St Stan Illustrated Story

J ohn had an elder brother, Peter. From earliest childhood Peter had evinced a keen intelligence and capacity for learning. His parents, therefore, did not hesitate for a moment when the time came to decide whether to send him to school. In John’s case it was different. He manifested a deep, innate piety, but he seemed to have no ability whatever for study or school work. In the family circle he was even somewhat looked down on, and it never occurred to his parents to send him to school, as they thought that he would not be able to manage even the first elementary grades. Consequently, when John reached school age his parents refused to enroll him at the village school. It must have been heart-rending to see the bewilderment and pain in the youngster’s eyes as he watched all his companions and acquaintances marching off to school on open- ing day. How much this seven-year-old boy must have longed to be able to share in the new adventure that was to affect their whole lives. Tradition tells us that one day his father was induced to permit him to attend class for the day, on a trial basis. His first encounter with the teacher was evidently a humiliating experience, for he was imme- diately sent home as being completely incapable of keeping up with the rest of the class. 22