The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-04-03


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
incOmprchensible gravity, which ap-
peared even sadness.
Sal did not go back to her hut, but
walked to the back of the school and
sat down on n block % 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,
chilly raw evening. Sal drew her
knees close to her body, wound her
bare, bruised arms about them and
crouchel there a 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, nuther.
He seq Sairey ha, ha, ha! Me
Sa rey. Ha, ha, ha -"
Her laughter was interrupted by the
coarse croak of Granny Smith voice,
which asked:
Air We crazy Sal?'
Granny Smith was an industrious
person. While her soui-and- body de-
strOving work at night would have
[ =
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 guise of a rAg-picker and
| beIgar. Her way home this day led
| behind the schOol-hOuse y belated
kept in child might be there; it could
be Knocked down and robbed of a slate,
if nothing else.
What air We doin' here?''
"Nawthin'," said Sal. Her defiant
tone awakened the hays ire. Her bony
hands grasped and struck the girl,
while er hOarsc, gutteral voice accom-
| panied each blow with brief remarks,
of which only the following will bear
transcription: ''WagabOne! Too lazy
to dance, Is yer? III learn We, 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 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 a glance at the sca-saw. Sal was
not on it; nor the next day either. 1t
would be fun, aye, quite brave to destroy
the waif only pleasure. The boys who
4 wrecked the see-saw did not feel quite
manly when they did it, but they had
/ heard their parents say it were well to
! eradicate the miscTeants of Shippen-
| vile, to destroy every vestige of the set
! Element. And then the boys who made
! fire 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. Its
! LoOney Salr' the children screamed,
| MIR. 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 SC
/ 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
! dubious glance at him, and then to sus
tain her anger threw handful of small
stones on the floor.
as that YOU, Sarah?'' His tone ex
pressed neither reprOof nor surprise; i
was simple greeting. Sal might hav,
! expected this. She bent through tn
open window and laughed rudely. .
wur here before
us that sop He looked upon her a
if her conduct were eminently proper
Did you wish to come in?' he asked
invitinglv.
Sal stared at him. Her defiant ex
preston gave place to one of surprise
"What-me?'
The teacher nodded.
'In tharP"
Certainly. if You wish to-"
She sprang through the window.
Coin to sing?'' she asked, impu
IDENTITY.
The teacher nodded and continued t
looking at her.
Page thirty-eight." he called to tn
boys, and then handed the open book t
the little guest.
win you sit down and sing witt
us?''
A peal of loud, coarse laughter wa
her only answer. As she laughed sh
struck her brown fists on her knees an,
rocked her body to and fro. AS sud
denly she ceased to laugh when sh
noticed the stern expression on tn
teachers face. She hung her head
twisted her fingers about and scratches
the floor with her feet in most embar
raised manner.
Cant read she exclaimed, sud
denly, as she looked into the teacher
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 1 read each verse of tn
hymn before we sing it."
She silently accepted the little stOC
that was offered her, and sat ever 5
still. with dOwncast eyes, as if she woul
not interrupt the full, deep voice of tn
man who sang. And then the room re
sounded with the clear voices of tn
children, as they were lifted in tunefU
prayer. Sal did not stir. When tn
song subsidized the sudden stillnes
seemed to awaken Sal rs if from
dream. The teacher thought her choe
was moist.
''Is there anything the matter wit
; YOU, child?"
She shook her head, quietly returne
the book to him, and approached tn
door.
kin I go out here?'
He opened the door.
Did you like our song, Sarah?"