The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-05-12
HOW THE STORM WENT ROUND,

The big school room clock said ten
minutes to 9 one Monday morning. 1t
was a dark day: a heavy gray fog
blotted all the window panes and really
seemed to have crept indoors and set
tied down on the spirits of the schol-
ars, who were gathering thick and fast.
Two small girls, standing below the
row of pegs where hats and wraps
were hung, were arguing with growing
temper over the possession of one par
ticular knob. Finally, one of them
snatched the others jacket and flung
it fiercely down on the floor.
L was here first|' she stormed, so
you can just take your coat away. You
shan't have my place."
Very well, Miss Katie Brown" an
swered the second little maid, march,
ing off with her chin in the air. When
you get ready you may hang my coat
up to suit yourself; I'm not going to
touch il. I don't suppose Miss Wright
will want it lying there all day, and
you know what she always says about
flinging things around
Meantime, at the other end of the
room, Herbert Decker, after rummag-
ing two or three times through his
desk and book bag in a vain search,
broke out fretfully:
Just my luck! I've gone and forgot
that old pencil again. L do believe a
lead pencil is the sneakingest thing on
this earth; it's forever getting away
from a felIowr'
Il guess your luck won't turn" said
his brother Charley. till you shorten
your last morning nap a little and quit
rushing everything through at the end
at about ten times the proper speed"
II didn't ask your opinion, thank
you" said Herbert. When l wish to
engage a private chaplain I'll let you
know. Say, Al Jones, will you lend me
a Dencil?"
Cant do it," said Al. Il don't keep
supplies for the wohle school"
Not even of manners, do your" re-
torted Herbert, snappishly
Half way toward the door two small
er boys were scuffling over an atlas,
and across the aisle u little lame lad
had just shaken his first in the face
of neighbor whom he suspected of
laughing at his deformity.
Miss Wright, the young teacher, had
been trying hard to shut her eyes to
the brewing storm about her. She felt
dull and out of sorts herself, and now,
as she looked at the overcast faces in
her schoolrOOm and remembered the
lnOg hours that stretched ahead, she
heaved a long, deep, discouraged sigh.
CAA~S
more opened and shut to, letting in
little rosy-cheelzed girl wearing a plaid
shawl over a much-darned frock. This
was NIinty Morris. None Of the other
girls was a shawl, and none of them
had quite so many patches as she; but
[ doubt whether anybody had ever
thought about that-certainly nobody
minded.
Minty was smiling and breathless.
II ran all the way" she said, cheer
fully. Our clock never is just exactly
right It's horrid hurrying so, but
then il makes a nice relief for YOU
when you find out you're in time, after
all"
Here she stumbled over the jacket
that Katie Brown had thrown on the
floor
Somebody's coat will get mussed,"
she said, hanging it up in place and
Strengthening two or three hats on
their pegs as she passed. Then she be-
gan to tumble in her dinner pail and
presently drew out a splendid crimson
apple. She looked at it admiringly
while she polished it off on the end Of
her shawl until its smooth surface
shone again. When she was fully sat
is1ied that she had done her best to
heighten it's projections. she started
across to the corner where Larry Miles,
the crippled, boy, was still frowninS
tremendously over his grievance.
Since Minty came in there had been
a Iull in the angry talking and the
shutting of feet on the schoolroom floor
had stopped, so that now when she
spoke quiet as her voice was, every
bodsJ heard.
Larry" she said, smiling and dim
ping in irresistible friend1iness, here's
a present for you. Grandpa brought us
Ca yJo,- I Il
a nice one just for you. Don't you like
this kind?"
AS if Larry didn't like all kinds! And
as if Grandpa Morris had brought 50
many apples that ''one, more or less,
did not count.
I think that every mind in the listen
ing schoolroom Travelled to the little tin
pail on Mintys desk and remembered
how seldom it was that anything like
a luxury was brought to light from un-
der its cover.
suddenly one of the small boys took
his hand away from the disputed atlas.
You can have it, he said. Il don't
care"
And AL Jones took out his knofe, and
cutting his pencil in two, offered half
to Herbert.
Il guess this was too long for COM
fort; and. anyhow, it's a pity if there
isn't some way " So INC "eS' Vi Oil-
cumstances."
The boy who had reused Larry's
wrath leaned over a seat or two to
speak to him.
What are you mad at me about, old
man?" he demanded. II was just
laughing at the face Katie Brown was
making. If you want to fight me for
that. all right But I think we'd bet
ter shake hands and be friends"
Katie Brown squirned uneasily for a
time. then she peeped over her Shout
der at the neighbor whose coat she had
maltreated and finally she turned
around and said, shyly:
my Aunt Mary is going to Europe;
did you know it?
And so it seemed as though the fog
and gloom that had threatened crept off