The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-24
Tragedy or Comedy.

Clarssa Hodgkins was angry. She had
90 start back to school on this warm Sep
TENDER afternoOn-but the worst part Of
81 all was that Miss Sallie Sprig was TO be
her teacher. Il just know L shall hate
the old thingl" exclaimed Clarissa 20 her
brother Jack, whereupOn her mother
scolded her roundly for her being dis
respectful I'm talking Of her superiors."
Superior sneered Miss Clarissa, as
she walked towards the schoOl-house in
a decidedly rebellious frame of mind;
I'D have her understand she's no superior
OF mine. What's more, / shan't do
thing / don't feel like doing for any Sally
Sprig.
Poor old Miss Sprig; she was certainly
not prepossessing. For thirty years she
had taught In Highland School," and
for fifteen years in Room No. s." Her
precise. old-maidish ways furnished to
the children OF eleven or twelve years
many an incentive for rebellion How
the youngsters hated TO march up TO the
water bucket to wet their sponges at ex-
nctfy fifteen minutes after ten in the
morning and AT two o'clock in the after
noon. How they detested reciting geo
graphy. for Miss Sprig invariably insisted
in having the exports and imports named
I'm order. And when the bell rang. how
they longed TO grab their hats and run.
instead OF marching slowly into the coat
room. slowly out again. and slowly to
their seats until there was perfect silence
IN the room Oh. yes. her reputation had
been handed down by scores OF big broth
ers and sisters until every new roomful
OF children knew just what TO expect.
But on this first day OF school she was
10 exasperating. Impatiently mo. S"
heard other rooms filing past the door,
or playing bail in the school-yard. Surely
Miss Sprig knew that one ought always
60 be excused early on the first day Of
school There was only one hope left 10
these wriggling martyrs-perhaps "she"
would let them go at recess! About ten
minutes before this anxiously-awaited
time there was rap on the door. and
out walked Miss Sprig. II was surely a
signal for an outbreak. for the cooped-up
spirits OF Clarissa and her mates demand
ed liberty. or course. Il began with whis-
pering. but soon paper wads and chalk
began 20 fly. and the room was hubbub
OF excitement.
"Helloa Sammier' yelled one OF the most
daring boys. who had just succeeded in
pulling blind down. and was ready for
further sport
"shut up. viii yerl" replied Sammie,
,n tones showing that he considered him
self highly insulted. Sam Hartzing was
not quarrelsome lad. Ear from II. He
was the personihcation Of patience, though
no one ever accredited 20 his good dis
poeition. 1T is all due 10 his consummate
iaxiness," they said. But on this especial
occasion sammie seemed 10 really enter
into the spirit Of his time; he was pugna-
raous. IL was so unusual that there was
n general pricking up OF ears.
s.sav Sammie." lcontinued the young
,ormentor. 'ain't II time you were set
Tin out some corn and potato plants on
yer neck?'
Now. this was a particularly tender
,o,nt with Samrnie He had got quite
ssck OF being tainted about his dirty
,ec,x especially when Il wouldn't come
clean. Accordingly. the insult had its
desired but unhoped-for effect. and Sam
yr,e, r,uttering something 10 the effect OF
.'puttin' daylight inter yer" was up and
rrter the younester Tho pupils OF No
were IN the highest OF glee. They stood
as. -, their seats they waved their arms.
they dubbed over with merriment to see
rr.st larry, ianky Sam actually run; and
n he midst OF all Miss Sprig entered.
she never changed expression, but the
silence was most excruciating. Every
ens VINO acted badly while was out OF