Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-10-06

ktssseysaiaiSsyaA u"CA"@to III
"S''NS telligence. T h e
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 ont
by the jack k-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. Fe 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 Of
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.
1t was q raw January day. The wind
made tho 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 OF the forms the older
ones wrung their hands to dispel the
numbnesss of their fingers, aud sat
upon their feet to keep them warm.
A little girl with stringy, yellow
curls, lace-bordered apron, torn and
dingy, and soiled ribbon aruand her
neck, tugged at the teachers gown.
''Tln me aud Weaser Taa do bome?"
"Weaser Tan" Louisa Rut.n) by
her side, hung her head bashfg ly and
pulled her mouth awry With her
fingers. There WIS no attempt finery
in Weaser Tsn's costume. SRs was IN
ugly child, with part of her ,!!a11kemp
hair gathered into a.. snort, taperini
braid and tied with bit o. thread, ,ent
the rest t>of it hanging in strings abou
her, ,c.yes and ears.
The teacher hesitated.
"sMe and Weaser Tan will freez
on the way, Miss L." said Ralph
good -naturedly turning from his prob
lem, ssthey have nearly rs far to go a
have"
Miss l. stepped aaxiously to tn
window and surveyed the road.
"If Me and Weaser Tan will wai
till schools out I'll take them home o!
my sled," continued Ralph.
The teacher looked relieved.
eff you'll do that, Ralph" she said
''you may go right away; for th
storms getting worse every minute"
The boy was delighted to get out o
school so early. 'Proof that goo'
action is never thrown away" he said
with roguish familiarity. Then h
slammed his books into place, put OF
his warm overcoat and tied
bright home-knit scarf aroun'
his neck, and the little girl
pinned on their tlreadbare 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 tie sides of the sled were chappe.
and red.
"She amt got none," said Grace
pulling at the wrists Of her own ant
giggling self-consciously.
''Put 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 q colfbg
vacation, came out of the woods be
hind the Rutan cabin with his gul
upon his shoulder. His dog had rul
on ahead and Ralph came upon hin
eagerly tapping water from trough il
front of the house. Grace and Wease,
Tan were there, the latter with he,
hand upon the handle of the pump
from whose nozzle stream of fresl
water was falling gently for the AMI
mails enjoyment.
'Don knows where the best watel
in the neighborhood is to be found,
said Ralph, throwing bunch of game
upon the grass and pumping dipper
full of water for himself as the cir
stepped bashfully aside. The dog, 1
magnificent English setter, went tt
her and laid his tawny head agains
| her. She spoke gently to him, fond
ling his silky ears.
'sHe seems to be an acquaintance O.
yours" said Ralph, by way of being
sociable.
"Sh'd think he ought to be" gigglei
Grace. "She's always saving bones
and things for him."
That's very KIND, I'm sure, sale
the young fellow, turning toward the
game which Grace was inspecting.
'That blue-jay was an accident
didn't mean to shoot him."
'You might give me his wings fol
my hat," said Grace, ssucily.
ellis wings? with pleasure" and,
taking out his knife, he cut them off,
''One for Grace and one for-'Wea.
ser Tan,'" he said, giving one to each
and laughing at the recollection of the
old childish name.
He went whistling out of the CRATE;
and Grace, with each hand grssping
picket Of the rickety fence, watched
him out of hearing. He drew long
breath as she turned away.
Gracious, amt he handsomeI" she
said, ''and, Wease, you like him awful
good"
For answer Wease splashed her we'll