Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-23
THE LOST WATCH.
How It Was Restored to Its
Owner.

Greta lay awake half the night,
thinking about watch she had lost the
previous afternoon. Miss Sadie Am
bier, her Southern friend, had lent it to
her so that she might know the time
while she and her companion were in
the woods. Greta could not imagine
how she had lost it. She was one of
those impulsive girls who spend great
deal of energy in repairing mistakes
the next best thing, doubtless, to not
making them. Her age was only tif-
teen. Her father was physician,
whose failing health had caused him
to leave the Massachusetts, coast for
the pine woods of North Carolina. The
latter were a favored resort, near min
eral springs, and many Northern
guests spent their winters there.
Miss Amber received news of the
loss of her watch with philosophical
kindness AS the watch, in spite of a
vigorous search. was not found, Greta
resolved if possible in some way to make
sufficient money to buy another. Her
father was poor, and she could not ask
him to make good the loss. So one
morning, week later, she called on
the president of the school board of
the county, and asked him to give her
the situation of teacher of the colored
school the townspeople were intending
to start in a few days. The gentle
man, after looking keenly at her, at
first said that she was too young.
Then, remembering how difficult it
was to procure teacher for such a
school, he said she might have it tenn
porarily. Greta thanked him, and
went home rejoicing. Her parents
made no objection to her plan. At
last the opening day came, and she
started for the school, feeling good
deal like Columbus, when nobody be-
1ieved he was going to succeed.
ADO you turn to the right here to get
to the school-house?" she asked of a
white workman she met in the road.
''Yes. miss. Then go up the hill.
then down again; then turn to the left,
and thar it is. Is you uns the Yankee
schoolma'am?' cycling her curiously.
mo, you uns amt nothin' but gal.
like my Liz" He laughed pleasantly
as he said this.
Greta felt somewhat disturbed by
this; nevertheless, she saw that he
meant no disrespect. So she replied
with n bow, and walked quickly by.
While she was yet some distance away
from the scene of her future labors. she
heard noise like the repeated fiinging
down of heavy bodies; then screams
of '.He! he! he! Yah! hi! OH" Their
rs she entered the open door of the
school-house, profound silence ensued.
The pupils were most of them fiat on
the floor. where they had been enjoy
ing a prolonged scuffle.
''Good-morning. childrenr said the
new teacher, walking into the room
with studied dignity.
The children rose hastily, and re-
turned the salutation. Two or three
of them replied: ''Good-morning, teach
err" IN a sheepish way. Others bowed
very low, scraping the floor with their
bare feet, and said: "'Mornin', mis-
1issr'
please take your places at the
desks, Immediately, she said, in severe
accent. wishing to awe her pupils at
the start, so they would not have q
suspicion that their teacher, in spite of
her long dress and tucked-up hair, was
mere child.
Then she stopped to count them;
there were twenty boys and girls
Some of the girls were in gala attire.
with new bright calico aprons on, and
their heads looking very fluffy and big,
the usual plaits of their working-days
all carded out and tied with gay bits of
ribbon.
The little girl nearest to her looked
up in her face with an irrepressible
giggle, and exclaimed, as if from the
very fulness of her heart:
''You is pretty, and you looks jis'
like alady what glib me five cents las
summer"
'.Ain't she SWEET, another cried out,
to the imminent danger of the disci-
pline Miss Bond was struggling 10 es-
tablish.
.'Hcsh your black mouf!" command
ed one of the larger boys, savagely.
Cant you see the teacher wants yer
to keep quiet:?'
Here Greta touched bell she found
on the table in front of her. Chill
dren. shall expect implicit obedience
from every one of YOU
''What am .pitcitr" she heard in =
whisper somewhere