The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-11-20

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/ GSE5EG backward in in
"1'''"A' telligence. T h 9
schoolroom was relic of an ancient
educational regime, with broken, be-
grimed walls, curtainless windows
and backless, splinter-fringed benches,
whose present incumbents could,
upon the clumsy ''forms" before
them, carve their initials side by side
with those of their fathers, or i'm
prison flies in dungeons gouged out
by the jack knives of their grand
fathers.
This pupil in algebra was the sole
representative there of the township
aristocracy. The teacher was very
proud of him. He had already passed
the entrance examination for the high
school in distant city. He showed
what he could do when she had
material to work with, she thought,
and she was fond of showing him off
when the trustees made their pre-
scribed ''two visits year." The boy
had an earnest though merry face, aud
he bore with good-humored indif-
ference the distinction of being the
best-dressed and most scholarly pupil
there.
It was raw January day. The wind
made the old schoolhouse quake, but
for pity of the children, it piled pro-
tecting ridges of snow about the case
ments. For the comfort of the smaller
children benches were drawn close to
the stove; but at the forms the older
ones wrung their hands to dispel the
numbness of their fingers, and sat
upon their feet to keep them warm.
A little girl with stringy, yellow
curls, lace-bordered apron, torn and
dingy, and a soiled ribbon around her
ueck, tugged at the teachers gown.
''Tln me and Weaser Tan do homer"
"Weaser Tan" Louisa Rutan) by
her side, hung her head bashfully and
pulled. her mouth awry with her
fingers. There was no attempt at finery
In Weaser Tan's costume. She was an
ugly child, with part of her unkempt
hair gathered into short, tapering
braid and tied with bit of thread, and
the rest of it hanging in strings about
her eyes and ears.
The teacher hesitated.
me and Weaser Tan will freeze
on the way, Miss L." said Ralph,
good naturally turning from his prob
lem, ''they have nearly as far to go as
have"
Miss L. stepped anxiously to the
window and surveyed the road.
eff Me and Weaser Tan will wait
till schools out I'll take them home on
my sled," continued Ralph.
The teacher looked relieved
eff you'll do that, Ralph" she said,
"you may go right away; for the
storms getting worse every minute"
/ The boy was delighted to get out OF
school so early. proof that good
action is never thrown away" he said,
with roguish familiarity. Then he
slammed his books into place, put or
his warm overcoat and tied 9
bright home-knit scarf around
his neck, and the little girls
pinned on their threadbare shawls
They went out into the storm to.
gether, and he seated them a-tanden
upon his sled.
"Put on your mittens, Weaser Tan,
he said, for the child's hands holding
to the sides of the sled were chapped
and red.
'sShe amt got none," said Grace
pulling at the wrists Of her own and
giggling self-consciously.
ssPut these on, then," said he
throwing his own into her lap.
She drew them on shamefacedly
The little girls lived in adjoining
cabins; and when he left them in from
Of their door he said:
''You may keep the mittens, Wease
Tan; mother'll knit me another pair
They're not so gay as Grace's, bu
they're warm"
Ralph Burrows, home on colleg
vacation, came out of the woods be
hind the Rutan cabin with his gu
upon his shoulder. His dog had ru
ON ahead and Ralph came upon hi
eagerly tapping water from trough i
front of the house. Grace and Wease
Tan were there, the latter with he
hand upon the handle of the pump
from whose nozzle a stream OF fres
water was falling gently for the an
malls enjoyment.
"Don knows where the best waite
In the neighborhood is to be found,
said Ralph, throwing bunch of gam
upon the grass and pumpinga dippe
fnl of water for himself as the 81
stepped bashfully aside. The dog,
magnificent English setter, went |