Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-25

|
in the face of the big girl, who persist
ed, nevertheless ''Got that gold ring?"
she asked again. with her teasing gig
gle, which the others echoed.
Comfort slowly raised her left arm.
She unfolded her little blue fist, and
there on the third and fourth fingers OF
her hand shone the gold ring.
| Then there was such an cutlery that
Miss Tabitha Hanks looked up from her
copy, and kept her wary eyes fixed on
the group at the stove.
MY sakes alive! Look at Comfort
Pease with gold ring on two fingers!"
screamed the big girl, and all the rest
joined in.
The other scholars in the room came
crowdiug up to the stove. LES see
/ it?" they demanded of Comfort. They
! leased her to let them take it. Lem
me take it for just minute? I'll give
it right back, honest" they begged, but
Comfort was firm about that; she would
not let that ring go from her own two
/ fingers for one minute.
"Ain't she stingy with her old ring?'
said Sarah Allen to Rosy Stebbins.
maybe it amt real gold," whispered
! Rosy, but Comfort heard her. "'Tis,
too" said she, stoutly.
''It's brass, can tell by the color, "
leased one of the big boys; "'fore I'd
wear brass ring if was girl"
ut amt brassl" almost sobbed Com
fort
Miss Tabitha Hanks arose slowly, and
came over to the stove. She came so
silently and secretly that the scholars
did not notice it, and they all jumped
when she spoke.
''You may all take your seats" said
she, ''if it is little before nine. You
can study until school begins. I can't
have SO much noise and confusion"
The scholars flocked discontentedly to
their seats. Its all the fault of your
old brass ring" whispered the big boy
to Comfort with malicious grin, and
she trembled.
"Your mother let you wear it, didn't
she," whispered Matilda to Comfort as
the two took their seats in the bench.
But Comfort did not seem to hear her,
and Miss Tabitha looked that way, and
Matilda dared not whisper again. Miss
Tabitha moreover looked as though she
had heard what she said, although that
did not seem possible.
However, Miss Tabithas ears had a
equation among the scholars for al
most as fabulous powers as her eyes.
Matilda Stebbins was quite sure she
heard, and Miss Tabitha's after course
confirmed her opinion.
The reading class was out on the floor
fixing it's toes on the line when Miss
Tabitha walked behind it straight ia
Comfort.
Comfort Pease," said she, II don't
believe your mother ever sent you to
school wearing ring after that fash.
ion. You may take it Off"
Comfort took it off. The eyes of the
whole school watched her; even the
reading class looked over its shoulders.
Now" said Miss Tabitha, put it in
your pocket
Comfort put the ring in her pocket.
Her face was flushing redder and red
der, and the tears rolled down her
| checks.
Miss Tabitha drew out large pin,
which was quilted into the bosom of
her dress, and proceeded to pin up
Comforts pocket. "There," said she,
Now you leave that ring in there and
don't you touch it till you go home,
then you give it right to your mother.
And don't you take that pin out, if you
do l shall whip you"
Miss Tabitha turned suddenly on the
reading class, and the faces went about
with jerk. Turn to the fifty-siXth
page" she commanded, and the books
all rustled open as she went to the
front. Matilda gave Comfort a sympa-
thizing poke and Miss Tabitha an in
dignant scowl under cover of the read
ing class, but Comfort sat still with the
tears dropping down on her spelling
book. She had never felt so guilty and
so humble in her life. She made up
her mind she would tell her mother
about it and put the ring back in the
box that night and never take it out
again until her finger grew to it, and if
it never did she would try to be re-
| signed.
When it was time for recess, Miss
| Tabitha sent them all out of doors. Il
know it's cold" said she, but little
fresh air won't hurt any of you. You
can run around and keep warm"
| Poor Comfort dreaded to go out. She
knew just how the boys and girls
| would tease her But Matilda Steb-
bins stood by her. and the two hurried
out before the others and ran together
| down the road.
We've got time to run down to the
old LOOMS place and back before the
bell rings" said Matilda. 'If you stay
here they'll all tease you dreadfully to
show that ring, and if you do she'll
whip you. She always does what she
| says she will"
The two girls got back to the school
house just as the bell rung, and beyond
sundry elbow nudges and teasing
whispers, as they went in, Comfort had
no trouble. She took her seat and
meekly opened her geography.
Once in awhile she wondered, with
qualm of anxiety. if her ring was safe