The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-11-02


Miss Marjorie, the new teacher,
glanced alphabetically at the little
boy under discussion. lie was sitting
on one of the front seats of the school
room, with his big folding slate and
well-worn school books piled up across
his knees. He had been listening with
an intelligent, though peculiarly i'm.
personal, interest to his fathers
lengthy exposition of his character,
and the closing suggestion of drastic
measures failed to disturb the per ect
icomposure expressed in the little fell
lows countenance.
81 guess Frank will be good of mis-
own accord replied Miss Marjorie,
with II pleasant smile toward the child
''You can't tell by his looks" said
Col. Crissey, observing the innocent
expression, growing each moment mere
seraphic, of the fair, round face. Its
his very obstinacy makes him look so
good just now. You'll find out for
yourself pretty soon; there's no need of
my telling you any more about it.
Only want him to learn something
this year. He's been TO school whole
year and can't read yet, and it's all on
account of his obstinacy. Whipping is
the only thing that1l conquer him, and
you mustn't be afraid of hurting him:
he can stand it. Have you a good birch
rod?"
mo" replied Miss Marjorie, with a
sinking of the heart; "but really, Col
Crissy, don't think"
well, here is one,' interrupted the
colonel, producing from somewhere be-
meath his long coat formidable
switch; land | want you to use it.
Now, my son." he continued, turning
toward Frank, Il want you to under
stand that this will hurt. There won't
be any joke about it, either"
And with this last warning Col.
Crissey impressively laid the instru-
ment of castigation across Miss Mar
jorie's desk, made stately bow to
the young teacher, and took his de-
parture.
Frank watched Miss Marjorie with a
pleased expectancy written upon his
face as she quietly took the rod and
placed it behind the chrome of George
Washington which hung upon the
wall.
Every day Miss Marjorie spent the
last half-hour of school time reading
aloud To the children. The first book
She chose happened to be Jacob Abb
bolts Life of Nero" The children
became intensely intere sted in the
story, and they were loud in their ex-
pressions of Indignation against Nero
for his cruelty, while their admiration
for the martyrs who suffered under
the wicked emperor's prosecutions was
unbounded. Miss Marjorie took ad-
vantage of the enthusiasm awakened
to tell the children several stories of
heroes who had sacrificed their lives
for their faith. The stories often be-
came the subjects of animated discus
sion among the children; and one day,
before the morning session had opened,
Miss Marjorie overheard through the
window the following fragments of
conversations:
What would you do, Frankly, would
You give up, or would you die?"
Il would never give up" came the
firm reply, in clear, childish voice.
Would you let them burn your
II would never give up" he repeat
ed--"never. If once said thing
would never take it back No one
could make me-"
but when you saw the fire?'
Il would be perfectly immovable 1
would walk into the fire myself
calmly, like this"
Miss Marjorie looked ous of the win
dow, and saw an admiring group watch
the little fellow, as. with dignified
bearing, he walked toward the wood |
pile. He climbed upon it, and when
he had found firm footing he turned |
toward the spectators with an express
sion of lofty and serene resolution
upon his face. The girls all clapped |
their hands, and some one cried: |
Good for you, Frankly"
lie was in dead earnest, and he did |
look like real little hero. Miss Mar
jorie's heart swelled with admiration. |
Miss Marjorie had resolved, when |
she learned from his father, who sure
ly ought to know, of the boys obsti-
nate disposition, that she would be very
careful to avoid giving him any occa-
sion TO exhibit it. but that she would !
get him SO much interested in his work |
that he would forget to DC obstinate.
The plan had worked admirably; and |
now. as she watched him from the win
dow, the thought occurred to her that |
possibly the father had wholly mis- /
judged the sons character.
That day Miss Marjorie completely
forgot her resolution not to come to
an issue with Frank, and the result
washer first case of discipline.
The trouble began out of a very little
matter. An orange dropped ont of
Bessie Tubbs' desk, and rolled demure-
ly ont into the middle of the floor.
This started general laugh, in which
Miss Marjorie herself could not help
joining. when she saw the comical ex-
preston of helpless distress in Bessie's
face; for Bessie was the only one who |
saw nothing funny in the behavior of i