Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-06-10

tnem. surely enough, tnere was tne
school, in small clearing. surrounded
by trees My mates were there, and
Pearl In the midst OF them, holding q
book. Conceallng myself behind a
tree. where had clear view OF the
scene, listened to what was going on.
Six of my mates were present, all
Of them deeply interested in the pro-
ceedings, and with such expressions en-
their faces as denoted that knotty
point was being discussed. Tom
Wren, to my surprise, looking some
what rebellious, was seated on some
stones which had been built up to form
a seat, and Pearl was leaning over his
shoulder. rs,f #...t.. si5si. ..-,.,,..s
Now, Tom," said Pearl, "I have told
you n hundred, hundred times. and
you're bad boy. Here 1t is-A. A is
the first letter. Mr.. Bowden, please to
say your alphabet"
To my infinite amusement, Mr..
Bowden. who could not have been less
than sixty years Of age, instantly
stood up. and, in as awkward a man
ner az any new school-boy could ex :.
hibit. went stumblingly through the
alphabet. He made few mistakes on
the journey. and was gravely corrected
by his mates. who themselves were
more often wrong than right.
"You geo, Tom," said Pearl. holding
up n reproving finger. they all know
better than you. A is the first letter.
and o Is in the middle"
But obstinate Tom shook his head.
"S' lid up. sir!" cried Pearl.
Tom stood up so readily and meek
ly, and the other men looked on SO ap-
prehensively. that 1t would not have
surprised me had the fascinating little
school-mistress peremptorily desired
him to hold out his hand to receive six
for his contumacy. And Pearl really
did have something in her hand that
looked like n cane: but she made no
use of 1t on this occasion.
"Once more, Tom" said Pearl, as the
bay boy OF the school stood submis-
sively. and yet with an air of dogged
independence on him, before her,
what is the first letter of the alpha
bet?" s- I
90" said Tom. very decidedly.
"a, sir. A." cried Pearl. .r-..r.
20, Queen Pearl, II you please"
"Then suppose" said Pearl. con-
| uGSCehuIuk " "a buV, uhu ia u
measure weakening her authority and
strengthening Toms position. you
will say that b is not the second let
ter"
"It is not, Queen Pearl" replied
Tom. boldly.
Pearl gazed at him In ,,onder. I
saw the imminence of the crisis, and
waited In curiosity for the result.
what Is the second letter, then?"
en-"
"And the third?"
&C."
"Ah, you've got that right. then. C
is tho third letter. and D is the
fourth"
mo. Queen Pearl, 1t is E."
Queen Pearl stamped her little foot.
and Tom looked rs grieved rs though
he were about to be condemned TO in
slant execution: but he had the cour-
age of his convictions, and he held his
ground manfully.
Upon my word" exclaimed Pearl,
with a comical air Of helplessness. Il
really don't know what is to be done
with such a bad boy as this!"
Queen Pearl" said Tom. hi, Jelf
coming to her rescue. like the sly dog
he was. what do you say to the other
school-boys settling it?"
There's nothing to be settled, Tom.
II they tell you you arc wrong. you
will still be obstinate. You heard Mr..
Bowden say his A B c. He didn't say
lone"
"It isn't you that's wrong, Queen
Pearl" persisted Tom; and. knowing
how he loved Pearl. l marvclcd at his
frmness: Its the book. Look here
mates-Fd lay down my life for our
Queen, wouldn't I now?"
simultaneously With their. "Ay, ny,
Tom. that you would: and so would
we," Pearl took Toms hand. and said,
You foolish, obstinate boy! I'm no.
angry with you. but want you TO
learn. How can the books lie wrong?"
II didn't say the books and Tom
retained Pearls hand lovingly In his
"I said the book. We've G'ry two.
Give them to me. please, Queen Pearl.
Well, then mates. this is now 1t Is.
Here's the two books aud they don't
agree. Which do we like best? This?"
He held out the Primer. "Or this?"
He held out cinderella" Which is
| TIE ueSl DOoh Vi VIC '"os anu Is
the book to go by? Who holds up his
hand for Cinderella"
Every hand was held UP.
"And who," continued Tom, prov
ing himself rare logician, holds up
his hand for the Primer. us Queen
Pearl calls it?''
Not n hand was raised. Tom
chuckled. 1t was evidently a matter
which he had pondered over deeply.
"Well, then" he said, look at the
first letter in Cinderella. What IL Il?
o. And the next? y. And tie next?
c. And the next? f. There you are.
then. Once. once. Once upon a
time That's how II Ia. The man that
wrote this Primer male mistake.
And the man that ErO;s Cinderella
ia the man 70 10 by. and here's three
chsers for hlm."
Tom raIsed hls voice Justify. and
ikEY All latHed Ia. Even !. So that
tasfs Nas 10 mistake as 10 the SUCCESS
5f the ng'inY But they raised
l6u6sr cheer when they heard my
/ voice. and 40 discovered me; and Pearl
herseIf. reioiced to see me among MY
men again. gave In to Tom, and de-