The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-04-28
RAN AWAY FROM SCHOOL.

KAN AWAY FROM SCHOOL.
"The's a crust on the swamp whis
pered Willy Bates to Jonathan GRAY
as they stood side by side at the black
board, doing sums in fractions. .sOne
half of one-eighth is one-fourth, an
one-half OF one fourth is one-half. The
crust is thick enough to carry an OK.
cart. You could slide mile from the
beech-tree, an your sledn carry
double"
IF a boy has one-fourth of dollar
and oranges are one-fftieth of dollar
apiece, how many oranges can he buvp''
asked Miss Bramhall of Jonathan.
IF a boy has one-half of a dollar -
spoke up Jonathan, in very HIGH
voice, IAN oranges are five cents apiece,
ne can 60 like lightning on the crust, if
he's got my sled"
All the scholars laughed, but Miss
| Bramhall, who was very strict, raped
on her desk with her big hickory ruler,
and said, severely, Come up to the
desk, Jonathan"
Very much surprised, he obeyed di-
rectly.
''Did you answer me as well as Won
could?' she demanded, looking at him
through her spectacles.
"Yes'm," faltered Jonathan.
s'Sit down there, them And she
pointed with her ruler at square block,
on which was painted in great black let
tiers, ''DUNCE."
jonathan was at once utterly wretch
ed. He dropped down upon the ipno-
minious seat, resolving if ever he did
grow up he would thrash Miss Bran
hall, or school-ma'am just like her.
within an inch of her life; and his ex-
element made his face look so that
Martha Miller, the telltale of the school.
cried, shrilly, Jonathan Gray's making
faces at you, teacher!'
Miss Bramhall, though a strict dis
ciplinarian, shrank from striking a
child's tender flesh; so, after turning
her ruler over twice and coughing gent
ly, she babe Jonathan sit on the
girls side," between Martha Miller
and Betsey Graham. Now, if there
was anything worse than the Ounce
block it was sitting with the girls: and
Jonathan, instead of obeying, sat still
and said stubbornly and distinctly, II
won'tr'
"You won'tp''
"No, ma'am, I won'tr' repeated
Jonathan.
There was nothing possible after this
challenge but the severest measures:
and, after short but sharp ferulino. he
was placed by force between the two
girls, who amused themselves till noon
by bestowing singing pinches on his
arms and legs.
Willy Bates was waiting when JON
athan came slowly down stairs after a
lecture from Miss Bramhall. and the
TWO boys walked a few steps in silence.
g | won't stan itr' cried Jonathan.
''Neither'd I!'' said Willy, with in
ense sympathy. Lets run away. an
ell her our folks hez company"
II shan't tell her nothin.' TN ies oo
If, an have this afternoon mvself"
80 IL AN We'll slide. Where'l
We meet?" And the two boys put
heir heads together and before thew
eparated it was agreed that thew
hould meet at the beech tree immedi-
tely after dinner.
But dinner was late that day at the
arsonage. Elder Dobbs from Manao A,
INK was there with Mrs. Dobbs. and ,
was plump one o'clock when they sat
own at table. sou
You shall have an excuse iona ,
ham," said his mamma, when she no.
ced that he fidgeted about and looked :
t the clock. "You are so rarely tor .
me-" '''''
"A fine boy, ma'am,'' said fat Mr..
oobs, IN sonorous voice, and bovine
ward Mrs. Gray. "He must be we'll !
rought up, ma'am, he has scarcely !
'oken since he came in. A silent how !.
a rare sight these degenerate DAVIS
Jonathan felt as il he were burnino :
p; and to add to his discomfort his o
apa looked at him smilingy, and said. +
drol voice, I'm afraid Jonathan g
sick F." He did. indeed, feel very nm :
'mfortable till he was again in the
rect, and running towards the swarn !
It'll his sled ARROW" at his heels. =
The old beech tree stood inst below
= summit OF steep hill, at whose S
Use stretched the swamp, which was
veral miles in extent, and was now Ii
dden beneath five feet of snow. ONLY b
re house was in sight, and that was . "
ny Tiny one on the eastern side of the R
amp. along which wound road sci.
IN Travelled. As far as the eve could y
tne snow was covered with a glit- 8.
ring crust, and it looked as thouob ST
eey were going to have an "awfuilv b
iendld time" as Willy said.
"Ihe's a way of steering by the r,
pes. said Willy, argumentativeiy, as d
sat down on the ARROW and
etched his legs. warmly cased in a,
stockings, on the curved ends of o,
runners. The girls do it, am so
es Jim Grange " " r.
: lou can't ever do it, said iona. w
IN Don't you see, you lust hold a,
by the ropes an that's all YOU can w
that as much as Jim Grange AM h,
Is know" al "
How can you tell till you try itp'' tn
sisted Willy. n om
amt a-goin' to try it though fnu
q ), Jonathan, doggedly. .'But YOU pa
n no very good humor Jonathan Dr.
J" the sled back few steps, and u