The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-11-08
/ REDHEADED JOE and
/ QUARRELS0NE TOM
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

| had pleasant time among them.
My schoolhouse was a 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 twenty
five, were mostly hearty, wholesome
boys and girls.
One warm day in spring | opened
the windows and doors to let in the
genial sunshine and was busy with my
classes, when in walked strange boy
whom l had never seen in the neigh
borhood.
He was thickly freckled 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
"Just back here by the edge of the
woods" he replied.
"What is your Manner | asked.
"Joe Morton said he, adding, 1--WE
just moved here"
"Well, Joseph" said 1, you may
come to school. Come this afternoon
and bring all your books"
A bright look came into his face as
l said this, but he made no reply and
went out as unceremoniously as he
came.
He made a queer picture as he went
Il uic HE aJOfhin0 G
patched, his coat was too big for him,
and he carried large, ragged hat in
his hand, but held up his head in a
self respecting way, and | felt sure
that Joe Morton was good and manly,
and resolved to help him all could
l was afraid he might not have a
very pleasant time with a certain few
of the boys, for, although they really
were not bad boys at heart, they were
much given to making fun of any new
conner and sometimes made it very I'M
pleasant for boy who seemed odd or
strange to them.
The leader of this set was Tom Ath-
erton, bright boy, but one who had
very little kindly feeling for any one in
school, excepting his little sister, Pearl
Pearl Atherton was about seven
years old and the most beautiful child
| have ever seen. Tom loved her with
q love that was almost worship, but to
the rest of the pupils lie was something
of tease and a torment. always teas
ing and making fun of some one and
sometimes in a most thoughtless, I'M
kind way.
/ had many Serious talks with him on
the subject, but as soon as he was out
of the schoolroom he seemed to forget
and went back to his old ways.
| AS Joe went down the aisle | glanced
at Tom and saw that his eyes were
twinlling mischievously, which l was
sure bodied no good to Joe; but l
thought he would be able to defend
himself.
In the afternoon Joe came, and, after
had assigned his lessons, took his
seat quietly
AT recess l heard Toms voice sing
ing out:
! know boy whose name is Joe,
With boots all out at the toe, toe, toe.
l heard no answer from Joe, and
soon Tom said moclingly:
"Mhat am | offered for tie hat? Bid
quick The only one left that came
out Of the ark How much am l offer
ed? Who'll make it one dollar? Who'll
make it one dolarT
And so it went from day to day,
Tom saying unkind, jeerng things as
soon as he supposed himself out Of
sight and Joe taking it quietly. Some
times quick flush would pass over his
face and his lips would culver, but no
word escaped him.
l thought best TO appear not to know
what was going on between them,
thinking it would soon wear itself out
and perhaps Joe would feel better to
think | did not know, but ! 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 tell
the truth on every occasion, and, look
ing into his earnest face, ! would for
get the baggy clothes, the fiery red
hair and the ragged hat.
| Not far from the schoolhouse was a
wide, deep stream of water which ran
dank and turbid in the spring. 1t was
crossed by a footbridge with railing
on both sides. Nearly half the chill
dren crossed this bridge to get to
school,
On pleasant days we often sat on
the bank to eat our dinner, which we
| brought with us.
One lovely day in early June we
were seated there after eating our din
ner. l was reading book, and the
children were amusing themselves in
various ways.
| Pearl Anterior strolled alone across
the bridge to look for violets, which
sometimes grew on the opposite side.
In coming back she stopped on the
middle Of the bridge, threw some leaves
into the water and leaned against the
railing, watching them as they tioated
away
The railing was old and in some man
ner had become so loosened that II
gave way with her weight, and, with
piercing cry, she went down and out
of sight.
Tom stood upon the bank, white and
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