The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-07-15
GRAHDMA'S STRATEGY.

1t was one of those warm, bright spring
days when little children are frisky as
young lambs, and those of larger growth
feel the confinement of the school-room
irksome. The Mountville high school
was under the best of discipline, but on
this particular day the moral atmosphere
seemed surcharged with electricity.
The scholars were restless and their rec
iations imperfect The professor him
self was like n bottle of new wine, ready
to explode at the slightest disturbance.
The rhetoric class, composed of haH-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. al
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"
81 don't see the good of rhetoric, any
way, and it's an awfully dry, hard
study" said one
''You will remember, Miss Sophy.
that your class took up this study this
term by your own request. L warned
you that studying Blairs Rhetoric was
no child's play. But having undertaken
1t, l insist that You must do your best.
III You are not more studious L must re-
port you to your parents.
Better not report me-" said Clara
Williams, in low voice. not meant to
reach her teachers ear, but it did.
''Saucy girl, said he, angrily, ''you
may leave the class and so home. ] will
see You father this evening. My patience
is quite exhausted"
Clara hastily left the class and walked
home as fast as she could decorously.
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 a
flood of tears. HE had no right to speak
to me in that way" she said. ''and it
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 l must be a
comfort to papa another burst of tears).
oh, what shall L do? / wish l hadn't
flared up so-Fm always doing it; and
papa will be so angry If L had only
thought n moment Oh, dear, / wish
mamma had lived (more tears). What
shall L do? Poor papa! | wish l hadn't
spoken. Oh, dear-that hateful profess
sor-what shall / do?" and plenty more
of the same kind, which at last cumin-
ated in this ON go and tell grandma"
So down to the dear grandma's room
she went, aud told her all about it.
Poor child" said the old lady,
''maybe he won't come, after ALL
But he will, grandma said Clara
HE isn't man to say one thing and do
another; and papa is in such trouble
about Rob. Oh, I'm so sorry | spoke.
''Poor, dear Rob, said grandma. 81
don't believe word about his doing
wrong; it isn't like him; the president is
too hard upon him"
''But what can do grandma"
''Dear child, maybe you had better
see the professor, and tell him you are
sorry"
''But 1 shant have a chance. Oh,
there he comes up the walk this minute,
and Ann will show him right into the IL
brary where papa is-oh dearp'
well, dear, III see what L can do.
Perhaps can manage so you can see
him. l think he is gentleman, and will
be copsiderate. Is Mike at work in the
garden, dear?" and grandma hurried out
into the yard where Clara saw her the
next moment in consultation with the
gardener.
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, aud chairman of the
board of education. II was not an agree
able task, certainly, that he had imposed
upon himseIf-the complaining to such a
man of his only daughter's doings. The
professor almost repented his hasty
words; but they had gone forth, and
who should disannul 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.
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 hnve como to Won,
sir, upona very unpleasant errand." Just
at this point Fred. the small boy of the
family, rushed in like n hurricane, ex-
claiming, "Papa, grandma, wants You
out in the garden this minute; it's very
important.
Excuse me a moment. professor.
said the Squire, ''while / 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:
ooh, Professor Macy, am so sorry l
spoke as did this afternoon. and will
try never to do so again; but | wish you
wouldn't tell papa. l will 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
her. and before the astonished Professor
could find words to reply, her fathers
step was heard in the hall, and Clara
retreated
Esquire Willisms 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 ia
ask his advice about some trihing 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 wal
failing. He said to the Professor: "You
were about to tell me something about
the school, were you not?"
The Professor flushed. but managed to