The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-21
Select Sturp.
SONNY


The road was wider by the schoolhouse
and old Daniel Prices and George Prices.
1t made a broad loop to the west, then 1t
bent along again to the south.
The small schoolhouse stood on one side
of the loop; old Daniel Prices and Georges
on the other. Old Daniels, directly oppo-
site the schoolhouse, was tiny, bright
colored building. There were only two
rooms and loft in it. The clapboards
were painted red, and the little window
and door-casings white. 1t was close to
the road and seemed to start up suddenly
and artlessly, like red wayside flower.
Old Daniel sat in an armchair in his
front door, and looked over at the school
house The windows were open, and the
shrill babble of childrens voices fioated
out Now they spelled in unison; now
they multiplied; now thin, sweet little
voice piped up alone, and an older one was
heard between-whiles, in reproof or direc-
ton.
The old man listened admiringly. "That's
Sonny, spellin', he said to himself, when
a certain child-voice rang out by itself.
And he leaned forward and fixed his sharp
black eyes more intently on the open win
dows. He was old-over eighty-but his
deep-set eyes were very bright still, and
sharp.
1t was an afternoon in the latter part of
September. The wind was very cool; the
tree-boughs tossed up lightly in it. Every
leaf pointed out crisply and had dark
glisten of its own. A patch of ripe corn
in field swayed over, and looked as if it
we're covered with thick silver fleece.
The afternoon sun shone full on Daniels
bald head, but its heat was so mild that he
did not mind it.
He sat with his arms in their calico
shirt-sleeves on the arms of the chair, and
watched the schoolhouse Now and then
a pair of young, wistful eyes peered over
window-sill. Some tiny wild creature
looked out at the wide, shady road, and at
the fields, all gold and white with fall
dandelions and wild carrot, and seemed
almost to fiutter invisible wings with eager
nass to ha ont ttare
When one little yellow poll appeared,
the old man opposite nodded violently, with
grimaces of delight.
"Hullo, Sonny" he sang out softly.
And the child's face showed, all distended
with a smile, for an instant, above the win
dow-sill, before it bobbed out of sight.
1t was almost time for the school to be
closed, when Daniel started up suddenly.
"What's that cried he. He heard the
sharp swish of switch, then shrill wall,
"O-o-oh u
aWhat in creations she doin' of to
Sonny
The old man was lame, but he appeared
to move across the road only the faster.
The extra impetus necessary to swing that
stiff limb seemed to overlap and carry the
rest of the body with additional speed.
When he stood in the schoolroop door,
there was little faxen-haired boy beside
the desk, sobbing in his crooked arm, while
the teacher switched his small legs.
Daniel Price stumped over to her, and
caught her arm.
"What air you a-doin' of to Sonny?"
The child stopped sobbing, and peeped
over his arm; the other children stared,
their mouths open and the corners droop-
ing.
The teacher was thin, hght-haired
woman, with smallpox marks on her high
featured face. She had an air at once
aggressive and miserable.
"William has been disobedient,' said
she stifay, aand was obliged to punish
him."
"Disobedient, hey2 What's he been a
doin' of ?"
9He has failed in his spelliug-lesson
every day for week; and l told him l
should be obliged to punish him if he did
again. was sorry to, but | felt that l
must. for Williams own good"
The school teacher released her arm
from the old mans grasp with determined
dignity. That thin, sharp-elbowed arm
was hard with muscles.
"Missed his spellin' lesson, hey2 Well,
! know good many other folks that miss