The state herald., 1900-10-26
The School Marin Of Red Elm.
BY SARA BEAUMONT KENNEDY.
Copyright 1900, Daily Story Pub Coz


district school. The fist Sunday after
her installment eyes and whispered
comments followed her up the aisle
as she went with Squire Bailey to a
seat; and after service she was the
one subject Of conversation.
you say she's eighteen? Well, she
amt spent her time growing; a pound
of soap after weeks washing il as
big as that"
THE children said she was SO little
her feet did not touch the floor when
she sat in her chair on the rostrum;
but I didn't expect to see such KID"
said Mrs. Moore. "She doesn't even
dress like teacher-look as those
elbow sleeves and yards and yards Of
ribbon"
She'll never govern that school this
side Of kingdom come" sighed Mrs.
Wade. Bob Smith and his crew will
scare the life out of her the first time
they get to cutting up. She'll have to
resign"
Yes, for 1t takes as much muscle as
book learning to teach in Red ELM"
replied Mrs. Moore. 81 wonder what
Squire Bailey was thinking of to en-
gage q child like that My Sally could
do as we'll, for she's ciphered up to
miscellaneous examples in the back
Of the arithmetic, and everybody heard
how beautifully she spoke 'Curfew' at
the last concert" But the others were
silent when memories OF that recita-
ton were evoked.
The disapprobation. started that
Sunday, spread during the weeks that
followed, and everybody was prohsey-
ing q Waterloo for the new teacher
the first time Bob Smith got out of
bed with the wrong foot foremost"
And meanwhile Mamie Lewis sat on
the school room platform. with her
little feet two inches from the floor,
and worked like Trojan and earned
every cent of the scanty salary the
country districts allow their over
worked teachers. She had come to Red
Elm with many misgivings. having
heard Of the big boys who made life in
the schoolroom as exciting as ghost
dance" Of the painted Indians. Espe-
cially had she been warned about Bob
Smith. lad of nearly twenty. hand
some. idle, restless. and possessed OF
a legion of mischievous devils. His
invalid mother humored and adored
him and his busy father neglected him.
and between the two his better nature
lay dormant. Miss Lewis studied him
covertly all that first morning. and
planned her line of attack. for If she
was to stay here, then she must have
Bob on her side. And with a woman's
intuition she found the Achilles heel.
That afternoon some blackboard work
had to be done. and after tiptoeing a
few minutes in vain effort to reach
high enough, she turned around and
said, with a fetchingly beseeching
smile:
Bob. won't you come and help me?
you are SO nice and tall
Surprised and rather complimented,
the boy did as she asked. Thank you.
dear" she said with another soft
smile as he stopped to put the chalk
in its box. Then with a sudden ges-
ture she pushed the hair from his
brow with her pencil and added: with
such fine forehead as that you ought
to have the making OF president In
you" And confused, but tingling in
his boots, Bob went back TO his seat.
That afternoon everybody fingered.
but Bob outstayed them all. and Miss
Lewis found him pretending to mend
the gate latch when she came out
DO you go my way Bob! That is
nice. Come on this side and take my
umbrella; my arm gets so tired OF
holding it-tilt 1t Just little more
there. that's dear"
Again Bog tingled; and then he
asked himself II II were really he walk
Ing along the road carrying a girls
parasol.
You're the littlest thing l ever
saw" he said presently, looking her
over out Of the corner OF his eye. Then
he blurted out. boy fashion: But say.
you're awful pretty"
I'm glad you think So" she an
swered, with a fiattering accent on the
last pronoun.
A long look ahead as II he had not
heard her. then he asked: "Why?"
"Oh. because ! like you and l want
you to like me. As you say. am SO
little that sometimes need big.
strong friend like you to look after
me-"
The words and the glance that went
with them finished the subjugation OF
the young rough, The next day he
said to the other school boys:
THAT girls too little TO be bullicd.
The first fellow that starts 1t will
have to answer to me. See?" And
Dick James, the other 'unterrIaed
quantity" OF the community. having
nodded his agreement, Miss Lewis was
ms safe as II troop OF Rough Riders
had been picketod about her desk. But
the gossips did not know this. and so
they kept waiting for Bob Smith to
put that wrong foot out OF bed. And
while they waited the autumn wore
PEACEFUL away.
One afternoon Squire Bailey stopped
at the school house. The days work
was done and Miss Lewis stood on the
steps tying her hat under her chin with
Its gay ribbons. On one side OF her
Dick James swung her lunch basket. /.
and on the other Bob Smith waited
with her parasol nS dooilcly ms though
he had not flannel out" the last
teacher and sworn like treatment to
this one-beforc he snw her 'Saulre's
eyes twinkled at sight Of these two un-
rnly spirits In their new roles.
Got two mighty rough citizens for
your escort. Miss Lewis" he said, with
n knowing nod and wink The little
teacher bridled
I'm sure I don't know why you
should any such thing. Squire
Bailey ind Bob and Dick perfectly
ioyeiy"