The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-12-20

owned five hundred times Means fiy
hundred acres, he would have givel
/ it all just at that moment to have an
initiated the whole tribe of Means
Except Bud. Bud was a giant, bu
a good natured one. He thought h,
wodld except Bud from the Genera
destruction. AS for the rest, he men
tally pictured to himself the plensdrt
of attending their funerals. There
was one thought, however, between
him and despair. He felt confident
that the cordiality, the intensity, and
the persistency of his dislike of ST:
Means were such that he should never
inherit foot of the Flat Creek bot
toms e..-. =,----s sz---.-----.-~
! But what about Bud? What if he
joined the conspiracy to marry him tc
this weak-eyed, weak-headed wood
nymph, or back-woods nymph?
If Ralph felt it misfortune to be
loved by Mirandy Means, he found
himself almost equally unfortunate in
having incurred the hatred of the
meapest boys in school. Hank Ban=
ta, low-browed, smirky. and crafty,
was the first sufferer by Ralph's deter
mination to use corporal punishment,
and so Henry Banta, who was COM
pound Of deceit and resentment, never
lost an opportunity to annoy the young
school, master, who was obliged to
live perpetually ON his guard against
Henry's tricks.
One morning, as Ralph walked
toward the school-house. he met little
Shocky. What the boys first name
or last name was the teacher did not
know. He had given his name as
Shocky, and all the teacher knew was
that he was commonly called Shocky,
that he was an orphan. that he lived
with a family named Pearson over in
Rocky Hollow, and that he was, the
most faithful and affectionate child in
the School. On this morning that I
speak of, Ralph had walked toward
the school early to avoid the company
of Mirandy.. But not caring to sus-
tain his dignity longer than was nec-
essay, he loitered along the road,
admiring the trunks of the naples,
and picking up beaoh-nut now and
then. Just as he was about to 60 on
toward the school, he caught sight of
little Shocky running swiftly toward
the teacher, but looking from side to
side, as if afraid of being seen.
We'll, Shocky, what is it?' and
Ralph put his hand kindly on the great
bushy head of white hair from which
came Shocky's nickname. Shooky
had to pant minute.
'Why, Mr.. Hartsook,' he gasped,
scratching his head. 'they's pond
down underneath the school house,
and here Shocky's breath. gave out
entirely for a minute.
yes, Shocky, I know that. What
about it2 The trustees haven't come
to fill it up, have theyI'
'Oh! no, sir; but Hank Banta,
you know and Shocky took anoth-
er breathing spell, standing as close
to Ralph as he could, for poor Shocky
got all his sunshine from the masters
presence. ....
Has Henry fallen in and got
ducking, Shocky p ..s
oh / no, sir; he wants to git you
in, you see.'
We'll, I won't go in, though,
Shocky.'
But, you see, he's been and gone
and pulled back the board that. you
have to step on to git ahind your desk;
he's been and gone and pulled back
the board so as you can't help a-tippin'
it up, and sowsin right in eff you
step there. b.
And so you came to tell me. There
was huskjness in Ralph's voice. He
had, then, one friend in Flat Greek
district-poor little Shocky. He put
his arm around Shocky. He put his
arm around Shocky just d momenti
and then told him to hasten across to
the other road, so as to come back to
the school house in direction at right
angles to the masters approach. But
the eantion wus not needed. Shocky
had taken care to leave in that way,
and was altogether too cunning to be
seen coming down the road with MIR.
Hartsook. But after he got over the
fence to 60 through the tshugar camp
Tor sugar orchard, as they say at the
East,9 he stopped and turned back
once or twice, just to catch one more !
smile from Ralph. And then hied |
away through the tall trees very
happy boy, kicking ldnd plowing the
brown leaves before him in his perfect
lelight, saying over and over again,
How he looked at mel how he did |
ook. ! And when Ralph came to
he school-house door, there was
Shocky sauntering along from the 9TH
r direction. throwing hits of limestone
It fence rails, ard smiling still clear
lown to his shoes at the thoug int of the
masters kind words.
what -quare boy Shocky is =
emarked Betsey Short, with a gfggle.
He just likes to wander round alone.
see him a-comin' out of the sugar
amp Just now He's been in there
lalf an hour And Betsey giggled
gain. For Betsey Short could gig
lie on slighter provocation than any
ther girl on Flat Greek.
When Ralph Hartsook, with the
uiet, dogged tread that he was cult
ating, walked into the school-foonr,
e took great care not to seem to see
he trap set for him. But he care
,ssly stepped over the board that had
cen SO nicely adjusted. The boys
Tho were Hanks confidants in the
lot were very busy over their states,
nd took pains not to show their dis !
ppointment.
The morning session wore ON with
ut incident. Ralph several times !,
lught two people looking at him.
me was Mirandy. Her weak and /,
atery eyes stole loving glances over