The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-04-04


When half an hour had elapsed he
returned to the classroom and resumed
his lessons, but his manner, ever kind
as it was, seemed to have added to it an
incomprehensible gravity, which APP
peared even sadness.
Sal did not go back to her hut, but
walked to the back of the school and
sat down on block of stone. The day
passed, yet she barely moved. None
of the children stopped to see what had
become of her; she heard them leave
school, but did not stir. Evening came,
a chilly raw evening. Sal drew her
knees close to her body, wound her
bare, bruised arms about them and
crouched there . frowsy, uncanny
creature.
Teacher says forgive them fellers
and don't steal. He don't cuss me nor
he don't call me Looney Sal, nutber.
He SEE Sairey- Sairey ha, ha, ha! Me
Sairey. Ha, ha, ha-"
Her laughter was interrupted by the
coarse croak of Granny Smith voice,
which asked:
''Air We crazy Salp'
Granny Smith was an Industrious
person. While her soui-and-body de-
stroying work at night would have
more than justified her sleeping all day,
she stole hours from her rest during
which she stole all else that came with
in her reach, as she feigned to travel
about in the gIlise of rag-picker and
beggar. Her way home this day led
behind the school-house- "a belated
"kept-in" child might be there; it could
be knocked down and robbed of slate,
if nothing else.
"What air We doin' hereP''
f'NaWthin',' said Sal Her defiant
tone awakened the hag's ire. Her bony
hands grasped and struck the girl,
while her hoarse, gutteral voice accom-
of which only the following will bear
transcription: ''Wagabone! Too lazy
to dance, is yerp Ill learn ye, curse yer!''
She helped Sal on to the shanty;
kicks and blows and curses were the
means employed. But they were of no
avail; though the boisterous, drunken
audience called for Sal, she refused to
dance; and instead of her songs they
heard heavy blows which fell upon a
human body, but not a plant was ut
tered. The assemblage were too low to
even attempt defense of the child.
Several days thereafter SAILS sea-saw
stood idle, and the store-keepers of Ho-
boken did not have to bewail the loss of
any of their merchandise. Sal was not
seen anywhere, and no one inquired
about her.
The children as they went to school
gave glance at the sea-saw. Sal was
not on it; nor the next day either. 1t
would be fun, aye, quite brave to destroy
the waits only pleasure. The boys who
wrecked the see-saw did not feel quite
manly when they did if, but they had
heard their parents say it were well to
eradicate the miscreants of Shippen-
vile, to destroy every yestige of the set
Element. And then the boys who made
fre-wood of SAILS see-saw, all of them
bore marks of blows inflicted by her.
Revenge is sweet.
The scholars were assembled in the
large classroom and sang their rever-
entail morning hymn. The song ceased
suddenly as little, Drowned face APP
peared at one of the windows. A little
tattered figure sat on the sill cts
Looney Salr' the children screamed.
Mr.. Shepherd quietly approached the
window and lifted the sash, and at the
same time the quaint little body disap-
peared. Sal slid down the lightning
rod, which was within reach, and stood
on the ground below. She looked
anxiously up at the window she had so
hurriedly left. The teacher evidently
did not see her. He had hardly drawn
in his head when she again climbed to
the window. This time she need not
press her face against the pane; the
sash had not been closed. Her shadow
fell upon the teachers desk, but he APP
peared not to observe it. Sal cast a
dubious glance at him, and then to sus-
tain her anger threw handful of small
stones ON the floor.
rs that you, SarahP" His tone ex-
pressed neither reproof nor surprise; it
was a simple greeting. Sal might have
expected this. She bent through the
open window and laughed rudely. 81
wur here before
''Is that SOP" He looked upon her as
if her conduct were eminently proper.
''Did you wish to come imp he asked,
invitingly.
Sal stared at him. Her defiant ex-
preston gave place to one of surprise.
"What- meP''
The teacher nodded.
''In thar?n
Certainly, if you wish to-"
She sprang through the window.
"Goin' to singP' she asked, impu-
IDENTIFY.
The teacher nodded and continued to
turn the leaves of his book without
looking at her.
Page thirty-eie,ht," he called to the
boys, and then handed the open book to
the little guest
usp''
A peal of loud, coarse laughter was
her only answer. AS she laughed she
struck her brown fists on her knees and
rocked her body to and fro. AS sud
denly she ceased to laugh when she
noticed the stern expression on the
teachers face. She hung her head,
I
twisted her fingers about and scratched
the floor with her feet in most embar-
raised manner.
Cant read" she exclaimed, sud
denly, as she looked into the teachers
face. He placed his hand on her be-
draggled, unkempt head.
THAT makes no difference, child:
some of us here are not good readers
that is why l read each verse of the
hymn before we sing it.'
She silently accepted the little stool
that was offered her, and sat ever SO
still, with downcast eyes, as if she would
not interrupt the full, deep voice of the
man who sang. And then the room re-
sounded with the clear voices of the
children, as they were lifted in tuneful
prayer. Sal did not stir. When the
song subsidized the sudden stiffness
seemed to awaken Sal as if from 8
dream. The teacher thought her cheek
was moist
lis there anything the matter with
you, childp"
She shook her head, quietly returned