The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-25
THE LITTLE TEACHER,

nelBnl.
He is, Miss Rolfe, he's GOT me stuck
TO the bench, squeaked a little voice
from the same row.
Are you not ashamed of yourself, sir
to torment little boy like SAM" asked
the presiding lady. dark elkish little
thing, in voice Of gentle reproof, yet in
her eyes was CLEAN of laughter
Il haint He's as big as me,
"Yes'm; an he knocked me down S af-
ternoon,' continued the high pitched
voice, emanating from the tonsilar organs
of raw boned, lanky lad who was vain
" endeavoring TO rise in his place.
Shut up, yer little sneak! III mash
yer head when get yer out, exclaimed
the big boy, with look of disgust, hurl>
ing a book at the squealer's head.
Hardin, what do you mean? I'm alb
solutely ashamed of you, for Twill not say
astonished, SAID the little teacher, in a
calm, firm voice, though her cheeks were
flaming. Such INSTRUMENTATION ] will
not tolerate day longer. Come here,
SIR
He came slowly up to the desk, his big
towering tolm swaylng from side to side
The whole school held their breath in awe
at the unconcern of their rebellious com
panion.
Hardin, you have rightfully gained
the title of the bully of the school, but
want you to distinctly understand you
will not bully me What you have done
now merits dismissal, and from this mo-
ment you are expelled. Go" cried Miss
Role, pointing to the door
"All right yer knows best, marin.
Only hope you won't repent an bring me
back, as we've done fore when I've cut 9
shindy, for yer won't find ne Good bye,
Miss Role, and with a short scrape Of
his awkward body he caught his hat from
the peg and left the school.
The afternoon passed YEARLY to the
little teacher; it was no easy thing to force
the rules of decimal fraction into a lot OF
wooden heads The continual buzzing OF
the school room made her head ache, and
with sigh of relief she put on her hat
and watched the last dinner basket disap>
pear down the road
As she was about to lock the door a
large yellow envelope pinnel to it caught
her eye, and as it was addressed in a
queer boyish hand to herself, she took it
down.
Il thought YOU were never coming,
Jaen, said some one over her shoulder
Starting guilty, she walked down the
quiet little lane beside her companion, a
tall young fellow Of eight>and twenty
80 you've given Harry the bounce
he said, presently.
Yes; | nave expelled him. I cannot
and will not stand lis insoient and rebel
lious conduct, and you ought 10 have
known better than TO have sent him tC
school Jack, she answered glancine
across a field of yellow eyed daisies.
But you could have conquered him
darling, just ike you've bound me in iron
chains said her companion, in a low
fond voice, taking the tiny white hand il
his
'Pshaw you need not plead you
brothers cause, Jack. l will not take hin
back
Never fear dear: | would be the las
one to ask you. Ii is no secret at hons
about his devotion to the little school
marm; there's nothing under the sun 1t
wouldn't do for you, Jean.
why, Jack, be is nothing hut q boy
And how does be show his devotion? B,
putting beeswaX on the benches anC
throwing books at the cLildreu's heads
He is altogether a Eugilistic tendency; it
your duty TO cultivate it, Jack she SAT-
laughing vet her miyth had bitter ring
"Harrys nc chicken, Jean though Ia
looks boy, and is rather lively He wa
eighteen last birthday, and so will You b.
next month. He ought 10 be at the plOW
but he's got notion Of learning an
there's no stopping him 81
In the evening when Jean Rolie Wa
sitting at her bedroom window, the sud
den remembrance Of the envelope cause
her to draw 1t from It's hiding place Tn
full moon streamed into her little attic
down OF her face, and the blotted scraI
of paper in her hand.
You have sent me away, thinkin N
wickid as Kane. But eff ye'd red the not
Squeek Porter sent me yed of sed dix
rite to lik him, which I've don He wri
all sorts of things, bout you and Jack
awful things, but I've pade him fur it wit
intrist. I'm going away, don't know
where, cause can't bare noing you hat
me" Fl. Hardid
Poor boy, poor boyw she murmured
gazing at the dirty scrawl; the remem
brance of the many little things he ha
done for her the short while she had beef
sole teacher of the country school cam
back, while bis bad behavior was forgot
ten Many times had her name bee
coupled with Jacks, and Harry ha
stretched the coupler on the ground, au
presented himself before her, black eyed
CORY, but victorious, 10 be so severely re
primanded Now it all rushed to be
mind, and with sharp uneasy pain, dis
turb1ng her rest that night, and as il gre'
stronger destroying all peace for man
days and nights.
The engagement with Jack was broke
off. His rough, ignorant nature could nc
be appreciated BY her finer one. as fnall
jealousy superseded all deliCacy an
when her many earnest pleas deferred til
wedding day he came TO her hot and an
CRY vowing she never loved him, that a
his misfortune was traced ''tO the uiot
of the yellow envelope and he had bette
have died fore he laid eyes on her bonn
face" left her and soon dropped out c
her life altogether.
Five years went by and time worke
many changes on one and all The vii
lage school prospered under the tuition G
Jean, but such changed JelDl Their
was still the curly brown hair the sol
brown eyes, the firm cherry lips, but tn
white, round face that was won't to fias
and fame at the misdemeaGors of the iii
tie rustics now was pale and thin, lust
faint tinge stealing over it when som
were unusually wild or troublesome
One evening in autumn as the red su