Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-06-15
How Norris Lost a Bad
Reputation
By Marie 8. Laid.

MORRIS THORNTON was the worst
boy in school, and everybody said
50. He was IL years old nova strong,
ood-lool<ing lad, that could not read
intelligibly because his mind was bent
on mischief the whole day through.
With the winter teacher-a mamie
just kept within bounds; but every
summer he had ''brush," as he called
it, with the woman teacher, and kept
her in an anxiously excited state
throughout the term.
The lady who taught them this sum-
mer was Miss Mary Rose, and, as this
was her first school, Norris confided to
the boys that he should postpone break
ing her in for awhile.
So for few days she was left to the
illusion that the group of children
around her was made up of so many
cherubs, and then he began to lay plans
for siege.
His base of operations at first always
consisted in defying the rules. So his
first ofrense was staying outside half
an hour or more after school had been
called at recess.
Now, the summer before he had not
only remained out, but had pelted the
schoolhouse wall as we'll; so you see
that he meant to be little fOrbearing,
after all.
Well, what did Miss Rose do but de-
tain him as many minutes after the
others were dismissed as he had been
absent.
Under ordinary circumstances Norris
would have just marched out and paid
no attention to the teachers command;
but the little schoolmistress stood
quietly by the door and looked at him !;
and, though he was well aware that.
physically, he was stronger, there was
i'll her eyes look of power that he
could not resist.
But when once set free he gave a
whoop on the schoolhouse steps. in or
der to recover his standing a little, and
told the boys when he joined them that
Miss Rose and he had got to have a
brush, and that was just what it was
coming to.
On his way to school Norris passed
little grimy smithy, where the village
horses were shod. The proprietor of
this establishment, Jack Parker, and
he were old acquaintance.
The next morning when Norris
passed by to school Jack stood in the
door, looking as sooty as his shop. He
was huge fellow, sinewy and power
full, and looked as though he might have
been made at his own forge; and yet
beneath his rough exterior throbbed a
heart exceedingly warm and tender.
Miss Rose, in passing that way, had
once looked into his shop with seeming
interest. 1t was work, and she liked
to see the strong arm weld the hard
Z iron
Catching glimpse of her face, Jack
faacied there was the same look in it
that had belonged to little daughter
of his, who had rested now several
years in the village churchyard.
Norris" said Jack this morning,
Howard Town told me last night that
you was going to lick the teacher
Norris Strengthened up and looked
important.
y L
little in that line pretty soon. She
amt very big, though, and it won't do
TO be very savage: and it won't do to
have her boss;n' of a Teller round,
nuther, you know"
''See here, Norris said Jack: Il don't
believe you ever had first class whip
ping in your life, and I'll tell you what
I'll do. If you lay finger on that little
woman to harm her III give you sound
nauling, as sure's my names Jack
Parker
And the stalwart blacksmith brought
down his sledge hammer of fist with
emphasis on his leathern apron.
Norris put his thumb up to his nose
and marched on. He did not care much
for Jacks threat. he felt so sure he
could keep out of his~way, and he did
mean to give the young schoolmistress
a scare, at any rate; and this was the
way he would do it:
He would break rules again. and she