The Jester of St. Timothy's

I think you must be a believer in the maxim, 'Hit hard and

"It was a culmination of little things.-Oh, I sup

for a moment

ere would be small progress in the world if th

hat's one of my troubles. I suppose I ought to avoid ac

onate. At least I like to cherish that delusion with regard to mine; my legs ha

t call you tha

they been calling you

s that he had overheard in dormitory, and then d

attempting to be facetious rather than insolent; I have never seen anything to

cited the

ade? I think it's quite likely he was sincere; he's so enthusiastic over football that it doesn't occur to him that others may not share his interest. I don't

ws all thought they could do anything with me and I would be afra

nt, short of actual suspension, that we inflict. It seem

as hard on Collingwo

ll feel disposed to modify the punishme

that I've been to

as not displeased at th

for a young man to get his bearings in a place like this.-If you don't mind my saying i

Irving, "less-l

." The rec

" said Irv

e rector shook hands with

s the justice of the reports which he had given them, and so offer him an opportunity of lightening the punishment. But in this he was disappoin

voluntarily remitting part of their task. But he decided against this; t

sooner had the boys sat down than Blake, a Fi

was it that gave

owled and

Upt

at

ask

d at last by the appearance of the boy with the mail. Among the letters, Irving found one from Lawrence; he opened it wit

hat I passed all the examinations-which is more than you or I ever dreamed I could do-so I am now a freshman at Harvard without conditions. An

so gay, so exultant, so grateful that Irving, when he finished it, turned back again to the first page. When at last he raised his eyes from it, they dwelt unseeingly upon the boys before him; they held

gentler spirit; it was all very well for Westby, a boy and therefore under discipline, to exhibit a stiff and haughty pride; but it was hardly admirable that a master should maintain that attitude. The puni

ed Westby and spoke to him

k that considering the circumst

rised; then he shr

ng any favors

sure of martyrdom. I'll ask you to take a note to Mr. Elwood-he's in charge of the Study,

by looked at him curiously-as if in an effort to determine just how poo

ou please ask Colli

tten and handed it to him; there was no excuse for Westby to l

up and ask me to reduce your repor

ngwood answe

didn't you come

od though

g me that I wasn't going to give you the add

keep on educating me," observed Irving. "I think your perfor

note and handed

cked the note into his pocket with a f

y, as they departed in the direction of the S

a s

a half now. Wh

out sense," sa

e got scared. He knew he'd gone too far-

hink he's just trying

the Fifth Form-who played in the banjo club with Westby-was passing

you were in for three sheets; how do

a half-without my ask

ingwood t

his only

the door was open, and he had Kiddy in there with him. I guess he was lecturing hi

ed much on my account,-but I guess he couldn't stand for Lou Collingwood getting

s discovery, and as soon as poss

ke him do it?" said Collingwood. "Th

g just and generous!" observed Westby. "Oh

d some gratification the next Sunday when the roast beef was brought on and he carved it with creditable ease and dispatch; the astonishment of the whole table, and especially of West

its adventures. It had been for him a life in a library, in classrooms, in his own one shabby little room,-a cloistered life; in the hard work of it and the successful winning of his way he had been generally contented and happy. But he could not talk to these boys about "college life" as it appeared to them; and they very soon, perhaps by common consent, eliminated him from the conversation. Nor was he able to cope with West

ines and advertising columns. His mumbling manner, his expertness in bringing out distinctly a ridiculous or incongruous sente

their chairs and strain their ears eagerly for some fragment of the fun. At last at the head table Mr. Randolph took cognizance of this daily boiste

au courant, as it were." Westby was fond of dro

answered. "I understand that there is a rule against read

,-de bon c?ur,

pings which he had pasted together and which he began to read in his usual manner. Soon the boys of the table were laughing, soon t

h the Red Sox-The Woman Beautiful-Bright Eyes: Every woman is entitled to a clear, brilliant complexion-um-if she is not so blessed, it is usually her own fault-um-Candidate for pulchritude: reliable beauty shop-do not

om the platform at the end of the dining-room Mr. Randolph looked down and shoo

ng. "Westby!" He ha

estby looked

sk you to discont

is not a n

part o

nging newspapers to table-not against

ed," said Irving. "It

ange the rules to soak me. Well,"-he folded up his clippings and put them in his pocket,-"the class in current topics is

ry to be facetious,

nely. "If I have wounded your sensibilities-I

d to him as if Westby was always skillfully tripping him up, executing a derisive fl

m or the pursuit and battery of him with pillows along the corridors, invariably required Irving's interference to quell it. This task of interference, though it was one that he came to perform more and more capably, never grew less distasteful or less humiliating; he saw always the row of faces wearing what he construed as an impudent grin. What seemed to him curious was the fact that Allison after a fashion enjoyed-at least did not resent-the outrages of which he was the subject; after them he would be found sitting amicably with h

not so. They let him alone now entirely; he envied those masters who were popular-whom boys liked to visit on Sunday evenings, who were consulted about contributions to the Mirror, the sch

y, he said something that hinted his wistful and unhappy state of mind

ich would put you on a footing with the boys-outs

I could.

rk up an interest of some s

boys. I guess I'm just a grind. I shall never be of much use as a teacher; it's bad enough to feel that you're not u

's t

e use? If I can't learn to handle boys, how can I ever hope t

o have-you've learned more than most fellows of your age. It's less than a month that you've been here, and

hat. But I feel that I haven't it

did at first; they don't look on y

now what the trouble is-I want to be like

ute this statement, and Irvi

up in a cloak of dignity or mystery, they won't like you because they won't know you. If you show an interest in them and their interests, you can be as stern

ce; on the tennis courts near the athletic house boys in white trousers and sweaters were playing; on the track encircling the football field other boys mor

ng a group of these idle observ

at's th

doing, they'll be pleased. Westby, for instance, is running; he's entered for the hundred yards in the fall games,-likely to win it, too. Westby's your greatest trial, isn't he? Then why don't you make

hlete instead of a student in co

king on." They had reached the edge of the track; Barclay clapped his hands. "No, no, Roberts!" The boy who was practising the start for a

ied to grasp the significance of his

ning's choppy! Lengthen out, lengt

ned suddenl

ha

games next week. That will give you a standing at once-show ever

suppose an official

l put you right in touch with

ver? I've never fired

ld. That's what you need to make yourself; wake the fellows up to what you really are!-Now I must be off to my footb

l see me

ee you

hand and swung off

O