Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-04-12
HOW NELLIE WON THE DAY.

! ! ttHOn. NELLIE WON IHE DAY.
Gray clouds drifted across the sky,
and q chill wind swept over the fields,
and whist1ed round the corner of the
/ old red school-house; but the group of
children, clustered about the doorstep,
noticed neither, so interested We're they
in some object that they were eNamin-
ing.
81 It will be the greatest fun. alive!"
exclaimed a large boy in muller.
:, ,,s Indeed. it will.'' assented rosy
checked girl, whom her companion
called Maggie. b =.
81. and how she will jump" squeaked
little Tommy Green, who had a cold in
his head. .-.s1 .;s.ss,sr .~sH .' -
There comes Nellie LAWSON" cried
| two or three, as a sweet-faced maiden
emerged from the school-house; ..1et us
tell her about it. -.
s'What are you all talking and laugh
ing about?' asked the newcomer;
'.can't know the joker r -z...
"Of course you can, said Maggie.
"Just see this rat, that Ben Mott has
caught and the boy with the muller
swung a gray rat round by the tail. r7
Nellie gave half-suppressed scream,
and then, seeing that the animal was
dead, asked: 'sWhat are you going to
do with it?'' . -.
"Why, tomorrow is the first of
April" explained Ben, '' and we intend
to play trick on that shabby Ruth
Baker, 49, ' .'' g
"She is dreadfully afraid of rats and
MICE" continued Maggie, ''almost goes
into fit, at the sight of one-so we are
Il fol a
eel, and put it in her desk. She will
think it is something Auntie Piper has
sent her by Miss A1lis, and it will be
fun to see her scared when she opens it
don't you think sop '%
"No, [ don't!' responded Nellie,
while her cheeks glowed, and her eyes
flashed; .'and I think it is mean to treat
poor girl like Ruth SO. She is smart
er than any of US, if she does wear
patched clothes, and live in a tumble
down old shanty, and it mi CHIT do her a
great deal of harm.''
Nonsense shouted Ben angrily;
for he had grudGe against Ruth for
going above him in the spelling class.
g You needn't preach to us, Nellie Law
the trick..n
mo, indeed" said most of the
group, who did not care to lose their
sport. # e saso. ..irra "-
'And if you give Ruth O. hint before
hand. we will have nothing more TO do
with you,n added Maggie. e.. III
lin no tell-tale, - answered Nellie,
with some spirit, as she. turned off down
the road, leaving the mischievous
youngsters to prepare this unkind sur
prise for their schooImate.
va That same afternoon, as Miss Allis,
the school-teacher, was vending her way
toward her boarding-place, at Auntie
tPiper's. shegwas overtaken by her pet
pupil, Nellie Lawson, who, with her
scarlet hood falling back on her shout
.ders, ,and her fair hair streaming in the
wind came running down a side path to
meet her. "Oh, Miss Allis,'' she pant
ed, quite, breathless, Il was SO afraid |
might miss you; and I want to ask q
favor.f' 81 if' T''" St.5f
"What is it, Nellie?'' inquired the
s.Only to. lend me the school-house
key. until tomorrow morning, when
will be sure and bring livery early
+, But what can you want of it?''
80 1t is a secret, Miss Allis; but, truly,
WILL 90 no uitTul. ts-a
The teacher smiled at the girls ear
nestness, as she drew the key from heI
pocket, saying: II think I can trust
you, Nellie; but don t fail to be on hand
in good season. ~ ...-.
s.Oh no, indeed! and thank you so
very much!' and with a kiss, and
wise shake of her little head Nellie babe
her teacher goodbye and started
towards home.
The Widow Bakers home was mis-
cradle place, the cold air pouring
through the wide cracks in the boards,
and laughing at the wee bit of fire on
the hearth, that seemed too timid, even
to crackle .-
This gis7a~ poor SHELTER groaned
Mrs. Baker; .sbut | fear we may even
have less. for not penny's rent have I
paid for three months, and farmer Mott
has threatened to turn us out
So it was with a sad heart that Ruth
started for school, trying to plan some
means by which she could earn money,
at least to keep starvation from the
door. The scholars were all in their
places when she entered Opening her
desk, she saw package in one corner,
and-HOt observing the boys nuuS1ng
each other, and the girls giggling be-
hind their ''readers'-supposed Auntie
Piper had kindly sent her turnover,
as she occasionally did. Carefully she
united the string, and unfolded the
paper. Ben Mott stole up behind, and
peeped over her shoulder, while the |
others watched eagerly. They were not
for the girl uttered a
startled OH sat down suddenly, and /
covered her fac% with her hands; but !,