Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-07-06
SARY AND TOBE.

fO~A4D Il A4NO Il OOlIe
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 fight on the
way home from school the evening be-
fore. A dozen or more were implicated.
By noon | had very correct account
of the affair. That afternoon requested
the guilty ones to remain after school.
Little groups of two, three OF four
stood around and discussed matters in
awestruck whispers. I heard one or
two little girls say:
''The teacher tol Henry to stay. Did
you know she didy'
La, no, did she? D'reckin Henryll
git a whoopin? Wouldn' that be aw-
full fer big boy lack Henry Che was "a
years old to be whooped? She can't
whoop Henry. He's 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 funereal
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'1l hear from Tobe and Sarah first.
am sure Tobe will be gallant enough
to allow Sarah to speak first Besides,
if she does, he will have the last word"
II DON cyur,r said Tobe. 'But If ]
git the lais' word hit1l be the first time
Sary ever lemme have hit.' And one Of
his cross Avns winked slyly at the other
/ as litter went through the room.
$50 en-, Sarah. Tell all about this
trouble you and Tobe had on your way
home from school,"
"Well, I'll jist tell you heow hit wuz.
As passel Nv us wuz gwine home yis-
terday evenin we stopped jist t'other
side Nv Mr.. Milligin's on that rocky hill
to rest. We all set deown, an we wuz
all a-settin talkin, an me an Tobe Mul-
Inns wuz little peace off from the bal
ance Nv um, an (here Sary blushed) Tobe
he tried to kiss me. don't let no boy
kiss me Swelling with conscious virtue),
an 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
come up an he says, says he, sWhuts
matter, Tobey 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
| ferY
'Thar wuzn't much fightin after that.
b'lieve 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 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 18-year-old brother Harry
said, "Well, that's the fust time I've
hyurd Sary 'cused nv cussin sence she
jined the church."
Sary frightened at this and remarked
with animation, Eyes, an I've had my
health heap better sence / jined the
church"
Her simple faith moved me. It was
80 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, Tobe7"
''She said, Dad blame you, you li'l'
black devil. ~
ssThat hain't cussin." said Sary. Il
hyurd paw say that, an axed him If hit
was cussin, and he said hit wuzn', an
paws a church member too
my pap hain't no church member, an
! axed him If hit wuz cussin, an he said
course hit wuz,p said Tobe.
"Hft amt cussin, is hitY' said Sary,
appealing to me as the court Of last re-
sort.
Not caring to decide so important a
matter. simply said. at Is scertainly
not an expression that either lady or o
gentleman ought to use.r
Tobew was triumphant and Sary crest
fallen. Further inquiry brought out lit
tie that was new on either side. After
admonitions on my part and good prom
ises on the part of the children we sci
out for homo together. Our road was
the same for 100 yards perhaps; then the
children went up the mountain, and
went down. / stood still In the road
I and watched them until o turn hid then
from view. The last glimpse had Of
them they were waving hats and sun
bonnets at me.
| That evening sat alone on the noun
tainside until the shadows darkened
round me, and the freshening wind 81
the twilight brought sweet odors from
many flower. was building cir cas-
ties, and, as is the habit of mothers ant
teachers. they were peoplcd with other
forms and faces than my own.
4 For more than 10 years / did not sex
i Raccoon mountain, though every year
especially In the spring and summer, my
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