Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-07-04
sARY AND TOBE.

For weeks there had been no serious
trouble in my school on Raccoon noun
tain. The rule against the use of tobacco
was no longer resisted. The married
people were learning well: so. too, were
the grass widowers and widows" The
little ones were more lovable every day.
One morning, however; our peace was
disturbed by the news of a fight on the
way home from school the evening be-
fore. A dozen or more were implicated.
By noon l had a very correct account
Of the affair. That afternoon requested
the guilty ones to eemain after school.
Little groups of two, three or four
stood around and discussed matters in
awestruck whispers. heard one or
two little girls say:
"The teacher tol Henry to stay. Did
you know she didf" e-
LA, no. did shes D'reclin Henry'l
git whoopin? Wouldn' that be aw-
full fer big boy lack Henry Che was "a
years old) to be whooped7 She can't
whoop Henry. Hes bigger'n she is"
When school was dismissed, half a
dozen children In my room kept their
seats. As the line came down stairs some
four or five dropped out of it and took
seats in the rear of my room. notion
ed them front and went out. to see the
rest off.
Some went lingeringly, glancing back
through the window to where the cul-
prits sat.
When came into the room. a funereaI
gloom seemed to have settled on the lit
tie group. / could imagine that it had
just settled there, for was confident
that before my entrance sundry winks
and smiles had been exchanged.
Sary Camp and Tobe Mullins were the
principals; the others were simply acces-
sories.
sary was thin, pug nosed girl, who
looked old enough to have had years of
experience. Tobe was freckle faced,
cross eyed boy, perhaps two years older
than Sary.
"We'n hear from Tobe and Sarah first.
l am sure Tobe will be gallant enough
to allow Sarah to speak first Besides,
if she does, he will have the last word
81 don cyur,r said Tobe. But if l
git the lais' word hit'll be the first time
Sary ever lemme have hit" And one of
his cross eyes winked slyly at the other
as litter went through the room
go on, Sarah. Tell all about this
trouble you and Tobe had ON your way
home from school"
We'll. I'll jist toll you heow hit wuz.
AS passed. nv us wuz gwine home yis-
terday evenin we stopped jist t'other
side Nv Mr.. Mnligin's on that rocky hill
to rest. We all set deown. an we wuz
all a-settin talkin, an me an Tobe Null
Inns wuz a little peace off from the bal
ance nv uIn. an (here Sary blushed) Tobe
he tried to kiss me. don't let no boy
kiss me Swelling with conscious virtue),
an 1 jist uped an hit him in the meouth
18th his dinner bucket. The led fell off'n
the bucket, an jist then Henry Taylor he
matter, Tobe? an he kicked Tobe's buck
ct led deown the bluff.
"Tobe he tuck and slapped Henry Gaze
he kicked the bucket led, an then Bob
Taylor he run up an kicked Tobe's
bucket an knocked it down the bluff.
Tobe he picked up rock an hit Bob, an
then the balunce nv the Taylor boys an
the Joneses jined in .Jist then Brother
Henry he come long an he says: 'Whut's
the matter hyur? Whut you all on Tobe
ferg
Thar wuzn't much fghtin after that.
/ b'heve the Taylor boys th'owed some
more rocks too"
Tobe was evidently very much pleased
that Sary's story was so favorable to him
self, but when she remarked by way of
conclusion: ''Hit all started frum Tobe
tryin to kiss me. If hit hadn't been fer
that. thare'd "a been nothin nv hit, an if
you whoop anybody Tobe he's the one to
whoop." He blurted OUT
''Sary Camp cussed."
This remark was variously received
The Taylors and Joneses giggled. Sary
uttered not q word. but every feature of
her face. even to the tip OF her pug nose.
and her entire manner said plainly:
THAT beats me.
And Sary's 1s-year-old brother Harry
said. We'll, that's the fust time I've
hyurd Sary 'cused nv cussin sence she
iined the church"
Sary frightened at this and remarked
with animation, Yes, an I've had my
health a heap better sence jined the
church.
Her simple faith moved me. It was
SO like that of the woman of old who
thought but to touch the hem of his gar
ment and be made whole.
What did Sarah say, Tobeg7
"she said. Dad blame you. you liz
black devil
"That hain't cussin." said Sary. 81
hyurd paw say that, an axed him If hit
was cussin, and he said hit wuzn', an
paws church member too"
my pap hain't no church member, an
1 axed him if hit wuz cussin, an he said
course hit wuz," said Tobe.
''Hit amt cussin, is hit" said Sary,
appealing to me as the court of last re-
sort
No. caring to decide so important q
matter, simply said, 'sIt Is certainly
not an expression that either q lady or a
rentIe4naT, f,rrI,t tf, useS