Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-03-25
Miss Ruth'S Scholar.


Monday morning, the period Of its com,
mencement.
She was rosy. pretty little creature
of scarcely sixteen, with a dimple in
each cheek, lips like May roses, and
big blue eyes, where the light seemed
10 glow and deepen at every impulse
that passed through her mind. The
idea of her being grim, stern school
mistress was rather absurd, but then
Ruth was poor, and they wanted some
one 10 teach the school who had grad
uated in the city, So here she was at
ten dollars mouth, trying to look as
old and dignilied as possible.
"Teacher teacher ~ croaked little
Tommy Martin, "here's Hugh Leslie
in the school, and the trustees said he
shouldn't come no more. 'cause he
didn't pay the last two quarters !"
Hugh Leslie, come here" said Miss
Clifford, pushing her brown curls away
from her forehead with puzzled air,
and Hugh shambled up to the desk, a
great awkard clown, fully as old as the
school istress, and head taller.
"Is it true that you are behind hand
with your tuition money!" asked Ruth.
"Yes'm, it's true" sullenly answer
ed the young giant, twisting his ragged
zap in both horny hands.
"'Cause bis father gets dru:k, and
his mother hain't got no money"
shrilly interrupted Tommy Martin.
Tommy, will you be silent ?" said
Ruth, with dignity. Then, Hugh,
what are you here for ?"
~ want to get book larnin',"
solemnly answered Hugh.
Teacher, he's a real bad boy-he
thrashed the master last term" piped
Mary Hopkins.
"And he stole the picture books out
o. Joseph Miller's desk, ,chimed in Har.
ry Smith.
"Hugh," said Ruth, gravely, "you
may 60. don't care for such pupils
In my school,"
Hugh turned slowly away, still
twisting his cap, with downcast eye:
and dropping head; Ruth pitied him in
her heart.
Hugh" she said, softly.
81 am sorry to send you away, Hugh
If allow you TO remain, do you think
you Can behave yourself ?"
"I'll try, Ma'am," the boy said, with
a gleam of hope in his face.
"And who'll pay his schooliu' mon.
ey ?" demanded the disappointed Tom
my.
81 will" SAID Ruth. "Go and take
your seat, Hugh"
And through all the term Ruth hat
no better scholar nor more diligent pu-
pill than Hugh.
"YOu have improved very much
Hugh" she said, as they walked home
through the pine woods the last day o
the term. 81 am sorry shall not be
here next year to help you on, bnt you
must study perseveringly, and you will
be sure tn prosper"
'I'd like to learn a trade" saiG
Hugh, musingly, land get respecta.
BILE livin'."
"And there is no reason why yor
should not" said Ruth, encouragingly
my folks are bad lot," sighed th'
Toy, land nobody wants to employ
Siah Leslie's boy"
"But when they see that Siah Leslie!
boy is honest and industrious, and
wishes to earn decent livelihood, the!
will Judge very differently"
Hugh burst into tears.
"Oh, teacher ! teacher you are tn,
only one who ever told me | could b.
different from the dram -drinkin' set al
home. If you only wasn't going away. ,
huth tried to console and comfort
the lamenting young Goliath, but tn,
last she saw Of him he was sitting will
his head against the trunk Of tree
with now and then a strong sob shak
ing his whole form
"Poor feIlowl" she thought. 81 hop'
he'll come to good"
She did not know that, close to hi:
heart, he was wearing a bit of blue rib
bon that she hac one day dropped il
the school-room. She might hav,
smiled, had she known iG-she NIGH
have been angry. But to Hugh it wa:
all he had left of the pretty creature
who had been like guardian angel tt
him.
And ten years pissed away and Rut I'll
completely forgot the young clown o
the village school.
"I want you to look your pretties
tonight. Ruth, for have new caval
ier to introduce to you "a splendid fel
low -
"Indaed ! who is it ?"
"Well, he is a friend OF Mr.. Tracy's
just arrived from Europe, where | an
told he has distinguished himself il