ns half done or postponed
with a hope that teacher wouldn't call on him, of a skating party with
Louise when a geography map should have been outlined, and of arithmetic
papers hurriedly done in the half-hour "B" class recitation period, to
be returned with a heavily penciled "20" or "30" across their surfaces,
arose to annoy him. His teacher spoke again.

"There are one or two boys and girls in the 'A' class who will have to
do better next month," John fancied that she was looking squarely at
him, "or they'll be sent down into the 'B' division."

That wasn't the worst of the matter. He had to take that testimonial of
disgrace _home_ to be signed, and duly commented upon, by his mother.

The card reposed safely in his pocket over Saturday, while he pondered
now and then upon the least painful method of breaking the news to her.
Sunday passed. On Monday morning, as he stood up from the breakfast
table, he broke out,

"Mother!"

"Yes, son?"

His courage vanished, and he was unable to go any further.

"What is it?" she asked.

"N-nothing. It was a peachy breakfast." He kissed her nervously and went
into the hall for his coat.

"I forgot to bring it," he told Miss Brown that morning school session.
At noon, he had the same excuse.

"Well, if it isn't here tomorrow morning, I'll send you home after it,"
that sophisticated supervisor of juveniles replied. And with this
uncomfortable fact ever in his mind, he set out on the afternoon journey
with the newspapers.

The weather seemed to have shaped itself for his mood. A curious, raw
dampness had crept into the still air, and overhead was a level, sullen
expanse of gray vapor. Locomotive smoke showed that the light breeze had
shifted suddenly to the south, and there was an indefinable attitude of
expectancy about, as if the big city with its varied expanse of
buildings and vacant lots and snow-filled parks was waiting for
something. As he stamped up the front porch steps and kicked the snow
from his shoe soles, a fine, almost invisible drizzle began.

Blame that report card, anyway. Perhaps if he presented it with the
"hundred" spelling paper that very day, his mother wouldn't be too
severe with him. He'd try that experiment in the morning, anyway.

But upon waking, he stared from his window in delight at the spectacle
which the capricious weather had formed for him. The rain had increased
as the night passed, and had frozen upon the chilled trees and house
roof