Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-07-28
How Miss jenkins got Ont Of It.

lt was writing afternoon said Miss
Jenkins,-and my scholars were new. Ii
you had ever been teacher, my dear
you would realize what the combination
; 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 originality, it is in managing a pen
holder. Then, the ink: To some it was
; simply ink, nothing more To others it
seemed an irresistible tempter, whisper
, ing of unique designs, grotesque or 9TH
erwise, to be worked out upon desk or
jacket, or perhaps upon the back of one
small hand
Well, upon the afternoon of which l
; am going to tell you, had had more cor
recting to dc than usual, for some of the
scholars were stupid, and couldn't do as
l wished; and others were careless. and
didn't try. What with the looking, and
STOPPING, and continual showing, felt
my patience giving way, and when l
saw that three of the largest 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
L will not have" said /, sharply. 81 will
punish any boy who makes mark upon
any but the lesson-page."
They were very still for while. Moth
ing was heard but the scratch, scratch
Ing OF the pens, and the sound of nv
footsteps as / walked up and down the
afsles. lnvoluntarily, L found myself
studying the hands before me as if they
had been faces. There was Harry San
ford's, large and plump, but ilabby with
al, and not over clcan.. His ms" 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 off to
the quick, had yet a certain air of sturdy
dignity; and his ms" 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-
smcared with ink from palm to nail,
vainly stroye to keep time with tongue
which wagged. uncertainty, this way
and that, and which should have been
red, but was black, like the fingers. His
ms had neither form nor comeliness.
\ " s..
| ks" quite as well.
Then there was Hugh Bright's hand,
hard and rough with work, holding the
pen as If 1t never meant to let it 60; but
his ms were ms" and could not be
mistaken for anything else.
at length / came to Frank Dunbar's
desk-dear little Frank, who had been
real help and comfort to me since the
day when he bashfully knocked at my
door, with books and slate in hand. His
hand was white and shapely; fingers
spotless, nails immaculate, and his ms"
but what was it that sent cold chill |
over me as [ looked at them !? All, nv
dear, if should live thousand years, 1 |
could never tell you how I felt when |
found that Frank Dunbar had written |
half dozen letters upon the opposite |
page of his copy-bookl
"Why, Frank" said 1, show did that
happen?"
Il did it"
"You did it before 1 spoke p said /,
clinging to a forlorn hope.
mo, IN; did it afterWard. forgot"
"0h, Frank my good, good boyl How
could you? shall have to punish you."
"Yes, 'm,"-the brave blue eyes looked
calmly up into my face.
very well; you may go to the desk
He went, and L walked the aisles
again,-up and down. up and down, Civ
ing caution here or a word of advice
there, but not knowing, in the least. what
was about. My thoughts were all
with the fiaxen-haired culprit, who stood
bravely awaiting his penalty. VainIv l
strove to listen to my inward monitor.
1t seemed suddenly to have become two
voieed,-the one tantalizing,-the other
soothing,-and, of course, the tones were
conflicting.
"You must punish him." said one.
"You mustn't" said the other. :
"He deserves it"
"He doesn't"
"He disobeyed you fatty"
"But he forgot-and he has always
been so good"
"But you promised. You have given
your ward. Here are thirty boys to
whom you should be an example. Do
you think they are not watching you?
Look at themr'
L did look at them. Walter Lanes
sharp black eyes and Harry Sanfords
sleepy orbs were fixed curiously upon
me. Nor were these all. GRAY ewes.
blue eyes. hazel and brown eyes,-all
were regarding me intently; 1 almost
fancfed that they looked at me pitying-
ly. could not bear it.
ATTEND to your writing, boys" Then
walked slowly up to the desk.
> {" ou see how it is" said the trouble
some voice. "You will certainly have to
punish him."
But had thought of possible plan
Of escape. Frank" said l, "you have
been disobedient, and-you know what
said, but-you are such a good boy
mat can not bear to punish you-not
IN that way, l mean. You may go to the
foot of your class, instead"
"Id rather take the whipping" The
honest, upturned face was very sober,
but betrayed not the least sign of fear
nor was there the slightest suspicion of
4 tremble in the clear, childish voice.
"BJess your brave little heart" tho't
L "Of course you would! might have
Known it!' and again | walked the
lsles, up and down, thinking, thinking.
'You win have to do it, repeated the
1ofce. There is no other way"
IL can not,-oh, / can't" l groaned,
lalf aloud.
"The good of the school requires it.
fou must sacrifice your own feelings
md his"
Sacrifice his feelings LOYAL little
eul!--good as gold, and true as steel"
mo matter, you must do it."
II 1Cont"
[ walked quickly to the. desk. and
truck the bell. The children looked
Listen to me, boys" said
'Iou all know that Frank Dunbar
J one of our best scholars"
YES, 'm-yes. mr. came from all
arts of the room, but two or three of
ne larger boys sat silent and unsympa-
hetic
"YOn know how ambitious he is in