Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-23
PETE.

L ElE.
Pete'S trSt appearance was sudden!
The last hour at the free kinder
Rarten was drawing to a close, and
the children were quite breathless
with their eXertiOns, when a creak-
ing OF hinges and a blast OF icy air
drew all eyes to the door, in the OPEN
ing Of which Pete stood disclosed.
He was about 5 years old, with a
smiling countenance, plentifuny be-
sprinkled by nature with freckles,
and by art with CRIME and splashes Of
mud. His blue eyes met yours fear
lessly, with merry twinkle, and his
red hair shone with fiery luster
through the crownless hat
In Dress Pete was simplicity it.
self. A pair of ragged trousers, held
on ever grimy shirt by one dilapi-
dated 'gallus," one buttoned shoe,
from which the buttons had long de-
parted, their places being supplied by
q dirty green ribbon tied around the
ankle; the other, through which the
bare toes peeped appealingly, was
laced with bit of yellow string
apparently Pete had an eye to color
while the whole costume was ap-
propriately rooted in by dilapidated
hat. Shyness never being one of
Pete's faults, he spoke up brskly, as
he met the teachers eyes fixed in
wonder upon him. ''Say, Pm new
scholar. / want to jine this here
school. l think it's prime"
But" the teacher answered, "we
can't take any new scholars; the
school is full"
'Come, now" he said little crest.
fallen, but soon recovering. and wink
ing knowingly at the teacher; Il
amt none OF your charity scholars.
See! brought my money along"
Here he opened one grimy fist, and
disclosed, Nesting in the moist palm,
five very sickly pennies
BY this time the teacher had re-
covered from her first surprise, and,
interested by this specimen of hu-
mainly, asked: "Whatis your name?"
''Pete's my name All these here
kids knows me-"
Here the children Joined in the
chorus: "We know him, Miss Katy;
his names Pete Brown, and he don't
belong to no one much; just lives along
with Mis- Brown at Liberty Hail.
one of the worst dens in that unsav-
Ory neighb0rhood.
Pete nodded briskly in conflrma.
tion OF these remarks and said:
Say, teacher, take my money and
femme stay"
II can't take your money, Pete"
At this Pete's face grew very
grave, while his lip trembled as he
asked: 'Ain't it enough? l can't
get no more teacher; it token me a
long time to get this" Then his face
frightened again. ''Rut, say, can't
yer take me for this and let me work
out the rest? kin work, l tell YOU"
''iete." Miss Katy answered, and
her eyes were very misty as she looked
down into the face turned up so visit
fully. 'you can keep your money
and you can stay"
And so Pete was enrolled as a kim
dergarten "kid." that being a sort oi
pet name in the neighborhOod, and
turned his back resolutely upon all
his old associations. His satisfaction
was intense; he seemed fairly to abb
sOrh the teaching in every pore, and
his beaming smile always called an /
answering one into every face upon
which it was turned. Gradually he |
became more civilized in appearance,
the dirt retiring into the more out
lying districts, then finally retreating
altogether. Miss Katy dared not /
give him any clothes, knowing they |
would all be sold for drink by the |
dreadful old woman with whom he
lived. SO she was obliged to content
herself with lending him some while
he was at the school, which shell he |
would shed. with his usual cheerful |
equanimity, when the time came to 60
home A numerous body-guard usu-
ally escorted Miss Katy to the cars,
and Pete soon became the leader OF !
this band, marching ahead with the
pompousness of a drum-major, his
voice rising above all the Others in !
the shouts of: ''Good-by, Miss
Katy" which always smote the air.
Perhaps the proudest and happiest
days of his life was that on which he
was trusted to carry the teachers
bag. The former occupant of the po-
sition having been lately promoted
to public school, Miss Katy said, Il
am going to let Pete carry my bag
every day now, he is so careful" AS
there had been many applicants for
the position, Pete's satisfaction knew
no bounds at having been selected
over those who were so much older.
and had been SO much longer at the