Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-01-05
JOE
His Rags Covered That which
Proved of Value.
2NNNNNNNNAEN .a..H.al..

]
But the few settlers were hardy men
and women, living honest lives and GO
ing on slowly but steadily to prospect
ty, and | had pleasant time among
! them.
My schoolhousc was Il very primitive
affair indeed. 1t was small, unpaint-
ed and upholstered, but had good
floor and fairly comfortable seats. and
my pupils, of whom there were -,
were mostly hearty, wholesome boys
and girls.
One warm day in spring l opened the
windows and doors to let in the genial
sunshine and was busy with my class
es when in walked n strange boy
| whom l had never seen in the neigh
| borhood.
He was thichly frcckled, had red
hair and was poorly dressed, but was
very clean. He came directly TO my
desk.
MAY | come to school, teacher:" he
asked, looking at me earnestly.
"Where do you live, my boy| |
questioned.
Gust back here by the edge of the
woods" he replied.
"What is your name? l asked.
"Joe Norton" said he, adding, 1--WE
| just moved here"
! "Well Joseph" said I, you may
come to school. Come this afternoon
| ond hrinn III vou1. hooks"
A bright look came into his face as
said this, but he made no reply and
went ont as unceremoniously as he
came.
He made Il queer picture as he went
! down the aisle. His clothing was
| patched, his coat was too big for him,
and he carried Il large. ragged hat in
his hand. But lie held up his head in
self respecting way, and | felt sure
that Joe Morton was good and manly,
and l resolved to- help him all l could.
was afraid he might not have Il
very pleasant time with Il certain Few
of the boys, for, although they really
were not bad boys at heart, they were
much given to making fun of any
newcomer and sometimes made it very
! unpleasant for boy who seemed odd
or strange to them.
The leader of this set was Tom
Atherton, Il bright boy. but one who
had very little kindly feeling for any
one in school excepting his little sis
| ter Pearl.
Pearl Atherton was about years
old and the most beautiful chDd ] have
ever seen. Tom loved her with Il love
| that was almost worship, but to the
rest of the pupils he was something of
n tease ana torment, always teasing
and making fun of some one and some
times in a most thoughtless unkind
way.
| had many serious talks with him
on the subject. but rs soon as he was
out of the schoolroOm he seemed to
! forget and went bacl; TO his old ways.
AS Joe went down the aisle | slanc-
ed at Tom and saw that his eyes were
twinkling mschicvously, which ] was
sure BODIED no good TO JOE, but thought
he would be able to defend himself.
| In the afternoon Joe came and. aft
er had assigned his lessons. took his
seat quietly.
At recess l heard Toms voice sing
ing out:
81 know boy whose name IS Joe,
With boots all out at the toe toe, toe"
| I heard NO answer from Joe. ana
soon Tom said mockngly:
"What am | offered For the hat? Bid
quick, The only one left that came
out of the ark. How much am of
fercd? Who'll make it 81? Who'll
make it 81"
/ And so 1t went from day to day. Tom
saying unkind, jcerlng things as soon
as he supposed him self out of sight
and Joe taking it quietly. Sometimes
Il quick flush would pass over his face
and his lips would culver, but no word
escaped him.
! | thought best to appear not TO know
what was going on between them,
thinking it would soon wear itself oui
and perhaps Joe would feel hetter to
think l did not SNOW. but I kept him
with me as much as could and grew
TO like him very much.
He made rapid progress in his stud
les, and his everyday life showed
strength of character.
could always depend on him TO tel
the truth on every occasion. and. look
ing into his earnest face. would for
get the ragged hat.
Not far from the schooIhousc wa =
wide. deep stream OF water which RAJ
danli and turbid in the spring. 1t W Il
crossed by foo;bridge with Il lniiih :
on both sides. Nearly half thu cha
dren crossed this bridge TO get 10
school
On pleasant days we often sat on th'
bank to eat our dinner. which w
brought with us.