The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-19
HOW MISS JENKINS GOT OUT OF
IT.n


1t was writing afternoon
Miss Jenkins-and my scholars were
new. If you had ever been teacher.
my dear, you would realize what the
combinations of those two simple facts
implies-the WEAKNESS of body and the
utter vexation of spirit First, there's
the holding of the pen. If there's one
thing more than another in which
scholars exhibit their own origin
atty, it is in managing pen-holder.
Then, the ink. To some it was simply
ink, nothing more. To others it seemed
an irresistible temper, whispering of
unique designs, grotesque or 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 to tell you, l had more COR
recting to do than usual, for some OF
the scholars were stupid, and couldn't
do as wished; and others were care
less, and didn't try. What with the
looking, and stopping, and continual
showing, l felt my patience giving way,
and when / saw that three of the larg-
est boys had left the page upon which
they should have been practicing, and
were making unknown characters" in
different parts Of their books, lost it
utterly. That I viii not have" said
/, sharply. Il will punish any boy
who makes mark upon any but the
lesson page.
They were very still for while.
Nothing was heard but the scratch,
scratching Of pens, and the sound OF
my footsteps as | walked up and down
the aisles. Involuntarily l found my
self studying the hands before me as if
they had been faces. There was Harry
Sanford's large and plump, but flabby
withal, and not over-clean. His IN s
stood weakly upon their legs, seeming
to feel the need of other letters to prop
them up.
Walter Lanes, red and chapped. with
short, stubbed fingers. nails bitten of
to the quick, had vet a certain air OF
sturdy dignity; and his ems" if not
handsome, were certainly plain, and
looked as if they knew their place, and
meant to keep it.
Tommy Silver's, long and limp, be-
smeared with ink from palm to nail
vainly strove to keep time with 6
tongue which wagged, uncertainty, this
way and that, and which should have
been red, but was black, like the fin
gers. His ssn'sf had neither form mol
acomeliness, and might have stood fol
''y's," or even VS. quite as well.
.'a Then there was Hugh Bright.s hand,
hard and rough with work. holding the
pen as if it never meant to let go, but
his '.n's'' were s.n's'' and could not bt
mistaken for anything else.
At length / came to Frank Dunbar's
tlesk-dear little Frank, who had beer
a real help and comfort to me since the
day when he baslfully knocked at my
door, with books and slate in hand
His hand was white and shapely; fin
gers spotless. nails immaculate, anC
his .sn' s''-but what was it that sent s
cold chill over me as | looked at themi
All, my dear, if should live a thou
sand years, 1 could never tell you how
] felt when / found that Frank Dun
bar had written half q dozen letter!
upon the opposite page OF his copy
book!
''Why, Frank" said /, show did tina
happenP'
Il did it.''
.sYou did it before / spokep' said
clineing to forlorn hope.
mo, IN; did it afterward, / for
got"
s.Oh, Frank my good, good boy
How could youP ] shall have to punisl
you.''
Eyes, 'm''-the brave blue eyes look
ing calmly up into my face.
Every we'll: you may 60 to the desk. ;
He went, and / walked the aisle
again-up aud down, up and down,giv
ing caution here or q word OF advice
fR4Q
what / was about. My thoughts Wer'
all with the flaxen- haired culprit, wht
stood bravely awaiting his penalty
Vainly stroTe to listen to my inwarS
monitor. 1t seemed suddenly to haV'
become two-voieed-the one tantaliz
ing the other soothing-and, of course
the tones were conflicting.
You must punish him, said one.
You mustn't said the other.
.'He deserves il
she doesnit.'' f.aa
He disobeyed you fatty
ssBut he forgot-and he mas Away
been SO good. q 49,
But you promised. You have givel
your word. Here. are thirty boys +
whom you should be an example. d.
You think they are not watching you
Look at tlem!'' -.
did look at them Walter Lane
sharp black eyes and Harry Sanford
sleepy orbs We're fixed curiously upol
me. Nor We're these all. Gray eyes
blue eyes, hazel and brown eyes
were. regarding me intently; / almos
fancied that they looked at me plying
IL. / could not bear it
ATTEND TO your writing. boys The
s I walked SLOWLY up to the desk.