The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14

Yes, that's the title of my story. "Oh,
we won't like that story at all, l think /
hear you e&claim, but please begin it, and
think you will enjoy it. It's true, every
word, and happened nineteen years ago in
a country district about thirty-fve miles
north of the city of San Diego.
THE STORY.
"Why, Miss Kate, don't see the school
houser'
Il think perhaps we're not near enough
vet" answered Miss Kate, rather doubt
fully.
"Oh, yes we are Don't you remember
we could always see it when we reached
this tree?" said the little boy again.
"Well, Willie, do believe you are right
and that our own little schoolhouse has
been either swallowed up or blown awayp
exclaimed the young teacher, as she
stopped suddenly in the path, gazing with
establishment at the place where the build
ing should have been.
"We welt it all wight yes'day af'noon,
didn't we, NTH Kate?"
Yes, Daisy dear, but it's gone now
let's go up to where it stood and see if we
can discover what has become of it."
So up the steep hill they climbed; when
they arrived at the spot, which was really
very barren, unsheltered place, they
found that some mischief worker had been
very busy during their absence.
One of the walls of the building lay at
quite distance, while the other three
were piled on top of each other near at
hand.
The hills and knobs around were strewn
with a medley of papers, clock, stoves,
pencils, chalk. desks and books.
VINO or what ad done the mischief?
How could it have happened?
After talking it over quite a while they
decided it must have been sudden squall
of wind, purely local, which had played
havoc with their little temple of learning
while they had been soundly sleeping the
night before.
Dispatching one of the boys for the
trustee who lived in the neghborhood,
Miss Kate and the rest of the children
went to work to gather up those of the
furnishings which had not been ruined.
The schoolma' am felt pretty blue; the
hot tears filled her eyes as she bent over
her task. What was she to do? Here she
was far away from home. All, the thought
of her mother, brothers and sisters in that
home, whom she was trying so hard to
help, and now she had no schoolhouse in
which to teachl Was it not disheaten-
ing2
1t was very lonely place; thinly set
tied. The trustees had been paying her a.
high salary, and had even given her an
extra amount for teaching on Saturdays,
because she was the very first instructor
who had been willing TO remain during
whole term.
Thus her thoughts ran, her face grow
Ing more serious all the time.
sit was a good thing it happened at
night, Miss Kate" said one of the boys,
trying to cheer her.
Eyes. Benny"
"Jush shink, NTH Kate, if it had hap
p'n'd the day you forgotted to bwing the
key, and we all had to cwimb in and out
of the windo'! Wed been all hurried
badwy wen, wouldn't we?" chimed in
dear little Daisy Browne.
ooh, here comes Mr.. easel" they
shouted, running to meet the easy-going,
good natured man.
"Wall, / declar', Miss Kate" said he,
putting and blowing after his climb, "this
is too bad RELY
"What are you a-going to doP'
"Mr. Case think I'll pack my trunk
and start for home tomorrow; believe
steamer sails from San Diego for the
north tomorrow, does it not?" said she,
with trembling lip and flashing eye
"Thar, thar, not so fast. OF course l
,haf e
the deestrict will want to do, but swan,
we'd all hate to have you go.
al guess I'd better hitch up the old roam
and ies' drive over and let Mr.. Jones and
Mr.. Sykes know bout this a-happenin',
and come and tell you this evenin' what
we decide to do.
Now you go home, like good girl, and
Jest make up your mind that we'll not let
you get off for such little thing as the
schoolhus's BLOWN down. Will we, young
unsP'
You bet your boots we WON'T" shouted
the boys.
Thanking him for his encouraging words
Miss Kate and her faithful little flock
started for home-a long walk of a mile
and half before her.
1t was in the lovely springtime of the
year and the air was so full of the songs of
birds and the sweet fragrance of flowers
that they soon recovered their good spirits
and had not gone very far when they had
to stop and have a good hearty laugh over
the funny misfortune.
One by one the boys and girls babe their
teacher good-by as they reached their
hones rushing with eagerness to tell the
exciting news to their parents, who were
filled with wonder when they saw their
children returning from school so early in
the day.
During the evening Miss Kate received
the promised call from Mr.. Case who
brought the welcome news that the school
house was to be immediately rebuilt, that
the trustees had determined 10 build it
much nearer her boarding place, in a
pretty, little sheltered dell.
Until it was ready, which he thought