Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1911 — WHEN THE TABLES TURNED [ARTICLE]

WHEN THE TABLES TURNED

Willie Walker was a little 12-year-old chap with red hair and a “crossed”eye. And Willie Walker's father was just a poor carpenter, whose family lived in a simple cottage with unpretentious surroundings. Therefore, Willie, being a poor boy and not of very pronounced good looks, fell under the ridicule of most of his fellows at school and about the streets. Wherever Willie went he was sure to hear some boy’s voice call out to him: ’’Hello, Bricktop!" or "Hello, Sandspate!" or "Hello, there.'Urooked Lamp!" And, again, some tormentor would yell out to him as he went along: "Say, does the world look on the bias to you, Sandy Kid?" And Willie, being but a child, had not learned to tur n . a deaf ear to his tormentors. In fact, he was very much hurt by the epithets burled at him and was quite unhappy by being the object of ridicule. But in the town where Willie lived were two brothers—Syd and Tom Jackson—who felt the kindest sympathy for the carpenter’s little crosseyed son and who braved the jeers of the other boys to play with him. To be sure, Willie was not entirely ostracised by his fellows, but was so often made the butt of their ridicule and coarse, painful personalities that he felt he had no genuine friends save Syd and Tom Jackson. And often he refused to go on a picnic—where he had beenjnvited by Syd and Tom, knowing that some of the boys would surely spoil his day by poking fun at his red hair and crooked eye. One day Willie was lying on the grass under a tree, watching the clouds floating overhead and wishing that both his eyes were straight like other boys’ eyes, when he heard a man’s voice call from the gate: , "la this the home of William Walker, carpenter?" Willie quickly rose and replied that it was and that his father was William Walker but was at his shop in town busy with some work. “Well, I can wait till he comes home for dinner," said the man, coming in through the gate. "And while I’m waiting I’d like to speak with your mother."... .

Willie called to his. mother, who came upon the porch. And as soon as her eyes fell on the stranger she cried out in a happy voice: “Why, If it isn’t my dear brother Jim!” And then Uncle Jim took Willie In his arms and really kissed his frowzy red head declaring that he was a fine boy and worthy of his relationship. But that day, after dinner, Willie heard his parents in earnest conversation with his Uncle Jim and heard his uncle say: “Of course It can be done as slick as a ribbon and no harm done. And I’ve got the money to pay for it, too.” And it turned out that It was Willie’s crossed eye of which they were speaking, and on the following day they took him to the doctor’s office, and. after being there a little while, Willie came away with two straight eyes. But, of course, he could not use his eye that had been operated on for some days, and had to have it closely bandaged. But when the * bandage was at last removed by the doctor Willie was the happiest boy In town, for now he had..two eyes exactly alike and as fine and straight as any other boy’s eyes, too. As for his red hair —bah, he didn’t care a fig about that. And, to cap the climax, good. Jolly Uncle Jim bought the finest pony for Willie you ever saw and a saddle and bridle to go with it, or on it, I should say. Then you should have seen the way all those ugly, tormenting boys did try to get Into Willie’s good graces, for they coveted a ride on the pony. Besides, the report had been circulated about town that Uncle Jim was a very rich man (which was true) and that he meant to give his nephew all sorts of schooling and travel (which war true, also). . And to do Wll”e justice—for he was not a bad boy at heart —he did not resent the way the boys bad treated him In the past; but he never quite trusted any of them save Syd and Tom. But he treated even his former tormentors with kindness and made them feel quite ashamed of themselves. And to this day they regret having made fun of the kindest and most generous boy-in the world, Willie Walker.— Washington Star.