The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-10-19

;, :. :. .-,sS-:.SI life, rude III dress
49,. " .tfrss and manner, and
l,ks,s,s 81, I-.SssA backward in in
telligeucc. L Ii e
schoolroom was relic of an ancient
educational regime, with broken, be-
Srimed 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 verv
proud of him. He had already passed
the entrance examination for the high
school i'll 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-
scrlbed two visits wear" The bow
had an earnest though merry face, and
he bore with good-humored indif
ference the distinction of being the
best dressed and most scholarly pupil
there.
1t 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 wrunS 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 soiled ribbon around her
neck, tugged Mt the teacher's gown.
''Tln me and Weaser Tan do homer"
"Weaser Tan" Lousa Rutaul bv
her side, hung her head bashfully and
pulled. her mouth nwry with her
fingers. There was no attempt at finerv
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 Rabbi.
good-naturedly turning from his prob
lem, they have nearly as far to 60 as
| have"
Miss l. stepped anxiousy to the
window and surveyed the road.
IF Me aud Weaser Tan will wait
till schools out I'll take them home ON
my sled, " continued Ralph.
The teacher looked relieved.
IF You'll do that, Ralph" she said.
you may 90 right away; for the
storms getting worse every minute"
The boy was delighted to get ont Of
school so carly. "Proof that GOOD
action is never thrown away, lac said
with roguish familiarity Then he
slammed his books into place. put ON
his warm ovcrcoat and Sel n
bright homc-knit scarf md.ud
his neck, and the little girls
pinned ON their thrcadbarc shawls.
They went out into the storm to-
Rethcr, and he seated them a-taudcm
upon his sled
Put ON your mitteus Wea-cr Fan. "
lac suid, for the ,hild's hands holding
to the sides of the slrd were ohnpped
mud red
"She aiut got none. said Craco.
pulling ut the wrists OF her own and
giggliug self consciously
Put these ON, then. said he
throwing bis own into her lap.
She drew them ou shnmcfaccdlv
The little girls lived m ADJOINING
cabins; and when hc left them i'm front
" their door be said
" You may keep the mittcus. Weascr
Tan; motherli knit me another pnir
They're not $50 gay as Cruces but
they're warm
Ralph Burrows, home oua COLLEGE
vacation came ont of the woods Doc.
hind thc Rutan cabin with his gun
upou bis houldor His dog had run
ON ahead and Ralph comc upon him
eagerly tapping water from trougl i'm
front Of the house. Grace and Wc1scr
Tan were there. the hitter with her
hand upon the handle OF the pump.
from whose nozzle stream of fresh
water was falling gently for the mi.
mails enjoyment
Don knows whore the best winter
in the nciyhborhood is 10 be found.
said Ralph, throwing n bunch OF game
upon the grass and pumpiuga Upper.
full Of water for himself rs the Girl
stepped bashfully aside. The dog. u
magnificent English setter, went "a