The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-07-11
"A STILL ALARM
u IiravC Little Girls Presence Of Mind
A True story.

"A STILL ALARM
u Isravc Little Girls Presence Of Mind
A True story.
Dertha's dull pencil left awkward fig
ures In its tack across the slate This
would not do for Miss Elvo insisted
upon nc;,tness rs we'll Us accuracy in
the work OF her pupils. Bertha. there
fore. with distressed little p,ciscr be-
tween her dark eyebrows, raised her
hand.
Well" said Miss Elso. looking at
her
My pencil is very dull may 60
out and sharpen ito' she SAID.
Ii was the custom within this great.
brick school building. known as NO.
4. to have the pencils rat in perfect
working condition before school WAS
called in the morning. Then they were
passed around in a neat box. and each
pupil took out her own. in some mys-
terious way Bcrthas pencil had es-
capped tho sharpening process. and its
hard-workcd point Of the previous day
was unfit for use. Miss Elyo looked
In the box for an unclaimed pencil. but
rare occurrence the box was empty.
She therefore granted il somewhat un-
willing consent to Bertha's petition.
Bertha tip-toed across the floor, shut
the poor softly and went through the
long hall to the back door and into the
chill wintnr air. Standing in q shell
tered corner on the back porch. she be-
gan to sharpen her pencil. While
working away busily she took her eyes
a moment from her task and immedi-
Rtcly discovered thin curl of smoke
issuing from one of the basement win
dows. II could mean but one thing
the hui ding was on fire! Her decision
was Immediately taken. Only the
night before she had heard her father
explain To her brother how to give
'.s;ill alarm" How glad she was that
she had listened attentivcly 10 his in
etructions. for it was now. above all
things. necessary to have tho fire COM
pany arrive quietly without alarming
the pupils. There was telephone in
the sto.e on the corner, and in less
than fvc minutes the message had
reached tho chief OF the fire depart
mcnt. and Bertha was speeding on her
way back 10 the school bnilding. She
paused few moments in the hall, near
the door Of the room where she be-
longed. to quiet her rapid breathing
and calm her frightened face. When
she entered her room, instead Of going
to her seat, she went straight to the
teachers desk. Miss Elvo admired
ard loved her; she was one of those de-
ligEtful children who are always heart
ily in earnest in their undertakings.
There was nothing unusual in her APP
pearance now save CLINT in her dark
eyes and small red spot on either
cheek. From these signs Miss Elvc,
who was n keen observer. allowed her
to step upon the rostrum unchecked.
She turned her back upon the school
ard said in y low, but distinct, whis-
per:
Miss E.vo. there is a fire in the
basement; have been to the corner
aud sent in still alarm
Miss Elvo's check paled a little. but
sho took pencil Immediately and
wrote on a scrap Of paper:
Dismiss your pupils quietly bnt as speedily
Is possible. Miss ELvO."
She handed this to Bertha, saying in
. low voice:
.You arc brave girl. Show this
| paper to each teacher in the building
as quietly and promptly as you have
done tho rest, and all, trust, will be
we'll"
She then turned to the desk and gave
the signal for closing WORK. The
pupils. who were porting over their
problems in fractions. were surprised,
but were too well drilled to give other
than prompt obedience. The nipple.
mcnts OF work were put by, the pupil,
rose, filed out, and in five minutes the
building was empty, Miss Elvo. her.
self. as principal. moving softly abou,
and quietly helping matters along.
Whom the last pupil was gone, hel
thoughts reverted to Bertha She
looked in tho dressing-room belonging
10 the division. Yes, there hung The
weli-known gray pussy" hood with 1T
blue trimmings, and the long warn
sack that belonged with it, but where
could Bertha be?
"She has proved that she could take
care of herself" was Miss Elvo's con-
volatory thought. and as she had pri
vatcly told tho teachers TO assemble il
tho lower hall when the pupils wer'
Konc, she hastenod down to meet them
They wcrc all there, and the story Q