The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-09
4 TRUE STORY.
BY %. s. ADAMS.

l always recall with keen relish tho
joke which Fanny Burns played OF
her school-master. Ii was altogether
unprecedented and involuntary OF
her part, but that made it all the NOR,
enjoyable
Mr. Charlton was very dignified
stern at times, and prided himself OF
the strict discipline enforced in hi,
school. But Fanny Burns, with hel
black eyes, irrepressible love of fun
and ready wit, was almost too much
for him.
Fanny and | were good friends.
used to draw her home in nv sled
run races with her, give her dainty
morsels out of nv dinner basket, and
perform various other gallantries
suited to our juvenile ideas Of such
things. And when we were a little
older walked home with her. in
stead of drawing her, and made pur.
chases Of oranges, in lieu OF bestow-
ing on her tarts and baked apples II
was about this time that the mania
for writing notes took possession of u.
Although we saw each other before
school, at recess, at noon, and after, it
invariably happened that during study
hours matters OF sudden and vital
importance would arise, demanding
epistolary communication between Us.
Notes would be written and passed
from hand to hand until they reached
their proper destinations for there
was a mutual agreement between all
the pupils to perform such Offices
secretly and faithfully Sometimes,
indeed, we would sit near together
on opposite sides of an aisle, for in
stance-so that we could deliver our
missiveS directly to each other.
This practice Of writing notes was,
of course, strongly condemned, and
strictly forbidden, by our teacher and,
as Fanny and | were especial and
frequent offenders in this particular,
be managed to glance toward Us many
times in the course of day. We
were generally successful, however, in
eluding his watchfulncSs, and man.
ed to exchange great numbers OF
small bits Of paper, on which mess
ages were scribbled.
But one dav our hour Of grief
came-or at least | thought so, for
the time being. Fanny had handed
me several notes to which, Tor some
reason, | had neglected replying; and
soon came another, neatly folded.
which she reached over to me with
considerable exertion. Accompany
ing it was a lead pencil, though for
what purpose | could not imagine. |
was just reaching over 20 receive it
from her hand, when a loud, stern
voice paralyzed us both for an instant.
There. Miss Burns : have caught
YOU at it at last -
Fannv's bright ewes dilated with
fright. | shrank back in my seat,
leaving the note still in her land
You will please step forward,
Miss Burns, and bring that note with
you"
Fanny obcved with a subdued air.
though not without first turning up
her nose furtively. | trembled with
apprehension, more for her sake than
my own.
Stand up there Oh the stage" " said
Mr. Charlton, stcrnly. He took the
note from her.
Il have often spoken of the despi-
cable practice of writing notes" be
said, turning so as TO view Fanny
and the whole school simultaneously,
of its wTOngfulness and bad inAu-
ence. | have given warning repeat
edly that it must not be done, and
have threatened to visit with severe
punishment the first offence of the
kind coming within my knowledge
The silly and baneful love trash with
which they are filed should never
pass between young people. In fact
persons of your ages should never
say to each other by word or letter,
what YOU would not be willing the
whole world should hear | cannot
say that | am surprised, Miss Burns,
but am deeply grieved, that you
should disobev me in this instance, as
YOU doubtless have in many others.
1t becomes my duty to make an ex-
ample of you, which j shall do by
mortifying you. | presume you
would dislike exceedingly TO have me
read H,is note aloud TO The school"
Fanny started violently, and seem
ed about TO speak, but checked her.
self. Mr. Charlton paused, but she
was silent / who was watching in
tently, noticed curious expression on
her face.
is there anything written in this
note that you would be ashamed to
have the pupils hear p
NO. sir" she faltered.
Il presume not !" said Mr.. Cbarl-
ton. sarcastically.
Was it possible, thought l, that
Fanny's apparent difficulty in speak
ing was caus, d by suppressed merri-
ment Her face certainly indicated
it, for while she bit her lips her
shoulders moved convulsively, and
there was an unmistakable sparkle in
her black dancing eyes | watched
the proceedings with intense interest
II shall read it aloud,n said Mr.
Charlton, relentlessly, and evidently
somewhat excited with the prospect
of making such an impression as he
expected to, land | hope iimay prove
a lasting lesson to you"
He untolded the paper with POM
pous air and held it before his face.
The attention of the pupils was al