The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-07-23

Degln III, ana L tnlnk you Will enjoy ii
It's true, every word, and happened
nineteen years ago in country dis
trict about thirty-five miles north OF
the city of San Diego.
THE STORY.
"Why, Miss Kate, 1 don't see the
school-house."
Il think perhaps we're not neal
enough yet" answered Miss Kate, ra til.
er doubtfully.
"Oh, yes, we are. Don't you remem
ber we could always see 1t when we
reached this tree?" said the little boy
again.
"Well, Willie, l do believe you are
right and that our own little school
house has been either swallowed up or
blown awayr" exclaimed the young
teacher. as she stopped suddenly in
the path, gazing with astonishment at
the place where the building should
have been.
1--WE weft 1t 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 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
at quite a distance, while the other
three were piled on top of each other
near at hand.
The hills and knolls around were
strewn with a 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 a while
they decided it must have been n sud-
den squall Of wind, purely local, which
had played havoc with their little tenn
pie of learning while they had been
soundly 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 to gather up those of the
furnishings which had not been ruined.
1,he 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 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.
Thusher thoughts ran, her face grow
ing more serious all the time.
1T was good thing it happened at
night, Miss Kate" said one Of the boys,
trying to cheer her.
Yes, Benny"
"Jush shink, NTH Kate, if it had
happ'n'd the day you forgotten to
bwing the key, and we all had to cwimb
in and out of the windo'! We'd been
all hurted badwy wen, wouldn't we?"
chimed in dear little Daisy Brownie.
'Oh, here comes Mr.. Casew they
shouted, running to meet the easy-go-
ing. good-natured man.
wall, l declar, Miss Kate" said he,
putting and blowing after his climb.
this is too bad, RELY! What are YOU
a-going to do!"
"Mr. Case, think I'll pack my trunk
and start for home tomorrow: | be-
lieve steamer sails from San Diego
for the north tomorrow, does it notY
said she, with trembling lip and fash
ing eye.
Thar, thar, not so fast. OF course 1
cant say just what the other trustees
of .he deestrict will want to do but I
swan, we'd all hate to have you go.
Il guess I'd better hitch up the old
roam and jes' drive over and let Mr..
Jones and Mr.. Sykes know bout this
a-happenin', and come and tell you
this evelyn what we decide to do.
"Now, you go home. like q good girl.
and jest make up your mind that we'll
not let you get off for such 4 little
thing as the schoolhus's blowin' down!
VIII we, young uns?"
You bet your boots we WON'T" shout
ed the boys.
Thanking him for his encouraging
words Miss Kate and her faithful little
flock started for home-a long walk of
q 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 fun
ny misfortune.
One by one the boys and birls bade
their teacher good-by 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 it much nearer her
boarding place, In pretty, little shell
tered dell.
Until it was ready, which he thought
would be in about a week, she was TO
hold her classes in his front room.