have had
to fight somebody or burst.

CHAPTER IV

LITTLE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Jack's life in school was much more endurable now that he had a friend
in Bob Holliday. Bob had spent his time in hard work and in rough
surroundings, but he had a gentleman's soul, although his manners and
speech were rude. More and more Jack found himself drawn to him. Harvey
Collins asked Jack to walk down to the river-bank with him at recess.
Both Harvey and Bob soon liked Jack, who found himself no longer lonely.
The girls also sought his advice about their lessons, and the younger
boys were inclined to come over to his side.

As winter came on, country boys, anxious to learn something about
"reading, writing, and ciphering," came into the school. Each of
these new-comers had to go through a certain amount of teasing from
Riley and of bullying from Pewee.

One frosty morning in December there appeared among the new scholars a
strange little fellow, with a large head, long straight hair, an
emaciated body, and legs that looked like reeds, they were so slender.
His clothes were worn and patched, and he had the look of having been
frost-bitten. He could not have been more than ten years old, to judge
by his size, but there was a look of premature oldness in his face.

"Come here!" said the master, when he caught sight of him. "What is your
name?" And Mr. Ball took out his book to register the new-comer, with
much the same relish that the Giant Despair showed when he had bagged a
fresh pilgrim.

"Columbus Risdale." The new-comer spoke in a shrill, piping voice, as
strange as his weird face and withered body.

"Is that your full name?" asked the master.

"No, sir," piped the strange little creature.

"Give your full name," said Mr. Ball, sternly.

"My name is Christopher Columbus George Washington Marquis de Lafayette
Risdale." The poor lad was the victim of that mania which some people
have for "naming after" great men. His little shrunken body and high,
piping voice made his name seem so incongruous that all the school
tittered, and many laughed outright. But the dignified and eccentric
little fellow did not observe it.

"Can you read?"

"Yes, sir," squeaked the lad, more shrilly than ever.

"Umph," said the master, with a look of doubt on his face. "In the first
reader?"

"No, sir; in the fourth reader."

Even the master could not conceal his look of astonishment at this
claim. At that day, the fourth reader c