Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1884 — STRAPPLE'S BOY. [ARTICLE]

STRAPPLE'S BOY.

There never was an uglier boy than Strapple’s son. He was so ugly that no one ever referred to him as John Strapple, but as Strapple’s boy. He had a red head, eyes that did not seem to have been sufficiently lighted, ears that stuck straight out, ihotly complexion, hump shoulders, “slew” feet and a w alk that caused people to turn around in the streets and look at him. There were many boys of attractive physical condition that were more vicious than Strapler’s son, and there were certainly young fellows at school that were more stupid than he, yet Strappier’s boy, solely on account of his “shape,” waslookedupon as both vicious and stupid. The boy was painfully conscious of the cloud under which he lived, and it never occurred to him that he was designed for anything but to be ugly, until he suddenly found himself in love with the prettiest girl in school. To fall in love with a handsome girl seems to be the fate of an ugly boy. Of course he cannot help this, and certainly no one, especially the girl, thinks the less of him for it, yet his efforts to appear graceful, his premeditated smile and the care he takes in washing his hands almost up to the wrists, only tend to bring his homeliness into bolder relief. Strapple’s boy bore the affliction manfully. He tried to persuade himself that he was growing better-looking, and he carried a small round mirror in in his pocket—mirror through courtesy, for it was only the top of a blackingbox— to assist him in noting the progress he was making in that direction. Sometimes it would seem that he had made a great jump, and again, with the too critical eye of a lover, he noted tis increasing ugliness. Once he smiled at Minnie Scaler, his divinity, but she turned up her nose at him. This crushed him, and his appetite weakened under the blow. Ned Peters, the school bully, noticed the facial performance, and of course turned it to account. Ned was a handsome fellow, with snapping black eyes and hair that kinked all over his shapely head. He was a favorite with the girls, and the teacher—an old maid of much experience —often called him a little rascal and kissed him. “Let me see you smile,” said the handsome boy, approaching the ardent lover on the playground. “I want you to let me alone.” “What'll you take to grin at me like youdidatMinnie?” Strapple’s boy blushed, took off his hat with a feverish hand, put it on again, turned and walked away. Ned followed him. “What’ll you take—” Strapple’s boy wheeled around, struck Ned in the face, knocked him down and beat him unmercifully. The entire school arose in indignation. “The idea,” said the teacher, “for a great, big, good-for-nothing boy like Strapple's to beat little Ned,” although any one could she., that Ned was the larger. “He shan’t come to my school another day. Go home, you good-for-nothing thing.” • Strapple’s boy went home, and shortly afterward a note came from the teacher. The contents of this note were never known to the boy, but the fact that his father proceeded to administer severe punishment, led him to suppose that the communication was not of a friendly nature. After much sorrowful meditation, Strapple decided to send his son away, and shortly afterward the unfortunate fellow was posted off to a distant institution of learning. Here hexemained for years, not even coming home during vacation, for there never had been but one person in his native place whom he cared to see,, and even she had turned up her nose at him. He went into the law after finishing his scholastic course, and probably never would have gone home again, had he not received a letter announcing the illness of his mother. The people were all surprised to see a man of such fine form, for the boy had not neglected his physical education. After the recovery of his mother, ‘ the young lawyer accepted an invitation to dine at the house of old man Sealer, father of the once petulant Minnie. She wm, of course, more beautiful than ever, but not nearly so capricious, for when Strapple’a boy smiled at her, she smiled in return. After dinner, while

the young couple were alone, Strapple’a boy asked: “Do you remember the time you turned up your nose at me?” “What! I never did such a thing.” “Yes you did, when I smiled at you.” “Why, arn’tyou ashamed of yourself to sit up here and tell such a big story ?” “ Well, never mind.” “But you musn’t accuse me wrongfully.” * “I don’t accuse you wrongfully, but let it all go. jßy the way, what has become of pretty Ned ?” _ “He’s a guard at the penitentiary. He- drove a cart for a long time.but bls friends secured the penitentiary position for him, at a salary of thirteen dollars a month.” “Is the woman who taught our school still alive?” “Oh, yes, and is doing remarkably well. She married old Absalom Snarlwinder. His business is good, for no longer ago than yesterday, she told pa that he had already contracted for as many wells as he could clean out this season.” t 1 “You haven’t told me anything about yourself,” and as she blushed, he could see the paint and powder on her face. “You don’t want to known anything about me, do you?” “Yes, or I would not have asked.” She sighed deeply. “You haven’t heard anything, have you?” “No; what is there to hear?” “Nothing, only people always said I was in love with somebody.” “With whom?” “Can’t you guess?” “Don’t think I can.” “With—oh, you know.” “Swear I don’t” “With—yes, you do, you rascal * “Upon my honor I do not.” With you. There now, Mr. Smarty.” The young lawyer understood the situation. He saw the shallow insincerity of the woman. “I am very sorry to hear this,” he replied, arising and looking earnestly at the blurred picture of his youthful devotion, who seemed to grow ugly under his gaze. “When I was a boy I loved you. but because I was ugly you turned up your nose at me. Beauty may be proof against a slight, but homeliness is sensitive. So long, fair maiden.” Strapple’s boy married Jane Woopatch, who was once the ugliest girl in school. They now own the finest house in’ Arkansaw. Old Scaler’s daughter married a dog catcher.— Opie Head, in Arkansaw Traveler.