The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-06-28
LOLA. or. THE song BIRD Or GLEN
ELDER

Perched high upon hillside stood
a brown school house overlooking
Glen Elder, deep, dark gorge,
where ran sparkling and singing
through sunshine and shade noisy
brook. Away to the right were
mills that sent up by night and day
busy whirr, and clustered about
were the humble homes OF the vii
lage Of Tuscorora, and looking rs
though they had struggled away
from its school house, or that build
ing bad itself played truant and
gone up the hill for the purpose OF
sliding down, TO gather wintergreen
berries. or catch 4 view OF the une-
qualed panorama. What il really
did accomplish was the appro-
priating all of the sweet summer
breezes, as well as the fiercest OF the
srow-laGen blasts during the long
winter months.
From one of the Eastern colleges
hod wandered thither a young gen
tleman named Leslie. as master Of
the pupils at Tuscarora. He was
tall, muscular fellow, with grave,
blue eyes and a wholesome color III
his face like that of winter apples.
He had arrived il early autumn.
and had stood in the doorway of
the school house, drinking in beau-
tiful draughts of nature when in her
most poetic mood. And every day
as he climbed to this eyrie toward
cloudland he paused and gained
inspiration from the pictures around
him, while autumn driited away
with all the gorgeous treasures OF
dead leaves, and the rigors of winter
shut down upon the little village.
locking with icy fetters the brook,
turning the hills into a melancholy
white waste, and rendering the path
to the school house a very toilsOme
one.
One day in February, as the sun
was beginning to melt away the
snow in little patches, the master.
as usual. sat at his desk and began
calling the roll Name after name
was responded to until he came to
that of Lolo Danforth.
Here, " was answered in a clear
voice.
Robert Danforth ?"
There was no response, and be
glanced over to the corner where
bent little dark face over her book.
"Where is your brother, Lola ?"
and receiving no response. he contin-
ued Playing truant, rs usual, |
presume, which is one of the vices
one is compelled to thresh out ii
fellow"
The face was lif,edfrom the book
burning red. while the great fash
ing black eyes were fastened upon
the face of the master as he finish
the rollcali and took up the lessons.
Presently q lank, red headed, wa
tery- eyed youth slunk into the
school room and his usual seat.
But be did not accomplish it so sly
" as to escape the watchiul eyes
of the master, who commanded him
to come forth and give an account
of himself.
The poor, halfwitted youth could
only reply by sniyeling excuses
They were not in the least respected
by Leslie, who, taking a stout birch
rod from its place on the val was
about to administer punishment
when lie was suddenly confronted
bv the dark and wrathfui face of
Lola, who exclaimed with almost
kissing utteraBce
"You must not strike Rob. In
deed you must not.
Go to your seat. commanded
the master.
He raised the rod and the heavy
blow descended. but not upon the
thinly clad boy. 1t fell upon the
pretty, round, plump shouide.s OF
Lola. for at the downward stroke OF
the whip, she had encircled her
brother with her arms. Her eyes
we're flashing through tears the
blow had deepened the scarlet on
her cheeks and lips, and she quietly
confronted the chagrined teacher,
yho exclaimed:
"Will Jon 90 70 your seat, Lola,
and leave this boy 10 the Well-mer-
tied punishment? Or. since yous
heart is too tender to witness it, you
may go home
"Never," answered the girl, fierce
IL. 81 tell you be shall not be