Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-11
A MEAN TRICK.
Billy's Valentine, and Who Sent 1.-THE
Repentant Boys.

| 1AuIi bh. S1lCu AAdIly HILL
his cap ahead of him out of the school
house door, into the group of boys and
girls under the old maple tree, and fol
lowing the cap in such a headlong
manner that he almost ''capsized.' y
"Hurrah! She says we may.
MAY what?" said Allen Kirk, who
had just joined the group.
''Have a valentine post-office," an
swered half dozen at once, ''in the
school-house, and open it at the noon
recess"
1.-The teacher is better than thought
she was" announced Tom Grant. "Tll
send you one, Dolly, so look out for
it-and it won't be comic one either. -
'I'll tell you what, boys" said Fred
Slime to his two confidential chums in
mischief, ''let's get up good one on
'Snub-nosed Billy Won't he Just
dance with rager' and the three boys
went off arm in arm in way that meant
mischief.
Billy Townsend, or, as he was gem
orally called, ''Snub-nosed Billy" was
forlorn-looking boy, about twelve
years old, with freckled face, red hair
and certainly the very ''snubbiest' nose
| you ever saw.
If he had been bright and jolly, his
being poor would have made no differ
ence to these fun-loving boys, but he
was sensitive and hot-tempered, and
when the boys teased him about his red
hair and "turn-up nose,n he would fly
into such a passion that it soon became
the fashion to tease Billy.
| The next day was valentines" and
long before school time the boys and
| girls came tiptoeing into the school
| house with Notwithstanding envel-
| opes hidden in their pockets and I'M
| der their aprons, to be deposited in the
box in Miss Sloan's desk.
just before school was dismissed for
dinner she began to distribute them,
and as each name was announced the
happy possessor came smiling up to
receive his share.
Little Dolly had just come into pos
| session of her promised one, and then
Miss Sloan called '.Billy Townsend
''Billy said: What, ma rm,' in
rather frightened voice that made the
scholars all laugh, and even the teach
er smiled as she said:
'.Why, Billy, it's valentine for you!
Don't you want it?"
Il did not expect any, ma'am," the
boy answered, as he came bashfully
forward, looking so pleased that Miss
Sloan watched him curiously while he
opened it, and was startled to see the
look of fury that came over his face as
he looked at the valentine, then
crumpled it up in his hand and thrust
it into his pocket.
She did not say anything till the box
was empty and then spoke very quietly
and pleasantly.
BILLY, will you wait and show me
your valentine? The rest of you are
ars.
Fred Slime and Harry May looked at
each other in CONSERVATION at the turn
as soon Miss Sloan did not see that val
entine, but there was no help for it
now, and they had to go.
By this time Billy had his head down
on the desk to hide the tears that
would come in spite of him, and Miss
Sloan, putting her hand gently on his
head, said:
What is. it, Billy? 1 saw your val
entine troubled you. VIII you show it
to me?"
Billy did not answer, but putting one
hand into his pocket drew out the val
entine and gave it to her.
There was Billy in caricature, GER
tainly-the face covered with blotches
of paint for freckles, nose turned up SO
far you could hang a bucket on it, hair
a bright red, with boy standing be-
hind him pretending to warm his hands
by the blaze of the hair.
Billy" Miss Sloan said, quietly,
"this is very mean trick, but do not
think the BOYS intended to hurt you so.n
.-They did, ma am" answered Billy.
without raising his head. ''They never
let me alone for moment. Oh!' he
went ON with a burst of tears, ''mother!
mother! why did you die and leave
mep'
Miss Sloan petted and comforted him
until he began to feel a little less for
lorn, and told him if he would not get
so angry the boys would not care to
tease him. And then, after thinking a
long time, he said:
".I'll try, Miss Sloan; and thank You,
ma am.
'sThat's brave boy. I'll help you
all can; but it must depend mostly in
yourself. Now you need not stay for
the rest of the SCHOOL, and going to
the door with him she rang the bell for
the rest of the school, who came in as
Billy went out. And when they were
all seated she said:
Boys, Billy showed me his valen-
tine Fred and Harry blushed and
looked rather guilty, but she took no
notice and went On: 81 am more
grieved than / can tell you, to think
my boys should have done so mean
and cowardly thing. l should never
have allowed you to have the box if
had thought this would be the result. |
1t would have been as brave for two or |
three of you to sneak up behind him
when he could not see you and strike |
him, and it would not have hurt him |
half so much. Did you think poor Billy |
had SO few troubles you would make |
some for his benefit Is it nothing" she |
went on, speaking more warmly, "that |
he is poor and neglected, with miser-
able father. and often hardly enough |
to eat? His mother was his only |
friend, and she died many months ago. |
l know you did not realize what a |
cruel thing it is to add one more |
trouble, when he has SO many, and are |
sorry already. do not ask which of |
YOU did it, but do ask that every one |
of you boys and girls will try and |
prove to poor Billy that he is not with |
out friends, and make his hard life |
easier to bear"
There was a moments pause, then