Part 6 (2/2)
”And I fancy these lectures and readings the School Committee are arranging will be a good thing,” the young man said. ”We'll slip a little extra information to the boys and girls of Polktown without their suspecting it.”
”Sugar-coated pills?” laughed Janice.
”Yes. The old system of pounding knowledge into the infant cranium isn't in vogue any more.”
”Poor things!” murmured Janice Day, from the lofty rung of the scholastic ladder she had attained. ”Poor things! I don't blame them for wondering: 'What's the use?' Marty wonders now, old as he is.
There is such a lot to learn in the world!”
They talked of other things, too, and it was the appearance of Jim Narnay weaving a crooked trail across High Street toward the rear of the Inn that brought back to the girl's mind the weight of new trouble that had settled upon it.
”Oh, dear! there's that poor creature,” murmured Janice. ”And I haven't been to see how his family is.”
”Who--Jim Narnay's family?” asked Nelson.
”Yes.”
”You'd better keep away from such people, Janice,” the young man said urgently.
”Why?”
”You don't want to mix with such folk, my dear,” repeated the young man, shaking his head. ”What good can it do? The fellow is a drunken rascal and not worth striving to do anything for.”
”But his family? The poor little children?” said Janice, softly.
”If you give them money, Jim'll drink it up.”
”I believe that,” admitted Janice. ”So I won't give them money. But I can buy things for them that they need. And the poor little baby is sick. That cunning Sophie told me so.”
”Goodness, Janice!” laughed Nelson, yet with some small vexation. ”I see there's no use in opposing your charitable instincts. But I really wish you would not get acquainted with every rag-tag and bob-tail in town. First those Trimminses--and now these Narnays!”
Janice laughed at this. ”Why, they can't hurt me, Nelson. And perhaps I might do them good.”
”You cannot handle charcoal without getting some of the s.m.u.t on your fingers,” Nelson declared, dogmatically.
”But they are not charcoal. They are just some of G.o.d's unfortunates,”
added the young girl, gently. ”It is not Sophie's fault that her father drinks. And maybe it isn't altogether _his_ fault.”
”What arrant nonsense!” exclaimed Nelson, with some exasperation. ”It always irritates me when I hear these old topers excused. A man should be able to take a gla.s.s of wine or beer or spirits--or let it alone.”
”Yes, indeed, Nelson,” agreed Janice, demurely. ”He _ought_ to.”
The young man glanced sharply into her rather serious countenance. He suspected that she was not agreeing with him, after all, very strongly.
Finally he laughed, and the spark of mischief immediately danced in Janice Day's hazel eyes.
”That is just where the trouble lies, Nelson, with drinking intoxicating things. People should be able to drink or not, as they feel inclined. But alcohol is insidious. Why! you teach that in your own cla.s.ses, Nelson Haley!”
<script>