Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-17
The Little Red Cushion.
"l,arntlia l.vurts!'

Of a small district school: ST. SIN II that
you could almost put The whole thing
under good-s;zcd umbrella, and walk
away with it.
"Yes'm," came back in mock little
voice, from the other end Of the
room.
" I'm not going to hear tlia noise
any longer. No, | am not' declared
Miss prim. 50 do you just walk ND
here to the desk, this very minute!'
Two small feet stumbled out into the
passage between the well worn wooden
benches; and the little girl walked
slowly Mp to The big desk, til she stood
exactly in frolt O. the sharp Little eyes
Of The teacher, who looked her all over
keeuly from Ia ii to too..
What have yoL been doing to make
al the children laugh?' at lust she
said.
Nothin'," said Corre,ia, dragging
her we'll worn shoe back AL forth over
the old school room lloor. And then
with IL small stop, that Just saved her
from n faischool. added, "Oniy"--
"Only triM??" said Miss rrin. sharp.
ly, and adjusting her spectucies, for
better sight. Speak out nov ~
Nothin', again said Corn.lia, nut
with gasp she came up again. II
didn't mean ter; -
cant help what you mc0nt to do
replied Miss Prim severely, and she
opened "a drawer under the Old desk.
"Now then -
She brought out what looked like a
wad Of paper, but when unro!le1, il
proved to be a huge cap, which she
proceeded, with great celebration. TO
tit on Cornelia's head
I've had trouble enough, s,c said,
"all this morning, so that | can't hard
ly hear myself think. Now, III see if
/ can't stop it. Wait bit; you must
get the corn cob il -
"Oh, don't want Mut," cried Corne-
liza, under her iool's-cap, which Miss
Prim had jlmmod, like an extinguishor,
over her coUntenancr; and watching
tinidly the teachers movements. ION
no, | don't"
"But it's Just what you're going to
hore," said Miss Prim, with nod, $50,
open your mouth" And she held 10
big corn-coh, ready to pop in, the mo-
ment she saw the two rows Of little
white teeth.
SO Corneiin had the molthful slip
ped III, and then. in obodlenca to Miss
Prlm'a command. she mounted little
cricket III from: Of the teachers desk,
and turned n comical face OF distress to
the other scholars, who, one and ali, set
M a laugh at her appearance
She couldn't cry, because tho corn
cob wouldn't let her; nor yet could she
beg the teacher TO take it out, and give
her an; other punishment under the
sun, than to make her tho laughing
stock Of the whole school.
All she could do was to stand there
in utter misery, rolling her eyes at the
clock to watch its slow hands point out
her release.
Now exclaimed Miss Prim, having
fixed her as n public warning for all
other naughty children, Z" shall see
what You have been hiding in your
desk that has made such disturbance
among the scholars, I shall see for
myself"
SO she walked down between the two
rows of benches, having all eyes upon
her, till she came to Cornelia's little
old desk. Without seconds pause,
she flung back the lid and exposed to
view-rh0t
A little heart-shaped pincushion of
red silk, sewed with painstaking care.
and stuck with pins that formed
crooked little letters, but each one set
by loving fingers. And the letters
were Miss PRIM!"
The little, thin, stern teacher stag.
gered back, and rubbed her eyes.
Then she picked up the little cushion,
and started with rapid footsteps for her
desk.
"Cornelia, out came the corn-cob
at the same moment" what is this
for?' sbo asked, holding it up.
You said" mumbled Cornelia, rub
bling her mouth with her fat little
hand; that twas your birthday to.
morrow; l heard you tell Aunt John
son so-an' wanted to s'prise you'll
did,"
"Well, you hare" cried Miss Prim,
throwing her thin arms around her,
and giving her dozen or more kisses,
that nearly knocked the breath out of
her. Don't you ever foget that:
I've had the biggest surprise I've ever
had in my life, and n lesson, too!' she
added, with humble little droop to
her voice.
Children" and she toro of the
fool's-cap from tho little brown head
before her, then turned, and faced
them all. '' l ought to wear this. my
self-only," and smile quivered over
her thin lips, suppose it wouldn't
look very well for your teacher to be
so punished for her carlessness.
But" and she held as high as she
could reach the little red pincushion
for them all to see, "this will always
say to me Be sure, before you find
fault! Youth'e Companion.
1t is not generally known that q bar
rel of whisky saved Washington during
the last war, but such is the fact. When
Gen. Early struck our line of defenses,
In 1854 he flunl than, without ,,o,, -,