The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-11-12
ANN SMITH.

You don't know herr Well, I'm sorry
for that. Every town in the wide world
should possess at least one Ann Smith.
Listen, and ! will tell you of her, She
lived i'm a large, lOw-roofed, substantial
farm house, which stood beneath the
branches of lOrdly elm, and within a
stones throw of the red school house
under the hill, where we-my brother
sister and myself-received the ground
work of an education. .-,. .,.s
A babbling brook-in which, with pare
feet, eoften sported and fished for dace
ran between the two buildings, but 1t
did not sorye as barrier to us. In low
water, we could skim across its shallow
surface, stepping lightly from one rock TO
another when swollen by rains, as was
not unfrequently thelc Ease, we ran around
by the bridge and though we came
every day, we were always sure OF asmlle
and welcome from Ann Smith.
She was truly mother--in good deeds
to us all. It was her hand that bound
up the bruised arm and bleeding head OF
many an unfortunate scholar. She had
a neyer-failing remedy for the headache,
salyes for burns and bruises, which she
applied herself to the affected parts
whenever needed, and that was almost
daily; for the children, in their daring
attempts to climb the stone walls and
trees near the school house, caught sun
dry falls. d"
II was her voice that recalled our at
tention to the sehoOl-bell when we were
lettering about her yard 1t was hei
voice that warned US Of an approaching
shower, when we paused on our way
homeward, to build sand-houses by the
roadside and when, as school children
are wont to do, we quarrelled, and form
ing friends and enemies in separate com
panies, we drew up for a conflict, it was
her mild voice that restored peace anc
unity to the contending parties.
On cold, snowy, blowynights in mid
| winter. when just glance from the
schol-room window would cause one Il
shiver-when huge drifts Of snow were
piled one above another in on
homeward path, and the peltini
snow and sleet blinded US, 1
was her hospitagle door that was thrown
open, her pleasant voice that bade III
enter, and her whole heart that gave II
welcome. Many a night like this, wheI
the wind was blowing hurricane with
out, with some dozen shoeless, half-clat
children, who had, like ourselves, sough
shelter there, we have sat by the bright
blazing wood fire for hours, and listened
to the pleasant stories of Ann Smith
A large, thrifty pear tree grew in on,
corner of the orchard, and but littl
way from the house 1T hung loaded will
pears not yet ripe, and we school chill
dren used often to look wistfully at tn
lunches of tempting fruit, which coul'
be seen from the playground.
/ often wished with watering moutl
that we might have Just one ap ece, ant
one day-I will confessit, though | blusl
with shame at my covetous disposition
having gazed long at the delicious fruit
which was Just beginning to turn from
green toa light yellow, lspoke my wishS
aloud ... ..rH i
u" We can get the pears--I know W
can-jist rs easy as nuthin' at all, 10
Ann Smith has gone away and locke
up the house," said lean, black-eye
boy, who was always ready to lead u
into mischief. Since the first week c
his scholarship he had been christene
land rightly enough) Cloven-foOt
"How do you know she's gone" aske
tall, red-haired, freSkle-faced girl, wit
her sun-bonnet in her hand, where sh
always carried it, as her face demon
strated
81 seed her when she went up tn
hill" answered Cloven-foot.
" Hip hip hurra who's for pears ?
shouted one of the most daring of tn
boys.
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