Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-15
HOW MISS JENKINS "eOT OUT or IT."

HOW MISS JENKINS "GoT OUT or IT."
IL was writing afternOon"-said
Miss Jenkins-and my scholars new.
IL you had ever been teacher, my
dear, you would realize what the com.
bination Of those two SIMPLE facts i'm
plies-the WEAKNESS of body and the
utter vexation of spirit. First, there's
the holding of the pen. II there's one
thing more than another in which
scholars exhibit their own originality.
IL is In managing a pen-holder. Then.
the ink; TO some IL was simply ink.
nothing wore. To others IL seemed an
irresistible tempter. whispering of
unique designs. grotesque OF otherwise,
to be worked out upon desk or jacket,
or perhaps upon the back Of one small
hand.
Well; upon the afternoon Of which
am going 10 tell you, l had had more
correcting TO do than usual, for some
OF the scholars were stupid, and could
not do as / wished; and others were
careless. and didn't try. What with
the looking. and STOPPING, and contin.
nal showing. l felt my patience giving
way. and when saw that three Of the
largest boys had left the page upon
which they should have been practic-
ing. and were making unknown char
acters" In different parts Of their books.
i lost II utterly. "That / will not
have" said /. sharply. III will punish
any boy who makes u mark upon any
but the lesson page"
They were very still for n while.
Nothing was heard but the scratch.
scratching Of the pens, and the sound
OF my footsteps rs / walked up and
down the aisles. Involuntarily. /
found myself studying the hands before
me as II they had been faces. There
was Harry Sanford's large and plump
but labby withal. and not over clean.
His ms" stood weakly upon their legs.
seeming TO feel the need OF other let
ters toprop them up.
Walter Lanes red and chapped, with
short, stubbed fingers. nails bitten OF
to the quick. had yet n certain air of
sturdy dignity; and his 'n's," II not
handsome. were certainly plain. and
looked as IL they knew their place and
meant TO keep Il.
Tommy Silver's. long and limp, be-
smeared with ink from palm TO nail.
vainly strove 10 keep time with a
tongue which wagged. uncertainty.
this way and that and which should
have been red. but was black, like his
fingers. His 'n's" had neither form nor
comeliness. and might have stood for
"v's." or even ''x's," quite rs well.
Then there was Hugh Bright's hand,
hard and rough with work, holding
the pen as IL IL never meant to let 90;
but his ms" were EMS" and could not
be mistaken for anything else.
At length 1 came to Frank Dunbar's
desk-dear little Frank. who had been
n real help and comfort TO me since
the day when he Oashfully knocked at
my door. with books and slate in hand.
His hand was white and shapely,
fingers spOtless, nails immaculate, and
his 'n's'-but what was IL that sent
cold chill over me as looked at them
All, my dear, II / should live thous-
and years, could never tell you how 1
felt when / found that Frank Dunbar
had written half dozen letters up II
the opposite page Of his copy bookl
"Why. Frank" said ], chow did
happenP"
81 did IT,"
"You did il before l spokeY" said !,
clinging to a forlorn hope.
"No, I'M, l did il afterward. l for
got"
"Oh. Frank my good. good boyl
How could youP l shall have to pun
lsh you"
"Yes. 'm"-the brave blue eyes look
ing calmly up into my face.
VERY we'll, you may go to the
desk"
He went, and / walked the aisles
again-up and down, giving n caution
here or word of advice there. but
not knowing in the least what 1 was
about My thoughts were all with the
naxen.haired culprit who stood bravely
awaiting his penalty. Vainly 1 strove
to listen TO my inward monitor. II
seemed suddenly 10 have become two
voiced-the one tantalizing, the other
soothing-and Of course. the tones were
conflicting.
you must punish him." said one.
"You must n't," said the other.
"He deserves IT,"
"He doesn't.
"Ie disobeyed you fatty"
"But he forgot-and he has always
been so good"
"But you promised. You have civ.
en- your word. Here are thirty bows
to whom you should be an example.
DO you think they are not watching
youY Look at themr'
i did look at them. Walter Lanes
sharp black eyes and Harry Sanford's
sleepy orbs were fixed curiously ON me.
NOT were these all Gray eyes. blue
eyes. hazel eyes, brown eyes-all were
regarding me intently; / almost fan
cied that they looked at me pitvin0lv
i could not bear IL
Attend to your writing. bows
Then l walked slowly up to the
on see how II Is" said the trouble.
to punish hira." ' "A'e
But 1 had thought of a Dos.,hlo
plan OF escape Frank" said i. s.von
have been disobedient. and-yo1 know
what said. but-you are such a 0ood
ooy that 1 cannot bear to punish YOU
not In that way. mean. You NAV
50 20 the foot Of your class. Instead .
I'D rather take the WHINING .
Ihe honest upturned face was verv
sober, but betrayed not the least sicn
of fear, nor was there the slightest