[Sidenote: Country Boy]
When LeRoy Fennimore came back from the west he found himself in a novel
situation because, in the Pennsylvania village, manners were more
cultured than he had ever been taught in the little mountain home in
Dead Man’s Gulch.
“LeRoy, will you bring us the United States map from the hall, please?”
came as the first request from his new teacher. “Nope, I don’t know
anything about your maps here,” was the blunt reply of the
twelve-year-old boy, staring boldly into the eyes of his teacher.
“Why, LeRoy, I’m sorry to have surprised you with something too hard for
you.”
“No surprise on me. Only I don’t know nothing about maps.”
“Well, we’ll drop the matter this time. Next time, perhaps, you can get
it for me,” was the good-natured remark of the teacher.
“Don’t ’spect you can get me to do much. I tell you I don’t know your
ways of doing things here yet.” continued the irrepressible boy.
Miss Faust bit her lips for a moment, under the conviction that she had
a new problem on her hands. LeRoy exhibited some ignorance of the
suitable words for the occasion, a little spunk, more laziness of
attitude due to association with cattle-men and miners.
Miss Faust cautiously watched LeRoy at the close of school. She helped
him find his lost cap and began a systematic plan of cultivating his
friendship. At her request he brought many interesting relics and curios
from home, she showed cheerfully on the map where he had lived some two
thousand miles distant. He continued his rough manners, but all the
disagreeable spirit vanished, as the two became good friends.
Occasionally, Miss Faust gave him some little hints on good manners. He
listened with bashful interest and in his crude way warmed up to her
kindly sympathy.
Not long after she asked LeRoy to bring her a box of chalk from the
store-room, but this time she immediately added, “Timothy (picking one
of the smallest boys), will you show LeRoy where the chalk is kept?”
LeRoy immediately responded and presented the box to Miss Faust, with an
air of satisfaction.