The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-01-11

siapping MS ears FOR whispering, ant
when he mumbled something in def
ance, after she had gone back to he,
desk, she walked back with little raw
hide in her hand, and Jed, the oldes
and boldest boy in the school, fed from
the room. After that there was ne
more open rebellion on the part of the
boys, but they, unwilling to acknowl
edge defeat, took counsel together to see
what they could do to subdue Miss
Betsey, who was the most formidable
foe they had ever met in their connec-
ton with the Long Lane School.
There was something awe-inspiring in
hor wrath, but she was withal good
teacher, and would have been kind
one II her pupils had treated her with
proper consideration. She treated the
small and obedient children with a
kindness and gentleness one would not
suspect in woman Of her severe and
forbidding exterior. But wilful DISC
bedience was something she could not
forgive nor consider calmly. 1t aroused
all the harshness and severity in her
nature, and made her most dangerous
opponent for any unruly spirit to en-
counter. The boys named were wise
enough to recognize this fact, but were
not wise nor manly enough to yield to
Miss Betsey the Difference and obedience
towhich she was entitled as woman and
as their teacher.
Every teacher who had taught the
school for the past six winters had been
locked out at least once, and sometimes
twice during the term. The unsuspect-
ing teacher would arrive at the school
house some bitterly cold morning and
find the door locked and the windows
barricaded, while the jeering pupils
within defied him to enter. The affair
usually ended in his giving up and going
home, while the rebels held high carni-
val in the school-house for several hours,
and then went home for the rest of their
holiday.
Some Of the parents, who unwisely
looked upon these performances as
clever, If not quite commendable, were
rather curious to know what Miss Bet
sey Pike would do If the boys barred
her out. The possibility that they
might attempt such thing had been
suggested to Miss Betsey, and she had
simply smiled and said, grimly: LET
hem try it, that's allr' After mature |
Elaboration the boys concluded to try it. |
Miss Betsey had now taught the school |
'wo months. Going home from school |
'ne cold evening she overlook little
8ennie Peters, boy of eight, who had
allen on the rough road and cut himself |
'adly. He still sat on the ground cry
ng Justify when Miss Betsey came
long.
"Why, why, Bonnie, what's the mat
er?' said Miss Betsey, kindly and
heerily. "You fell, did you? Well,
Tell, that was too bad, wasn'tit, though?
'ut don't cry any more, my dear. I'll
RASH the blood away, and it won't hurt
ong."
She knelt down by his side, and with
er handkerchief wiped away the blood
rom Bennie's hand and face, talking all |,
he time in such CHEEKY, sympathetic
one that Bennie quite forgot his pain
nd grief.
I'm 30 sorry you fell" she said, ssbut
,cidents will happen, won't they? fell
at In almost this exact spot yesterday.
ont you think / must have looked ,
lnny sprawling in the road? / skinned .
y elbow and there wasn't any body to
md 1t up for me, either. Now I'll take 1
Did of your hand and walk on home ,
18th you, so you can't fall again." II
So they trudged along ever the frozen
'untry road, Miss Betsey accommoda-
ng her pace to Bennie's short steps.
hen they came to Mr.. Peters gate Miss ,
etsey did something quite unexpected: I
he bent her long, gaunt figure until F,
" lips met Bennie's face in sounding \
IS.
Goodbye; run in the house now, and a
arm yourself at the fire.r ii
Goodbye, ma'am," said Bonnie, as t
stood and watched her striding down ;,
Q road. His lips began to CULVER, and
big tear ran down over his bruised d
eek. 1t had been long time since G
y body had kissed him or cared any d
ing about his childish SORROWS. There Il
IS fretful overworked mother in the q
nse who would probably say that Q
ed no business being so clumsy. It |,
IS good enough he fell. He'd keep his h
es open next time" So Bennie's CRATE h
heart was deeply touched by Miss b
tsey's kindness and little show of af- e,
'tion. He lay awake thinking about h
for long time that night in his bed g,
the cherries little attic over the
nily living-room. h,