Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-15
snuGy Kitty.

Kitty liked to go to school--even to
the old fashioned district school. 1t
would have been very tedious, perhaps,
but the lessons were short, and Kitty
learned them easily. The most OF her
time she employed in writing letters to
her playnates, and in making pictures
on her slate. / cannot hold her up as
model, certainly. | am just telling
the truth about one little girl. She
almost always loved her teachers, but
sometimes she gave them trouble.
Mist Laney's second term was near
its close. She had been at Kitty's
home good deal, and Kitty had
learned to feel no particular restraint
in her presence out of school. She
liked to make Miss Laney laugh.
It was rather mean to take advan-
tage Of this in school, but Kitty did
not realize it, until she had gone too far.
She found that she couls say things
that made the scholars giggle, and it
delighted her to do so Miss Laney
gently reproved and warned her, but
ut first she could detect merry twink
lie in the teachers eye aud she was not
afraid SO far, Miss Laney had never
punished her.
Kitty grew so bold that the teacher
was obliged to do something about it.
She made Kitty take her book and go
and sit between two little boys, on the
boys side of the house But Kitty had
just said something that set all the
scholars laughing, and she did not feel
that she was at all unpopular as she
sat there among the boys She made
pretence of studying desperately, but
those who sat near could see that she
held her book upside down, Miss
Laney observed it, and said:
Il am afraid | must keep you after
school, Kitty"
go don't Miss Laney, don't said
Kitty in tones of mock entreaty. "We
are going to have griddle-cakes and
molasses for supper.
"You Will remain after school, said
the teacher sternly.
Kitty was sobered, and played no
more pranks. School was dismissed
and all went home but the teacher and
Kitty, and five Geography scholars,
who were kept in to learn the lesson
they had failed to get in time for the
usual recitation. Kitty sat beside
May Turner, who was laboring away
on her lesson. May whispered to
Kitty
"Miss Laney Is just rs mean rs she
can be. | only missed one question,
and oftentimes she don't mind ii we
miss more than that
Kitty glanced ut Miss Laney. The
teacher looked very tired and sad as
.,I. 4 ,,.1 -,
tents. Possibly there was some truth
IN Mays accusation, bat poor Miss
Laney had so much to weary and dis
tract her, especially when "A bright girl
like Kitty took to cutting up that
it would not be strange if she did in.
justice to some,
kitty, you may come here, said the
teacher, and Kitty with reluctant heart,
went very slowly to her desk.
80, Kitty" said the teacher, and
stopped.
There was love and there was re-
proach in her voice, and there We're
tears in her eyes, Kitty dropped her
face in her hands and sobbed She
felt, rather than thought, how she had
abused Miss Laneys love and conf
dence, now she had taken advantage of
her affection and put it to such n trial.
The teacher waited minute and then
asked softly:
"Iou won't do so any more, Kitty ="
The child tried to answer. but only
sobbed the harder.
Z" am sure you will not give me any
more trouble, Kitty. Now YOU may so
home. ,
Poor Kitty ate lightly of the griddle-
cakes and molasseS that night She
was glad that Dora, her sister, was
going to party and was to much oc-
cupied to observe her troubles. Her
mother had company IN the evening
and the ladies probably thought that
the little girl that lay on the sofa. with
her face turned from the light, was fast
asleep. Far from it. kitb's heart was
very heavy. She felt that she had
proved false somehow, and that Miss
Laney would never again love her MS
she used to. She could not see It all
clearly, but | Will tell you what she did
three weeks after, at theclose of school
IN die meantime, Miss Laney had no
meta fatthful pupil than Kitty.
The last day came, and At its close
Miss sIuney distributed ee.-e ornamen-
tai cards with her name written on
them. A little girl who sat next 70
Kitty, whispered
"She has given you the very pret-
tlest one. !