Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-04-23
CHILDREN'S COLUMN.
rryRxsTING. HUMOROUS AND IN
scRy-c FIVE ARTId les FOR THE
YOUTH TO READ.


Reverio OF school Desk.
Well, yes, am somewhat the worse
Tor wear, but any desk that has been In
Ise as long as have Is equally batter-
&c am almost 80 years old and | was
used first In little school house in
Ohio. In those days desks were ex-
pensiye articles, SO there were only
three in the school room. The children
considered il agreat honor to be allowed
to sit al desk. When one OF the
scholars had been unusually good this
was the highest reward the teacher
could offer; had better position
than either Of my friends, for ! stood
just under south window, and anyone
sitting by mo could see out across the
road into the cool, dark wood beyond,
which was quite refreshing view on a
warm day.
Sometimes the children would have
spelling matches and the one who came
OIL victorious was allowed to sit at the
'south desk, ;" as it was called. How
we'll / remember the first OF these con-
testsl
Hester Allen, one OF the older girls,
had been occupying me for week, and
as she made such excellent grades in
her studies, Miss Gray, the teacher,
could think Of no way TO stop the mono
poly. At last one day she had an idea.
II there was anything Hester was weak
in it was spelling, and Miss Gray deter
mined to have spelling match and
offer the south desk as q reward. That
afternoon she told the children her
plan and set the next afternoon as the
time OF the trial,
That night Hester took her speller
home with her, and heard her tell one
OF the girls next day that she studied
until 10 o'clock.
One of the boys, named John Logan,
was the best speller in the school, and
| was afraid he would win. The words
were hard, and many of the children
missed the first one, till at last only
Hester and John remained. Miss Gray
gave out the word separate" John
spelled it with an sc" and just then
Miss Gray turned to speak to one Of the
Younger ceildren. Hester's book was
living on me and she took a sly peep
into it while Miss Gray had her back
turned. No one saw her but me, and l
could not tell. so Hester had possession
OF the south desk again.
The afternoon was close and sultry,
and somehow Hester did not feel great
ly elated over her success presently
she rested her head on her folded arms
and several hot tears fell on me- When
ii was time for school to close she felt
so uncomfortable that she would endure
il no longer, and after Miss Grey had
given them their reports for the day,
She Jumped TO her feet and in her i'm
petuos way confessed the whole truth.
The next day / was unoccupied, for
John would not sit by me.
After. many years Hester's son came
to the same old school house. l easily
recognized the little fellow by the like
ness TO his mother. He, too, sat by me,
but It was not sueh an honor then, for
many new ana handsome desks had
been put in. One day there was an ex-
hibition at the school and number oi
visitors were present At the close Of
the exercises lady and gentleman
came TO me and the lady said: oh John.
DO YOU remember this old desk?
Don't you know what time we chill
dren used to have over IT? l shall new
er forget the spelling match in which
cheated. 1t has always been lesson
to me. wonder if we could buy the
desk / think I should like to have it,"
"You shall have the desk, Hester"
answered her husband. 1T viii be a
curiosity. Look. here are my initials.
| remember the morning carved them:
you were standing by eating an apple
snd criticising my work. And, Hester
/ will tell you a secret | missed that
word on purpose that afternoon so you
could have the desk
When Hester finished her business in
the country and went back to her city
home, | went too, and l now stand in
one corner Of the library. | am not ex-
actly ornamental but everybody thinks
me a great curiosity.
ANNABEL, A. MARKOF.