The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-12-09
wild BECKY"
How She Improved Herself and
Her Friends.

~
folks of Millville were proud of over
and above the new organ in their
..meetin' house it was the Millville
Boarding School. which capped the
very highest pinnacle of their village.
A light set upon hill, which shed its
literary radiance over the whole place.
Cynthia Adams was the only day
scholar, but she was the squire S
daughter, and it was a matter of course
that her schooling should be something
beyond that of the rest of the village
girls.
One day, as the scholars were hang
ing over the school-yard fence. or, sit
ting in groups on the steps, waiting
for the school-bell to ring. they heard
a man with lusty pair of lungs shout
ing ''Gee-haw, git up thar!' in voice
so loud that it threatened to shake the
hills.
THAT is one of old miller's whispers,
do believe" laughed Cynthia. ''He's
farmer about here with a roaring
voice. Such queer fellow as he is,
to be sure. wish you girls could see
him.
Il wish l might" answered fun -lov-
ing Mile King.
'.Does he live far from here?'
His house is way down by the edge
of the town, beyond the pine wood;
they call the place Biscuit City"
''Whyp Because they have so many
biscuit there?" asked dozen voices
at once.
Cynthia shook her head.
Il guess it is because they don't
have them," sha SAID; perhaps they
wish they did, and so call it that. All |
really know about it is that there does
not seem to be any one there to cook
much, anyway; for Farmer Miller lives
alone with his granddaughter, a girl
about our age"
Couldn't she make biscuit?" per-
sisted Millie, unwilling to give up the
idea that they abounded in Biscuit
City.
Becky! I'd like to see any thing
decent that Wild Becky could make.
No one in the village will have any
thing to do with her, for she's such q
wild, harum-scarum thing. and SC
green, too, that you'd mistake her fol
grass, just as likely as not"
Cynthia stopped abruptly, for the
'Gee-haw" sounded nearer every
moment, and now pair of oxen came
numbering over the brow of the hill,
followed by a rickety haycart, at the
end of which was poised bare-headed
young person in cloud of dust. Her
ample bonnet swung from the top OF
one of the poles which formed the sides
ofthe cart, evidently for the purpose
OF proving to the pasers-by that she
possessed the article. though she did
not choose to wear it. She looked uE
at it rather wistfully, however, as hel
champion, Farmer Miller, with thunder
ing exclamations, drove the cart up to
the school-house gate.
''Pile out, Becky" he reared, "and
we'll soon fix it up with 'em here
Don't be skeered, gal. Be you the
schoolmarmp"
The question was addressed to Miss
feters, the principal. who, at thi!
Juncture, came politely forward.
Il haven't much learnin' myself
ma'am," he coniin,ed. ''but Pm boune
that my gal, here, shall have as good 8
chance as the rest of 'em. She's .
good gal, Becky is, only trife wild
like, and needs settln' a bit. I'm /.
better hand at settlin' bills than lively
young creatures like this one; so i
you'll tend to one I'll tend to t'other,
and handing the poor girl over, tum
bling her bonnet after her, he was
halfway down the hill before Wild
Becky had made up her mind whether
she would be settled or not.
1t was very disagreeable standin.
there with all the girls staring at her
she thought; and, glancing shyly ou
irom under her long lashes, her eye
rested gladly on the familiar features
OF the 'squire's daughter.
How do, Cvnthia?" she said, nod
Jung in such a civil way that it sur
prised herself.
cynthia looked blankly into her fac,
2 amoment without making the slightes
sign OF recognition, then, wheelin.
around on her heels, she turned he
oacK squarely upon her. A litter wen
around the yard, Every one seemed