A lean, awkward boy came to the
door of the principal of a celebrated school one morning, and
asked to see him. The servant eyed his mean clothes, and thinking
he looked more like a beggar than anything else, told him to
go around to the kitchen. The boy did as he was bidden, and
soon appeared at the back door.
"I should like to see Mr. Slade," said he.
"You want a breakfast, more like," said the servant
girl, "and I can give you that without troubling him."
"Thank you," said the boy; "I should like to
see Mr. Slade, if he can see me."
"Some old clothes maybe you want," remarked the servant
again, eyeing the boy's patched clothes. "I guess he has
none to spare; he gives away a sight." And, without minding
the boy's request, she went about her work.
"May I see Mr. Slade?" again asked the boy, after
finishing his bread and butter.
"Well, he is in the library; if he must be disturbed, he
must. He does like to be alone sometimes," said the girl
in a peevish tone. She seemed to think it very foolish to admit
such a fellow into her master's presence. However, she wiped
her hands, and bade him follow. Opening the library door, she
said:-- "Here's somebody, sir, who is dreadful anxious
to see you, and so I let him in."
I do not know how the boy introduced himself, or how he opened
the business, but I know that, after talking awhile, the principal
put aside the volume that he was studying and took up some Greek
books and began to examine the boy. The examination lasted for
some time. Every question the principal asked was answered promptly.
"Upon my word," exclaimed the principal, "you
do well!" looking at the boy from head to foot over his
spectacles. "Why, my boy, where did you pick up so much?"
"In my spare moments," answered the boy. Here was
a poor, hardworking boy, with few opportunities for schooling,
yet almost fitted for college by simply improving his spare
moments.
