The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-03-05

| uAVc lOT IL when, IcCOllcCLluR herself,
she slid down again into her seat, with
the painful consciousness that all eyes
were upon her. The pair that terrified
her most were those upon the platform
not Miss Peters eyes, but those of another
teacher who had come into the room dur
ing Becky's nap.
where did you come from9'' asked the
woman, sharply, for she was indignant at
the interruption of her class.
Biscuit City, a'am," was the prompt
reply. .. ''..
"A land productive of biscuits and
rude girls" returned the teacher, face
tiously, at which the other scholars, par
ticularly the older ones, laughed most
oblieingly. ..,.... =,
sunless you can command yourself,
you had best return there at once," she
continued. ~ .~1~
Wild Becky did not need much urging
on that score. AS quickly as possible
she sprang from her seat, and vaulting
through the open win dow, swung herself
down to the ground as neatly as boy
could have done it, for she was in wrath
So off she trotted, never looking behind
her until she brought up at her kitchen
door. ...s. .'sr#a
Through the opening she could see her
grandfather bending over the big brick
oven. "... .s.-. a3a f
"Sakes alive, school amt out yet, be it,"
he asked, lifting himself up to get good
view of the clock. 49,. ---
Becky flung herself down on the steps
and poured forth Ter injuries, winding
up with declaration Of indepeI ience.
"lll never 60 again; never. You will
not ask it of me, will you grandfather9'
"Not if you're set ag'in it," said the old
man with sigh; and he passed into the
buttery and brought out a heaping dish
of pancakes.
II thought as how you'd come home
hungry, and so made lot of 'em.'
Becky had a weakness for pancakes,
and was quite touched with the attention.
She moved chair near them and tried
to eat; but som chow they seemed to stick
in her throat. The idea that her grand
father was sorely disappointed made them
very hard to swallow. .s.... H..
"What makes you care so much about
my being lady2" she said at length.
laying down her knife and fork and look.
ing fxedly at him. ..
The old farmer wiped his glasses care
fully.
81 dun know" he answered; |'p'r'aps
it's cause your mother would have liked
it; she used to take to larnin', and to
gentle ways, and grand folks, as naturally
as horses take to hay. wanted you to
be like her; but laws me! tain il natur,
that you could be that kind any more than
hen could be a gosling. 1t don't matter"
eyes it does, grandfather" and Becky,
Jumping up, wound her arms around his
neck and shed tear or two on the back
of his old waistcoat.
ut isn't that I'm 50 against the leara-
ing" she continued: ''it's the folks I
can't stand"
"Well, some of ems rather tryin','
answered the farmer; ''but there is one
powerful queer thing in human natur'.
If you feel ag'in a man, do a favor for
him, an you're sure to like him better.
There's Squire Adams, I used to hate him
like fury; but since I've been in the habit
OF lending on him my yoke of oxen, I've
got the better on it."
"Well, grandpa, I'll go to school Just
one day longer to lend 'em to his daughter.
Such fixed-up city girls havn't the slight
est idea how to have a good time. 1
might bring them down here and show
them how it is DONE"
I So, to the surprise Of everybody, the
Following day Wild Becky appeared at
school. The scholars all laughed as she
came tearing in, and making queer lit
tie bob which did duty for courtesy.
begged to be forgiven yesterdays mis-
dOings.
Perhaps Miss Peters knew by instinct
what penance this was to the child. or
it may be that. in spite of her prim lit
tie way, she had real sympathy for
Becky, and disapproved of the offensive
manner Of her assistant. At all events
the matter was lightly treated, and the
wild girl" was soon established in her
own seat.
At recess the girls paired off two by
two, but no one spoke to her.
"Dear, DEAR" thought the child: mo
body isn't nobody here unless they are
couple, and I ain'tr'
When the afternoon session broke up
that day, hay-cart with two big work
horses stood drawn up before the fashion.
able establishment. The floor of the
cart was strewn thickly with fragrant
hay, while old Farmer Miller in his shirt
sleeves, held the reins. Cynthia Adams
was one of the last to leave the school,
room. Who can describe her astonish-
ment when, upon gaming the yard, she
beheld Wild Becky standing on horse
block, and actually inviting these CITY
girls to 'hitch en-" Most of the scholars
looked as Mortified as Cynthia had OK
pected; but Mile King and four or five
other jolly souls tumbled in for the fun
Of it.
Farmer Miller shouted to Miss Peters
hat he'd bring 'em home safe and sound
afore bedtime, and cracking his whip,
they were soon rattl1ng down the hill,
the girls getting such shakeup as thew
had never had before; but they held on
to the poles like monkeys, filing the way
with their merry shouts and laughter,
and by the time they reached the long
winding road throug Oh the pine woods,
they were thoroughly enchanted with
their novel mode of riding. .... ~.
Such queer homelv house as it was
before which they stopped! Becky didn't
try to hide any part of it, but made them
welcome to the whole, and to the great