The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-22
GRANDMA'S STRATEGY.

- 1t was one Of those warm, bright spring
days when little children are frfsky as
voting lambs, and those Of .larger growth
feel the confinement of the sehool-room
itksomed The Motntville high school
was Under the best of discipline, but on
this particular day the moral atmosphere
seemed surcharged with electricity.
The scholars we're restless and their rec
iations imperfect. The professor him
self was like a bottle of new wine, ready
to explode at the slightest disturbance.
| The rhetoric class, composed of half-a-
dozen young girls, was usually tractable
enough; but to-day their minds were.
wandering off In the fields among the
violets and spring beauties, to the neglect
of their studies. -
young ladies, said the professor. 'T
think never had rhetoric class before
capable of doing so well, that did SO.
poorly, You ought to be ashamed of
your standing this mouth" HIN +.
I don't see the good of rhetoric, any
way, and it's an awfully dry, hard
study" said one aa5oat u aa =e57a sat )
'You will remember Miss Sophy,a
that your class took up this study this
term by your own request I warned
you that studying Blair's Rhetoric was
no child's play. But having undertaken
it, [ insist that you must do your best.
Ii you are not more studious [ must Re.
port you to your parents. F" - Wa, ..5, o.. ~,
"Better not report me, said Clara
Williams, in q low voice, not meant to
reach her teachers &. ear, but it did. -
''Saucy girl" said lie, ahgrily, "y0u
may leave the class and go home.n Twill
see you father this evening. My patience
is quite exhausted" tas. 80 81 ff,,x. 81.
Clara hastily left the class and walked
home as fast as she could dec0r0usly.
She entered the house and reached her
own room without being seen. She was
angry when she left the class, and her
rapid walk bad not cooled her temper.
She threw herself upon the couch in q
food of tears. He had no right TO speak
to me in that way" she said, s"ahd II
will be mean in him to report me to pa
pa. Poor papal He has trouble enough
about Rob, without hearing bad reports
of me; and mamma said [ must be 4
comfort to papa (another burst Of teafs).
Oh, what shall / lo?o'I wish / hadn't
1ared upGso-Im always doing it; and
| papa will he SC, angry! If I had only
thought d moment Oh, dear, l wish
mamma had lived (n1ote' tears). What
shall [ do? Poor papa!i wish [ hadn't
spoken Oh, dearAthat hateful profes.
sor-what shall dog" and plenty more
Of the same kind. which at last culmiu-
ated in this: en- go and tell grandma. p"
So down to the dear grandma's room
she went, and told her all aaboutit.
''Poor child" said the oldoda,ly
''maybe he won't come, after all. ts.,s.
"But he will, grandma, , said Clara
''He isn't man to say one thing and L,
another; and papa is i'll slicl, trouhl@
about Rob. Oh, I'm so sorryaI spoke"
..'Poor, dear Rob, said grandma, IT, 81
don't believe q word about. his, doing
wrong; it isn't like him; the president is
too hard upon him. fA' "' at'' 1sios
"But what can L do, grandma?'' sIags-
/ "Dear child, maybe you had better
see the professor, and tell him hi you are
sorry f.,-.l-,
''But I shan't have a chance. Oh,
there he comes up the wall7t this minute,
and Ann will show him right into the Ii
brary where papa is-ohy dearp' 10 81, a5at
''Well, dear, I'll see what [ can do.
Perhaps can manage SO you can see
him. I think he is a gentleman, and will
be considerate. e Is Mike at work in the
garden, dear?' and grandma hurried out
into the yard where Clara saw, Der the
next moment in consultation with the
gardener. .' ''@. 49, .'.' ~ %
Meanwhile Professor Macy was not in
the most placid frame of mind. Esquire
Williams was the rich man of the place, OF
high social position, and chairman OF the
board of education. 1t was not an agree
able task, certainly, that he had imposed
upon hinlselfAthe complaining to such a
man of bis only daughters doiugs. The
professor almost repented his hastY
words; but they had gone forth, and
who should disannrl them? SO he climb
ed the stone steps of. the Williams man
sion and rang the bell, conscious of SEN
sations similar to those he had exper-
fenced when going to the dentists with
an aching tooth $40 ~ gaoze4I iaaes
Squire Williams received him cordi-
ally, and very naturally inquired after
the welfare of the school. The professor
replied to his questions to the effect that
all things were moving on smoothly.
'But," said he, 81 have come to you,
sir. upon a very unpleasant errand. Just
at this point Fred, the small boy Of the
family, rushed in like a hurricane, ex-
claiming, "Papa, grandma, wants you
out in the garden this minute; it's very
important. :" PIT tAa" F. en'aA 81
FFExcuse me a moment, professor"
said the Squire, while I set this boy
an example of filial obedience.
+ As he left the room by one door Clara
entered by another. and with face all
bathed with bushes and tears, ex-
claimed: sltsa.syrt 3. g, vi
'fOh, Professor Macy, 1 am so sorry
spoke as I did this afternoon, and will
try never to do SO again; but I wish you
wouldn't tell papa. Twill promise any
thing you ask, and | will apologize be-
/ fore the class tomorrow if you will only
not tell papa. He is having trouble
| about brother Rob- The President has
been, writing to him, and we are afraid
Rob will be expelled if he doesn't do
better; and mamma said [ must be a
comfort to poor papa. ....,...
Here fresh burst of tears interrupted
4 her, and before the astonished Professor
could find words to reply, her fathers
step was heard in the hall, and Clara
retreated.
Esquire Willisnls had found the errand
! to the garden less important than he an
ticipated from the urgency of the mes
sage His mother had sent for him to
ask his advice about some trifing mat
ters-only the transplanting of some cur
| rant bushes that Mike was engaged in.
As he returned to the library he began
to fear what he never observed before.
that his dear old mothers mind was
falling. He said to the Professor: "You
were about to tell me something about
the school, were Won not?''
The Professor flushed, but managed to
say: sob, nothing very Important
4 am sorry to trouble you, butt Clara III
the next room behind the drapery said
Tt viii he so mean if he tells now, but
we really need a new globe and more
/ chemical apparatus. And Think. sir. the