Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-08-12

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Yes, that's the title of my story. "Oh,
we won't like that story at ALL" I
think | hear you exclaim, but please
begin It, and think you will enjoy it.
It's true, every word, and happened
nineteen years ago in a country dis
trIct about thirty-iv miles north Of
the city OF San Diego.
THE STORY.
"Why, Miss Kate, l don't see the
school-hoUse."
Il think perhaps we're not near
enough yet" answered Miss Kate, rat tn
er doubtfully.
'Oh, yes, we are. Don't you remem-
Der we could always see 1t when we
reached this tree:" said the little boy
again.
We'll. Willie. | do believe you are
right and that our own little school
house has been either swallowed up or
blown away" exclaimed the young
teacher, as she stopped suddenly in
the path, gazing with astonishment at
the place where the building should
have been.
I'VE weft it all wight yes'day af-
noon, didn't we. NTH kate?'
Yes. Daisy dear, but it's gone now;
LET'S 20 up to where 1t stood and see II
We can discover what has become Of
It,"
So up the steep hill they climbed;
when they arrived at the spot, which
was really a 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
ut quite a distance, while the other
three were piled on top of each other
near at Land.
The hills and knolls around were
strewn with medley Of papers. clock.
stoves. pencils, chalk, desks and books.
Who or what had done the mischief?
How could it have happened?
After talking 1t over quite while
they decided it must have been a sud
den squall of wind, purely local, which
had played havoc with their little tenn
pie of learning while they had been
souHdly sleeping the night before.
Dispatching one of the boys for the
trustee who lived in the neighborhood,
Miss Kate and the rest Of the children
went to work 10 gather up those Of the
furnishings which had not beer 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, broth
ers and sisters in that home, whom she
was trying So hard to help, and now
she had no schoolhouse in which to
teach Was It not disheartening?
1t was a 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 Satur-
days. because she was the very first
instructor who had been willing to re-
main during a whole term.
Thus her thoughts ran, her face grow
Ing more serious all the time.
1T WIS a good thing 1t happened at
night. Miss Kate" said one of the boys,
trying To cheer her.
Yes. Kenny"
"Jush shiuk. NTH Kate, II II had
happ'u'd the day you forgotten to
bwing the key. and we all had to cwimb
all hurried hadwy wen, wouldn't -we?"
chimed in dear little Daisy Brownie.
oh. here comes Mr.. Caser they
shouted. running To meet the easy-go-
Ing. good-natured man.
Wall | declar'. Miss Kate" said he,
putting ana blowing after his climb,
'.this Is too bad, reely! What are you
a-going to dOE'
Mr. Case, ! think I'll pack my trunk
and start for home tomorrow; | be
lieve steamer sails from San Diego
for the north TO morrow, does it not?"
said she. with trembling lip and fash
ing eye.
Thar. thar. not so fast. OF course l
can't say just what the other trustees
of the decsIrict will want to do, but
swan. we'd all hate to have you go.
Il guess Ill better hitch up the old
roam anh jcs' drive over and let Mr.
Jones and Mir. Sykes know bout this
a-happenin. and come and tell you
his eveuiu' what We decide TO do.
Now. you - home like a good girl
and jest make MP Your mind that We'll
~ Ir yau get cf for such little
thing as the schoClhus's blowin' down!
VIII We. young unsE"
''You het your boots we won't" shout
ell 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 ia the lovely springtime of the
year aul 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 fun
ny misfortune.
one by one the boys and birls bade
their teacher Cood-hy as they reached
their homes. rushing with eagerness TO
tell the exciting news TO their parents,
who were filed with wonder when they
saw their children returning from
school SO early in the day.
During the evening Miss Kate re
ceived the promised call from Mr.. Case,
who brought the welcome news that
the schoolhouse was to be Immediately
rebuilt, that the trustees had deter
mined to build IL much nearer her
boarding place, in pretty, Little shsl
tered dell