Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-16
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
cross-eyed, and her hair is white rs tow
and just as fuzzy, and her face is real
brown. never saw such 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 dursnt do that aginr 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 us odd as everything
else about her" said WilIie's 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
it is written 50 in her book--a Y0uRg
Renter, that may have been her great
grandmother's, it looks SO old and yell
low"
Il read in that book when / was a
little girl" said Mrs. Dick, smiling
Il 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, q she stopped right in the
middle of the lesson and stopped down
and when Lucy said Don't do that just
now she kept right on, only saying:
Bet ye ] want to tie up my shoe Oh!
1t was too funny"
"And when she was starting for
home" said Lucy, Il 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 IA 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 ncighborhoOd 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 log cabin in the middle
of a small clearing. He was a miner and
was often obliged to leave her alone for
days. But she seemed "A CHEEKY little
soul, who made the best of her lot, and
her brave reply, Bet ye 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 las
well as the best" he bought her the most
Enthusiastically colored and figured calico
dresses. These were all made by a
neighborng old woman according to the
fashions Of her own childhood, and the
rutfle with which she always adorned the
bottom of the skirt, to satisfy the ambi-
ton of the father, touched the child's
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 "A 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 we. Thank We kindly school
miss. Ye're right kind to my little 'un,
and we shan't lose by it, nutber. ] want
to have her larn to knit and sew, and If
you'll lend 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 i
could ha' teached her baby some !;
but my memory amt fust rate and
I've kind o. forgot, so ! can't get 'em as
they should be, SO I've mostly let EN-
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
4 b. .,~ nl..~ - Al hny rxh trIt