When my name was reached at last the principal looked at me
inquiringly and then announced my inspiring mathematical subject.
I arose, walked to the front, and made my best bow. Then I said:
`I waited until yesterday because I knew absolutely nothing about my
subject'--the audience laughed--`and I could find nothing either
here or in the library at home, so last night I reviewed Saintine's
masterpiece, "Picciola."'
"Then instantly I began to read. I was almost paralyzed at my
audacity, and with each word I expected to hear a terse little
interruption. Imagine my amazement when I heard at the end of the
first page: `Wait a minute!' Of course I waited, and the principal
left the room. A moment later she reappeared accompanied by the
superintendent of the city schools. `Begin again,' she said.
`Take your time.'
"I was too amazed to speak. Then thought came in a rush. My paper
was good. It was as good as I had believed it. It was better than
I had known. I did go on! We took that assembly room and the corps
of teachers into our confidence, the Count and I, and told them all
that was in our hearts about a little flower that sprang between
the paving stones of a prison yard. The Count and I were free
spirits. From the book I had learned that. He got into political
trouble through it, and I had got into mathematical trouble, and we
told our troubles. One instant the room was in laughter, the next
the boys bowed their heads, and the girls who had forgotten their
handkerchiefs cried in their aprons.
Pages:
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28