Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-05-03
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A TRUE STORE.

ed ana Involuntary on her part, but that
made it all the more enjoyable.
Mr.. Charlton was very dienfed
stern at times, and prided himself on the
strict discipline enforced in his school. But
Fanny Burns, with her black eyes. ire
pressible love of fun and ready wit, was
almost too much for him.
Fanny and were good friends. | used
to draw her home in my sled, run races
with her, give her dainty morsels out of
my dinner basket, and perform various 9TH
er gallantrics suited 70 our Juvenile ideas Of
such things. And when we were little
older l walked home with her. instead OF
drawing her, and made purchases of Oran-
ges, IN lieu of bestowing on her tarts and
baked apples. Il was about this time that
tho mania for writing notes took posses
sion of us. 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 impor-
tance would arise, demanding epstolary
communication between us. Notes would
be written and passed from hand to hand
until they reached their proper destina-
| tions for there was n mutual agreement
between all the pupils to perform such of
| fees secretly and faithfully. Sometimes,
indeed, we would sit near togcther-on op-
pOsite sides of an aisle, for instance--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, he managed to glance
toward US many times in the course OF a
day. We were generally successful how
ever. in eluding his watchfulness, and ma
naged to exchange great numbers OF small
bits of paper, on which messages were
scribbled
But one day our hour of grief came or at
least thought so, for the time being. Fan
ny had handed me several notes to which,
for some reason, had neglected replying /;
and soon came another, neatly folded,
which she reached over to me with consid-
cradle cXeriion. Accompanying it was 4
lead pencil, though for what purpose +
could not imagine. | was just reaching
over to receive it from her hand, when a
loud, stern voice paralyzcd us both for an
! instant.
There Miss Burns l have caught
you ut last ~
! Fauuy's bright eyes dilated with fright.
shrank back in my seat, leaving the note
still in her hand
You will please step forward, Miss
| Burns, and bring that note with you.
Fanny obeyed with subdued air,
though not without turning up her nose
! furtvely. 1 tremblcd with apprehension,
more for her sake than my own.
Stand up there on The stage said Mr..
Charlton, sternly. lie took the note from
| her.
Il have often spoken Of this despicablc
! practice of writing notes, he said, turning
SO as to view Fanny and the whole school
simultaneously its wrouSfnlness and
bad influence. | have given warning re-
peatedly that it must not be done, and have
threatened to visit with severe punishmen;
the first offence Of the kind coming within
my knowledge. The silly and bauefu love
trash with which they are filled should ne
yer pass between young people. In fact
persons of your ages should never say tc
each other by word or letter. what you
would not be willing the world should hear.
| cannot say that | am surprised, Miss
Burns, but l am deeply grieved, that you
should disobey ME in this instance, as you
doubtless have in many others. 1t be-
comes my duty to make an example of you
which shall do by naOnJybg you. pre-
sumo you would dislike exceedingly to have
me read this note aloud 10 Tie school.
Fanny started violently, and seemed
about to speak. but checked herself. Mr.
Charlton paused, but she was silent.
who was watching intently, noticed Gu
rious expression on her face.
is there anything written in this not
that you would be ashamed to baye the pu
pills hear p
No, SIR she laltered.
Il presume not y SAID Mr.. Charlton, sar
castically.
Was it possible, thought I, that Fan
ny's apparent difficulty in speaking wa
caused by suppressed merriment He
face certainly indicated it, for while she bi
her lips her shoulders moved convnlsivelv
and there was an uumistakable sparkle il
her black dancing eyes. / watched Tia
proceedings with intense interest.
Il shall read it aloud said Mr.. Charl
ton, relentlessly, and evidently somewha
excited with the prospect of making sue
an impression as he expected to, 'and
hope it may prove lasting lesson TO you
lie unfolded the paper with q pompou
air and held it before his face
The attention of the pupils was almos
breathess, and the hush of expectation wa
profound.
But instead Of reading the note MI
Charlton looked at ii with an expression {
utter astonishment. Perplexity, disma
and anger fitted by turns across his face
| Wnlcn was Hually ONerSpreau Wy NioIel
red flush. He turned to Fanny furiousl,
WAS this done on purpose to entrap mt
Miss Burns q ..... .....
No, sir.' ...... ..-...... ..... u. ..
The astonishment of all knew no bound
now. The scene was ineXplicable to a
except the two chief actors in it.
What does this blank piece Of pape
mean p
An audible litter suddenly arose. lik
the first patteriag of q summer showei
The true state of the case began to daw
upon our minds
Fanny was using all her energies in er
deavorins to obtain a sober and respectfr
air toward her qucstioner. ... .-
d, lie didn't answer my note, she said
'and so l was going to hand him that pec
of paper and pencil t0-io-as-a--sorf
hint y
\ The litter now sweled into roar, in a
instant every boy and girl in the schoo
room laughed ineontrollably. Fanny bl
ried her face in her handkerchief, and ais
laughed violently, bat silently. Peals an
cheers arose, and il was simply impossib
TO pursue further serious treatment oft
o subject.