entlemen with pantomimic
actions in a few words which now I know were English words but at that
time I could not tell if they were Chinese or Hindoo. They tried to make
me understand that Mr. George N., whom they knew I was looking for, as
they had heard him speaking of me and they saw my photograph, and they
were waiting notification of my coming, and that they were struck by
ecstasy at my sudden appearance, he was at breakfast and that he would
soon be back so I had better step into his office and rest myself while
waiting for him. The expectancy to meet my friend George N., it
lengthened every moment for me waiting in that little office.
Twenty-four years since I saw him last when I was only ten years old,
and even if I had not seen his photograph in all these years I could
distinguish him among ten thousand. He was my first teacher in the
grammar school; neighbor in my home and a very great distant relative.
He always took especial interest in my scholarship. My childhood and
school days were not all that I could desire for me, to be, for I was an
orphan, yet it was that orphan who always carried the first or the
second honors in the annual examinations. It was for this reason,
perhaps, that my teachers were all well pleased with my progress. The
past is only a memory, yet when we look back in the light of our
sincerity we can trace every point and every reason that contributed to
our success or failure in our lives. It is not a vision neither is there
a mere kinetoscope procession. The High Priest is here waiting to
meet his teacher with the same solemnity as in the old school days when
he had to meet his teacher after some of his occasional mischiefs. With
these and other agreeable memories relishing my time in that office, I
heard a loud applause in the store and the words "Father is here,"
aroused my inquisitiveness and before I could leave my chair, there was
at the door of the office standing the man whom I wanted to see. Sturdy
and resolute with two slow steps he now extends a welcome hand to me and
as he called me by my childish nickname in response said, I, my teacher!
Yes, said he, How do you do my Father? Why didn't you let me know when
you were coming so I could meet you at the pier; How long have you been
wandering to find this place? And many other complimentaries, but, you
must, he went on saying, change your appearance at once, for I am not
going to disgrace myself and you too, if we dare to walk on th