The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-08-27
+" MARMY."
BY SOPHIE SWEET.


"If il were not for the Dodds and the
Dusenberrys-"
That was what Miss Jane Pritchard
said when her niece, Nellie, wished to
teach the summer school at Gilrad Cor
ner And old Dr. Varnum, of the school
committee, said the same thing, with
grave head-shakings, when Nellie ap-
pealed to him for the school.
They're a rough set over at the Cor
ner, and the Dodds and the Dusenberrys
keep up perpetual quarrel, I'm afraid
they'd be more than you could manage,
my dear"
Let me try, doctor. I'm not afraid" :"
And Miss Nellie drew her nineteen-year-
old slimness very erect.
The upshot of the matter was that Nell
lie secured the school. and on the first
Monday morning when she called the
roll her heart beat lively accompani-
ment to the names ofthe Dodds and the
Dusenberrys. She had found in the desk
the book which her predecessor had used
and it occurred to her that it would sim
plify matters to call the names which
she found there, and see how many were
still pupils.
There was nothing very alarming IN
the appearance of the Dodds and Dusen-
berrys who answered to their names on
that Monday morning. The Dodds were
dark, straight-haired little fellows, of
most serious aspect. from Hosea, aged
twelve, down to Aaron, who was six, and
spoke thickly, by reason of having his
thumb in his mouth. Tow hair, snub
noses, and freckles seemed to be the
characteristics of the Dusenberrys Leck
ia nickname evolved somewhat mysteri-
ously from Alexander), Leonidas and
Phebe Jane. In addition TO these family
characteristics Phebe Jane, aged ten, had
q remarkably prominent chin, and an ir-
regular little figure which showed energy
and determination in every line. She
was pear-sighted, and her eyes were
slightly crossed, ana il was this, probably
that caused the slight scowl which the
Inew teacher thought looked defiant. She
remembered the wise talks about physi-
ognomy which she had heard at her col
lege at the time when the composite pho
tographs were taken, and said to herself
that if any one of the Dodds or Dusen-
/ berry's should prove "mtr re than she
could manage" it would be Phebe Jane.
And she adhered to this opinion, al
though Phebe Jane showed disposition
to be helpful, and was full of iuforma-
ton which proved to be more reliable
than that which the other children offer
ed. She knew that little Lysander
Hoe king was coming to school as soon as
his grandmother finished his new trous-
ers, and that Sarah Ann Grindall wasn't
coming, because her mother didn't
believe that the new teacher knew
beans"
Miss Pritchard had appointed Phebe
Jane spokesman, because at every ques-
ton she asked babble of voices arose
from which it was impossible to obtain
any ineligible answer. 1t was immedi-
stely evident that Phebe Jane had be-
come an object Of envy to the othersr
Viola Cook, the largest girl in the school
made faces at her in the most oper
and uuabashed manner and while Phebe
Jane stood properly erect, with her armi
folded behind her, Miss Pritchard saw
with surprise that her face was growing
scarlet and her eyes filed with tears
She was hoping that she had not said
Anything to wound her feelings, when
Emeretta Gooch. who sat in the front
seat. arose from an excursion on the iiool
and frantieally waving her hand for per
mission to speak, cried out, DrusiIly
Peppers a. a-pinchin' her legs"
And at the same moment Phebe James
stoical endurance gave way, and she
swooped upon the offending Drusilla
whose cries testified to summary punish
ment. After Miss Pritchard had tried te
administer strict justice, receiving from
Drusilly an explanation Of her conduct
that Phebe Jane was teachers pet,
she attempted to go on with the roll
When she called Eiecta Dodds name
there had been no reply of present
and now. as she inquired where Elects
Dodd was, Phebe Jane surprised her by
| burstinginto tears. Miss Pritchard look
ed anxiously upon the floor, thinking
that the revenger of partiality must have
again resorted to pinehing, but Emeret,i
Gooch again explained
'sshe feels bad because Lecty Dod'
can't never come to school any more
She fell off-n the hay-loft, and now sh'
can't walk asingle step. She likes Lect,