The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-12
6be Story Teller
The Reformation
of Samuel Roger

THE ScnOOlrOOm was very quiet LOT
a few moments after Miss Dean
ceased speaking.
II leave it to you to decide what
we shall do this year." she had said
and Herewith forty-one brains grasped
the knotty problem Of Arbor Day.
Murray school formed a progressive
and public spirited little world, al
though separated from the great out
side world by bleak stretches Of Kan
sas prairie. 1t was keenly interested
in it's neighbors. That was how the
Arbor Day celebration had begun. Tod
Jones had been to visit his cousin In
the city and had come back full Of
tales of what they did at cousin
Henry's school,"
why. on Arbor Day, that means
tree-day and comes along in the
spring, they plant trees in their school
yard. Got pile OF trees there al
ready, many's we've got on half a
dozen farms here. but they keep on
planting 'em every year just the same.
Guess the farmers round hered, be
glad to have trees planted in their
yards every spring. Syke Martins
got most of any of us, and he's only
got-lets see-nineteen. Say, fellows,
let's do it, get some trees from town
and when that ArDor Day comes
round plant 'em in somebody's yard.
We can do it on a different farm every
year, and it'll improve the country
Tod had said and the school. intensely
loyal to its own community, had
eagerly followed his leading.
After Miss Dean had come, the year
ly celebration had become something
Of a social affair with their farmer
friends as jolly hosts.
Now. they had gone the rounds of
the farms. Should they begin over
again or form some new plan? Miss
Dean had just left the question to the
school. After what seemed very long
three minutes, hand went up from
one Of the front seats. The older pu-
pills were much surprised when little
Fife Miller rose and began to speak
in a soft, clear little voice that trem-
bled slightly sut first.
II think, she began, ''that we have
forgotten one of our neighbors. We
haven't planted any trees on MI
Rogers farm yet, and he needs them
most of all of US"
She hesitated for a moment as a
rustic Of surprise went around the
room Mr.. Roger was the mortal
enemy of all children in general and
OF Murray school in particular. Then
she went en- bravely. "He hasn't but
four trees, counting the dead ones near
the barn, and he's old and hasn't any
folks OF his own to make him happy
| know he's been cross to us and won t
Let us go through his pasture, that'd
make it lots nearer to school, But my
mother says that once he had a little
boy OF MS own, and, 0, he liked that
little boy so much! One day Bobbie,
that was the little boys name. was
hurt while he was playing at school
and he couldn't ever walk any more
'cepting with a crutch. That's why he
doesn't like us. And l think that
maybe poor Mr.. Roger Would-like, to
have some one think about him and 5e
good to him.
Effie slipped into her seat and hid
her flushed face in her hands. She was
almost ashamed because she had dared
to speak before so many big girls ana
boys. Then Timothy Roe was on his
feet speaking
Mr.. Roger" he said, '*has the only
pond for miles around in his meadow
and do you think he'd even let us lool
at it, not TO speak Of Wading? No
sir. l. don't like him He wouldn'
let us in the yard if we did go there.
There were dozen different opin
ions, but in the end the little yellow
haired girl won her cause, despite tn,
fact that it meant the giving up o
the Ar5or Day party. Not even tn,
most hopeful children expected Mr.
Roger to entertain them with dough
nuts and games. There was to be
note sent to Mr.. Roger informing hin
OF their decision and asking for al
answer in case there should be an
objection to the plan. Otherwise tn
school would be at his place at
o'clock on Arbor Day.
What a time they had over the writ
ing Of that note! The boys proteste
against "Dear sir" 1--WE won't
such hypocrites as to call him
dear" they said, Timothy suggeste
Gentleman" but that was quite a
bad. Finally they settled upon ''Sir,
which sounded little stiff, but whic
had the virtue Of truth No one, nc
even his worst enemy, could asse,
that Mr.. Roger was not "sir." Til
note was dispatched and the schoc
waited impatiently for some reply
None came, SO the preparations wer
forward for the event.
The day came, with blue sky an
feecy clouds overhead and warn
life-bringing wind sweeping over tt
prairies. A procession was formed
the schoolhouse, which was augmente
along the way by big brothers and ST!
tiers. When they reached the Rogs
farm they found the gate unbarre
and the dooryard swept scrupuIous]