Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-06-09
A GEM In THE ROUGH.
BY JENNIE PORTER ARNOLD.

BY JENNIE PORTER ARNOLD.
How bright and beautiful all the
world looked to me as I passed down
the shady street on my way to school
that fair June morning! The last OF
the apple blossoms and the first of the
lilacs were filling the air with their fra
GRANGE; the robins and bluebirds
seemed holding jubilee in the trees
by the roadside, and the warm, bright
rays of the sun were turning every dew
drop on the grass into glittering gems
My heart was as blithe and sang as
joyously as the birds, and it required
an effort to keep my lips from giving
expression to my feelings by joining In
their song.
It was the last day of my first month
of school teaching, and Mr.. Farnham,
the treasurer of the district, had just
paid me my months salary of $12.
Most people would think this was small
compensation for four weeks teaching,
but, with board, it was the usual price
in back-country districts.
was only 16 years old at the time,
and this was my first season as a
teacher. This $12 month seemed a
small fortune to family as needy as
was ours, and particularly to girl who
never before had enjoyed the pleasure
of owning five-dollar bill.
1t was Friday, and at the close of the
school that night I could return to my
home, four miles away, and as walked
along anticipated the pleasure with
which | should put into the hands of
my dear, hard-worked mother this, my
first contribution in money to the fam
lily support
Father had died four years before,
leaving five children-four younger
than myself-to be sustained by my
mothers scant earnings; so Charley,
who was two years younger than I, had
felt, like myself, a pride in trying to
help lift the heavy burden from her
shoulders.
How rich we felt when he secured q
place with one of the neighboring farm
ers for six months at Sc month, and
I was accepted as teacher in one of the
outlying districts of the town at $12 q
month, thus securing an income of $1S
month! How many comforts that
would bring to our humble home!
1 think no millionaire ever felt richer
than did as I turned into the we'll
trodden path that led to the school
room door and thought of my earnings
in my pocket-book.
l was greeted with pleasant Good
morning, Miss Graham!" from the
children scattered about the play
ground, and little Ruth Mason, my
brightest scholar and particular favor
tie, met me at the door and gave ME a
large bunch of fragrant ilacs. 1 bent
and kissed the pale little face. which,
although it wore bright smile now,
had usually sad expression, very pitt
full for one so young.
As 1 arranged my flowers in q
broken-handled pitcher, the only SUBJ
stitute for vase the school-room
afforded, hummed lightly to myself
snatches of a merry song.
1t was time TO open school, and tax
ing the heavy, old-fashioned bell I
stepped to the window overlooking the
playground, but paused before ring
ing. and leaned out to inhale the pure,
fresh air, and to admire the beauty of
the scene. Beneath the window was a
group of girls, talking earnestly, and
not aware that was so near.
"Well, if / was Ruth Mason" Anna
Ransom said, scornfully, I'D stay at
home if couldn't find anything better
to wear than that old, faded, patched
up calico dress, and that horrid old
poke of sun-bonnet." She glanced
complacently down at her own pretty
blue cashmere dress, and the leghorn
hat with its bright plaid scarf, which
she was swinging in her hands
@Bv next week she will be coming
TO school bsrefooted. just as she did
last summer" chimed in Matte
Barber, another of my would-be fine
scholars, who always echoed Annals
sentiments. "H my father was such q
shiftless stick as hers is, and couldn't
give me decent clothes to wear, I'd
stay at home / know I wouldn't show
myself among respectably-dressed peo-
pie if was such pitch-upon-patch-
pitch-patch," and loud, derisive laugh
ter came from the girls at Mattie's
would-be witty nickname.
was too astonished and indignant
to speak or move for moment. Could
Il be possible that these girls, in their
cruel thoughtlessness, had been accus-
toned to speak in this manner of poor
little Ruth's garments, and was that
the reason she was SO shy and dif6dent,
and her face wore such q sad, unchild-
like expression?
I looked around anxiously to see If
she had heard their heartless sneers.
She was entering the school-room, not
ten feet from the group of girls, and
must have heard every word, as her tor.
mentors evidently intended she should.
The panied look on her pale face,
and the tears in her eyes. told plainly
nov keenly she felt their unkindness.
I hastened to her. and putting my arm
about her slender form, drew her heal
against my shoulder.
Don't mind il, Ruthie, dear, ! oaid,
hieeine han. ~You have something fax
&