Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-16
LITTLE BETYE.
BY JOY ALLISON.

BY JOY ALLISON.
Willie Dick was sitting beside the fire
place in his home with his spelling book
open before him; but he seemed not to
be studying, for his eyes were fixed on
the fire. Presently he spoke:
oh, mother, such funny little girl
came to school this morning! She is
closs-eyed, and her hair is white as tow
and just as fuzzy, and her face is real
brown. | never saw such a queer girl.
The boys made all manner of fun of her /:
but she was just as spunky! She would
strike back at them and say: Bet We
five cents We better le' me alone Bet We
five cents We dursn't do that aginn She
doesn't say anything without that Bet
We five cents and the boys have nick
named her Betye'"
What is her name?" asked Mrs Dick.
" Her name is just as odd as everything
else about her" said Willies sister Lucy,
who was the schOol-teacher, looking up
from her writing She says it is Mon
ruin Mcclure. | couldn't believe any
child was really named Monruin But
1t IS written so in her book-a T0atng
Reader, that may have been her great
grandmother's, it looks so old and vel
low"
. read in that book when I was a
little girl" said Mrs. Dick, smiling.
" tried to keep the boys from plagu-
ing the child, for ] feared she would not
come again, and she don't know her let
tiers, although she is nine or ten years
old said Lucy
when Lucy was hearing her read. "
Willie put in, she stopped right in the
middle of the lesson and stopped down
Il Z
now she kept right on, only saying:
Bet ye | want to tie up my shoe Oh!
it was too funny"
home" said Lucy, 4 called after her to
say, Come again tomorrow, Monruin.
Never mind the boys; they will behave
better, hope she called back: Bet We
five cents | don't care nickl for those
boys So | hope she'll be there to-
morrow"
Nearly every evening after this Lucy
or Willie had something to tell about
queer little Betye. They found she was
known all through the neighborhood by
this name, though Willie had supposed
the boys had originated it on the day
she first came to school She lived with
her father in a log cabin in the middle
Of small clearing He was miner and
was often obliged to leave her alone for
days. But she seemed CHEEKY little
soul, who made the best Of her lot and
her brave reply, 81 Bet We five cents |
don't care" when asked if she were not
lonely or afraid in his absence, was as
philosophical as it was comical.
1t seemed that, so far as he knew, he
was good father to her and provided
amply for her needs In his fatherly pride
and anxiety that she should look - as
we'll as the best" he bought her the most
enthusiastically colored and figured calico
dresses. These were all made by a
nelghboring old woman according to the
fashions of her own childhood, and the
ruH1e with which she always adorned the
bottom OF the skirt, to satisfy the ambi-
ton Of the father, touched the childs
heels as she walked.
Lucy found her lamentably ignorant of
all hOusewifely arts, except the indiS-
pensable one of making corn-fritters, and
she undertook to teach her to knit and
to sew in the noon recesses.
When the father heard of this he was
so much pleased that he came to the
school-house one day to thank the
school-miss" And, that she might
have better opportunity for such teach
ing and give Betye a pleasure, Lucy
asked him to allow the child to spend
the time of his next long absence with
her.
THANK ye Thank We kindly, school
miss. Ye're right kind to my little 'un,
and ye shant lose by it, nuther l want
to have her larn to knit and sew, and if
you'll lend a hand I'll be tarnally crate
full, besides the dust"-by which ,he
meant besides the money he would pay
her. And you can larn her some pray
ers and such truck, if We like. She tells
me you say some in the school, and
that's where you're mighty right.
Her mother used to say some,
and she would ha' liked it if l
could ha' teached her baby some
but my memory amt fust rate and
I've kind o forgot, so l can't get EN- as
they should be, SO I've mostly let 'em
slide"
Lucy promised to do what she could.
1t was not task to teach little Betye,
she was so good-natured and glad to
| learn; and she was quick and bright, too.
So as the winter went BY she was often
at Mr.. Dicks, learning many useful les
sons. And many broad, shining gold
piece was forced upon Lucy's acceptance
by the grateful father, and laid away for
the furnishing of the new home which
was to be, by and by, when young Ralph
Nilburn should complete his studies and
follow the family out into these Western
| wilds, where he would be a home mis-
sionary to the scattered flock, who were
| yet without a shepherd
There was no school the next summer
| Everybody was too much occupied with
work and there was no money to pay the
| teacher. But the Dicks were determined
there should be a Sunday-school, and
some of the neighbors helped, and a
church in Ohio sent them out some of
their used-up (but not worn-ouD Sabbath
! school song books, and Ralph Milburn a