|
|
Dalton
Roberts |
|
|
|
At one time in my life I had a problem with humility. My sixth grade teacher at the old Kings Point School took care of it for me. J.B. Smith was a stern-looking old gentleman who often forgot he was real tough and became kind and gentle. As soon as he thought someone was noticing his kindness and gentleness, he would slap that stern face right back on. In the seat to my right sat a boy from a poor family I will call Carl. He was great at sports but couldn’t spell “cat.” I was in his home several times and never saw a newspaper, book or magazine. It is no wonder he was not good with words. He copied off my test papers. That’s how he got by. One day we had a geography test and I decided to break him from copying. I slid a paper for wrong answers out on the far right of my desk so Carl could easily see it. In my lap I had a sheet for the correct answers. In answer to a question like, “What is the capital of Rhodesia?” I wrote an answer like, “Turkey’s Foot.” In answer to a question like, “What is the main product of Peru?” I wrote, “Cow manure.” For the mountain range of Brazil I wrote, “Gobbler’s Peak.” Every answer on the “Carl sheet” was completely ridiculous and I giggled inwardly all the way through the test. Needless to say, I turned in the correct answer sheet. When the day came for our test papers to be returned. Carl and I didn’t get our papers back. Before I could point this out, Mr. Smith said, “Carl, you and Dalton stay after class. I need to talk to you about your papers.” I was a little uncomfortable but had no reason to think Mr. Smith knew what I had done. I had pulled it off quite smoothly, I thought. Inwardly, I was strutting a little. After all the other students left the room, Carl and I approached Mr. Smith’s desk. He said to Carl, “Something went wrong with your test and I am going to let you take the book home and Dalton will help you get ready to take the test over after school tomorrow. You are dismissed.” After Carl left the room, he got up and closed the door because he noticed Carl was hanging around in the hallway waiting for me. He then fixed a cold stare on me and I think I remember almost every word he spoke. It went like this: “Dalton, you are one of the most fortunate young men in this class. Your father has a better than average job. He and your mother are intelligent and I am sure there are books all over your house. Instead of appreciating your advantages, you have decided to use your good brain to belittle the less fortunate. “I knew what you had done to Carl as soon as I saw his paper. He is a poor speller, yet he spelled all those ridiculous answers perfectly. That is all I needed to see to know you had set him up. You may not be as smart as you think. “What a cruel thing you have done to humiliate a friend. I wonder how well you might have spelled if you had lived all your life in a home with no books or magazines. “Unless you see what you did to Carl and are man enough to apologize to him, I hate to think what a pathetic human being you are going to become.” Carl was waiting on me outside. We walked home together and I apologized to him. He said, “Aw, that’s alright. I shouldn’t have copied.” I said, “No, it’s not alright. I don’t want to be like that.” I have never knowingly belittled another person since that day. A good scolding, tempered with mercy and a forgiving pal taught me instant humility. ~~~~~ To order your first edition copy of LONG JOHN CARDINAL & THE BEST OF DALTON ROBERTS go to http://ipspress.com/publishing.htm. Only $4.95 for an autographed copy.
|
