Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-02
WILD BECKY.

WILD BECKY.
| If there was one thing that the country
| folks OF Millville were proud OF, over anG
above the new organ IN their "meetin'
house," il was the Millville boarding
school, which capped the very topmos,
pinnacle Of their village. A light |
upon hill, which shed its literary radi
ance over the whole place
Cynthia Adams was the only day
scholar; but she was the squire's daughter
and it was matter of course that he1
schooling should be something beyond
that of tine rest of the village girls.
| One day, as the scholars were hanging
over the school-yard fence, or sitting in
groups on the steps waiting for the school
bell to ring, they heard a man with 8
lusty pair Of lungs shouting, 'sGee, haw
| git up thar!'' in voice SO loud that il
threatened to shake the hills.
"That is one of OLD Miller's whispers,
do believe" laughed Cynthia. "He's q
| farmer about here, with roaring voice
Such queer fellow as he is to- be sure.
/ wish you girls could see him.
II wish might" answered fun-lovine
Mile King. ''Does he live far from
here2''
"Hls house is way down by the edge
of the town, beyond the pine woods; they
call the place Biscuit City,
"WhY? Because they have 50 many
biscuits there?" asked dozen voices at
Gnce.
Cynthia shook her head.
~ guess it is because they don't have
them," she said; ''perhaps they wish they
| did, ana so called it that. All really
know about it is that there does not seem
to be any one there to cook much, any
way; for Farmer Miller lives alone with
his granddaughter, girl about our
age"
Couldn't she make buscuits?' per-
| sisted Millie, unwilling to give up the
idea that they abounded at Biscuit City
:" Becky! I'd like to see anything
decent that Wild Becky could make. No
one in the village will have anything to
dowith her, for she's such wild, harum-
scarum thing, and so green, too, that
you'd mistake her for grass, just as like
| ~ as not.'''
Cynthia stopped abruptly, tor the
"Geehaws" sounded nearer every moment.
and now pair Of oxen came numbering
over the hill, followed by rickety hay
cart, at the end of which was poised a
bareheaded young person in a cloud OF
dust. Her ample bonnet swung from the
top of one Of the poles which formed the
sides of the cart, evidently for the pur-
pose of proving to the passers by that she
possessed such an article, though she did
not choose to wear it. She looked up at
| it rather wistfully. however, as her com.
panion, Farmer Miller, with laundering
ordinations, drove the cart up to the
| school-house gate.
"Pile out, Becky!'' ne roared, land
we'll soon fix It with 'em here. Don't be
skeered. gal. Be you the school-marm?
The question was addressed to Miss
Peters, the principal, vino at this juno
ture came politely forward.
II haven't much larnin' myself, ma,am !"
he continued, 'but Pm bound that nv
gal here shall have as good a chance as
the. rest Of 'em. She's a good gal, Becky
is, only trihe wild-like, and needs SCI
ting bit I'm better hand at settling
bills than lively young creatures like
this one, so if you'll tend to one, I'll tend
to t'cther;' and handing the poor girl
over, tumbling her bonnet after her, he
was halfway down the hill before Wild
Becky bad made up her mind whether
she would be settled or not.
1t was very disagreeable standing there
with all the girls staring at her, she
thought: and glancing shyly out from un
der her long lashes, her eyes rested glad
lY on the familiar features of the sources
daughter.
How do, Cynthia?" she said, noddine
in such a civil way that itsurprised her
self.
Cynthia looked blankly into her face a
moment without making the slightest
sign OF recognition, then wheeling around
! on her heels, she turned her back square.
~ upon her.
A litter went around the yard; every
one seemed amused but poor Becky, who
shut her mouth tightly, and her heart toe
for that matter, and fairly hated her kind
As she joined the crowd squeezing into
the school house, she wondered why she
had ever consented to be brought tc
school. The old wild life perfectly con.
tented her. To roll about for hours I'm.
der the wide-spreading oaks with the
friendly squirrels, or to chase the brook
as it dashed gayly down the hills, was
much pleasanter than tie society of 9th.
er girls, she had always thought.
But the fact was, her grandfather had
taken it into his dear old head to make 8
lady Of her, and rather than disappoint
the kind soul who had done so much fo1
her, Wild Becky had made a desperate
effort to- plume herself down that morn.
ing into a civilized girl, and mingle with
her ellow-beings.
It was harder even than she had i'm.
agined; the close school-room almost
stif1ed her, while the dull, monotoneus
hum of voices had such Supplying eff
feet that, before she had been seated
long, her head dfoped on her desk and
she fell asleep. She was awakened by
something tickling her nose; putting hel
hand up quickly great bouncing butter.
I L.