The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-12-09
BELLEVUE, La, THURSDAY DECEMBER

mouth tightly, and her heart, too, for
that matter, and hated her kind. As
she joined the crowd squeezing into
the school-house she wondered why
she had ever consented to be brought
to school. The old wild life per-
fectly contented her. To roll
about for hours under the wide
spread oaks, with friendly squirrels,
or to chase the brook as it dashed gayly
down the hills, was pleasanter than the
society of girls, she had always thought.
But the fact was her grandfather had
taken it into his dear old head to make
a lady of her, and, rather than disap-
point the kind soul who had done so
much for her. Wlld Becky made
desperate effort to plume herself
down that morning into civilized girl
and mingle with her fellow beings.
1t was harder even than she had inn
agined. The close school-room almost
stifled her, while the dull monotonous
hum of voices had such a stupefying
effect that before she had been seated
long her head dropped on her desk and
she fell asleep. She was wakened by
something tickling her nose; putting
her hand up quickly great bouncing
butterfly f1uttered through her fingers
and shot up into the air. Now, this
was a playmate Wild Becky never
could resist; without half realizing
where she was, she burst into loud
laugh, and was making dive for it.
when, recollecting herself, she slid
down again into her seat, with the
painful consciousness that all eyes were
upon her. The pair that terrified her
most were those upon the platform-not
Miss Peters eyes, but those OF another
teacher who had come into the room
during Becky's nap.
'Where did you come fromp" asked
the woman, sharply, for she was indig-
nant at the interruption of her class.
biscuit City, man,, was the
prompt reply.
"A land productive of biscuits and
rude girls returned the teacher, face
tiously, at which the other scholars,
particularly the older ones, laughed
most obligingly.
"Unless you can command yourself
you had better return there at once, "
she continued.
Wild Becky did not need much urg-
ing ON that score. AS quickly as pos
sible she sprang from her seat, and,
vaulting through the open window.
swung herself down to the ground as
neatly as boy could have done it,
.for she was in great wrath. So off she
trotted, never looking behind her until
she brought up at the kitchen door.
Through the opening she could see her
grandfather bending over the big brick
oven.
"Sakes alive! School amt out yet.
be itP' he asked, lifting himself up to
get good view ofthe clock.
Becky flung herself down on the
steps and poured forth her injuries,
winding up with declaration of indie
pendence.
'I'll never go again, never. You will
not ask it of me, will you, grandfa'
ther?"
''Not if you're set agin' it, said the
old man, with a sigh, as he passed into
the buttery and brought out heaping
dish of pancakes.
II thought as how you'd come hom c
hungry, and so made a lot of 'em."
Becky had weakness for pancakes
and was quite touched with the atten-
ton. She moved a chair nearer them
and tried to eat, but somehow they
seemed to stick in her throat. The idea
that her grandfather was sorely disap-
pointed made them hard to swallow.
"What makes you care so much
h1sr Id oh al
length, laying down her knife and fork
and looking tixedly at him.
The farmer wiped his glasses care
fully.
II dun KNOW he answered;
.p'r'aps it's cause your mother would
have liked it; she used to take tc
'learnin' and to gentle ways, and grand
folks, naturally as horses take to hay
l wanted you to be like her; but laws
me! 'taint in natur's you could be tina
kind any more than hen could be {
gosling. 1t don't matter"
Eyes it does, grandfather and
Becky, jumping up, wound her arm;
around his neck, and shed tear o.
two on the back of his old waistcoat.
'.It isn't that I'm SO against The
learning" she continued; "it's the
folks / can't stand"
.'Well, some of ems rather tryin',"
answered the farmer, ''but there's one
powerful queer thing in human natur'
If you feel ag'in man, do favor fol
him, an you're sure to like him better
There's Squire Adams-I used to hat
him like fury; but since I've been il
the habit Of lending him my yoke o
oxen, I've got the better on it. .
"Well, grandpa, I'll go to schoo
just one day longer to lend 'em to hi
daughter. Such fixed up city girl
haven't the slightest idea of how t.
have good time. Imight bring then
down here and show them how it il
done"
| So, to the surprise of every body, tn
following day Wild Becky appeared a
school. The scholars all laughed a
she came tearing in, and making
queer little bob, which did duty as
courtesy, begged to be forgiven fol
yesterdays misdoings.
Perhaps Miss Peters knew by instinc
what penance this was to the child
or itmay be that. in spite OF her prin
little way, she had real sympathy fo
Becky, and disapproved of the often