was one of the men from?
Answer:
1. Clarke
2. Richard Blake
3. fire
4. library
5. Challoner
6. yes
7. a servant
8. Clarke
9. of my nephew
10. Sweetwater
11. the prairie town from which Blake had started on his quest into the wilderness
12. no
13. early morning
14. his object would be known
15. Challoner's being surprised and thrown off his guard
16. week
17. preparing for a journey
18. something to make varnish
19. 2 men
20. paint factory