The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-05-11

that Jim Shines m,ther put . ladder
up TO the loft window and got Jim
into the schoolfousc the night before
school began. Elnathan Royals worked
at the widows ten or twelve years.
and he stands by her pretty well, but
he's fond of joke. and he's limited as
much to me, though he won't come out
square and say SO. But / can't prove
anything. and II could can't lick
Jim for his mothers actions. and
can't thrash woman. SO there It's"
Jim Bill scratched his nose, and
looked at Miss Hannaford inquiringiy.
All the chivairy in his soul was reused
as he realized what a slender little
creature she was.
"'Taint you she's fighting. Miss Han
naford, it's me- he said, by way OF
offering some comfort
II seem TO be the one hit" she said
That's so" said Jim Bill, "and the
worst OF IL Is can't seem to do thing
TO help you"
He fell 10 stirring his whitewash
again. but nothing new came up.
"rhe fact is. 'vangy, that's the
Widow Slime, she holds a grudge
against me for Strengthening the line
between us. That's her field joins on
our garden. Strengthening the line
took in that pear-tree. 1t come up IT.
self, and grated it, but we never
get auy pears. One year they was
picked when they wasn't much big
germ bullets. and once they was all
shook of N spoiled. Everybody knows
who does IL, but nobody gets caught.
This year she's got new handle to
turn"
You've saved the pears, at any
rate" said Miss Hannaford, smiling.
"They amt gathered yet" returned
Jim Bill, dryly. "Now, IL little Jim
won't mind, !" he went on, after little,
'.we can call In the committee"
"Mindr interrupted Miss Hannaford;
s'he's the essence of obedience, but his
obedience is an insult. It's an original
case" she continued, grimly.
Jim BIZ went 70 Goshen that after
noon to buy yoke Of oxen of bis
uncle, who lived there, and while con-
Quoting the negotatiations stepped
through hole in the barn floor and
broke his leg. He sent word TO his
wife TO stay at home and take care OF
the schoolma'am while he lay on Aunt
Loviny's lounge and waited inpatient
ly until he could come home.
The gathering trouble at the school
became the village talk. Miss Hanna
ford grew nervous, knowing she fought
an ambushed foe. Mrs. Tim Bill tried
70 argue the matter with Uncle Silas
when he complained of motions, no.
lonesome folks was allus stirrin' up
notions
"But how's the world going ahead,
Uncle Silas." demanded Mrs. Jim Bill,
fiercely, "if nobody has notions?"
Don't want TO go aheadl" returned
Uncle Silas, promptly. "Let things
stay where they be-"
Then Mrs. Jim Bill said, in despair:
IF hogs had the road, she didn't know
but decent folks might as well climb
the fences"
But Miss Hannaford still kept the
road. After school one night she
dressed herself in her best and called
upon Mrs. Simon. The handsome
home, its handsome mistress and her
flattering reception vexed her. She
felt her hostess fingers at her throat
while she slipped the rosy shrub and
nibbled the golden pound-cake brought
out for her feasting. She tried 10 talk
about her school. Mrs Mason was vol
uble on every other subject, but from
that she slid away SO easily that the
..ta Aor1lrr lrnAV. hnf foot
| ing. She asked Mrs Simon's advice
about managing Jim. The widow
smiled and generalized. Miss Hanna
ford pressed hard, and ut last brought
her to her guns.
"Its too bad" said the widow,
amiably; young ones will act SO when
they know they can. I'm told you
don't believe in whipping, Miss Hanna
ford?"
''Not in whipping boy as tall as /, I"
she said, as lightly as the choking in
her throat would let her.
Its pity you're so little" returned
her tormentor; land since you as good
as mentioned it, may as well tell you
plainly--rm one of the frank, out
spoken ones, Miss Hannaford, believe
in Pumping everything right out
there ought to be man to keep the
winter school. tell everybody that
When anybody runs to me with COM
plaints, 'Taint the teachers fault;
she's doing the best she can says l,
but brains amt bigness."
Saturday Mrs. Jim Bill drove over TO
Goshen. and Miss Hannaford, who con-
soled herself in her worst troubles by
taking photographs, went out with her
camera 10 get two or three views she
wished TO take with her. Coming home
late In the afternoon, she stopped on
the hill behind the house TO look down
on the buildings and the garden. She
turned her camera on the disputed pear
tree. where the fruit still hung golden
In the sun shine.
I've good m.ad TO take IT." she
thought, with an impulse OF fun. She
tried the focus, and then her heart