The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-23
MISS PICKLES PUPILS
HAVE AN OUTING


InNE fine morning during the long
~ vacation Misn Pickles. teacher Of
city boys. gathered her pupils un-
der her wing and led them into the
country ~ far as the trolley car could
convey them: then they walked. Her
object was to give them an object les
son on country scenes and things that
they might not be so ignorant as the
hapless common run of city children
are of rural matters.
They first assembled a hillside which
was much easier for the boys to climb
than for their kind teacher, Half way
up a goat browsed peacefully on
bramble bush.
Stop. boys said Miss Pickles, pant
Ing for breath. Look at this. This Is
goat"
"Bah-ah-ah!" sneered dozen boys.
Who don't know a billygoat %
Miss Pickles proceeded in silence.
They walked on throughsa country lane
that was neither clean nor odorous with
the scent of sweetbrier. 1t smelled, on
the contrary, strongly of malt. A
great building. many stored, was at
the end Of the lane. The sixty boys
marched on very orderly and biddably
They made a show that attracted at
tention all along the way. Opposite the
| LARGE building a kindly man with .
| rosy. German face came out to look at
them.
Vas list all dis?' he asked Miss Pic
kles pleasantly.
These are my boys" answered Miss
Pickles, and
BLESS mine souli" exclaimed the good
natured man. looking at her sharply.
Il mean they are my schoolboys,"
hastily explained the teacher. They
are my pupils. and they have come with
me into the country to learn about
things we can't see in the city
| All. dot list goot. sehr goot." an
swered the good natured man. Well, I
! can help you You see dis big, big
| house here? Dot ist mine brauerei.
Come you in NIT dem boys. und I viii
show you how I makes beer. We will
go all over mine brauerei from de
vaults below ground. ware I keeps t'ou-
sand hogsheads beer. to de top, ware
de pile of barley is. Und damn We
comes down again, und 1 takes you in
mine Office, und I gives all dem boys a
| a nice glass beer. Pete. sixty-one beers
for de teacherin und her boys
''Hooray. Hooray for the beer mani"
shouted the boys.
"Oh. my, but this is Dreadful said
Miss Pickles to herself.
Despairing of impressing q moral les
| son on the kind brewer. she thanked
him family and hurried the urchins
| away from the communicating scene.
Half mile from the baneful building
and out of sight of it around a turn in
the road. they stopped. A pleasant
shaded spot, uninclosed, invited rest
after the agitating experience just past.
Miss Pickles sank upon the grass, her
proteges around her. But their restless
young spirits could not long be quiet.
Some began throwing stones at things,
others rolled upon the grass. A few of
the quieter ones remained near Miss
Pickles: the rest were making an un-
earthly noise. Some Skinned" up q
tree directly over Miss Pickles head
She smiled benignantly on them. Were
not the poor things exploring an un-
known realm. the beautiful country?
| Boys" she said. do you know what
kind of tree this is 1t is an oak.
very valuable for its wood. It's botan-
zeal name is Quercus alba. Can you re-
member that? Querc''-
what are all these young ones doing
there? Is this gypsy camp?" roared a
ihoarse voice. 1t proceeded from a bad.
cross man.
| They are my pupils. and I have
brought them to the country to learn
about things they cannot see in the
city, replied Miss Pickles timfdly. Her
heart beat quickly, for the bad. cross
man looked fearsome. as though he
would rather enjoy eating the youngest
and tenderest of her boys. The bad,
cross man was angrier than ever when
she told him they were city. schoolboys.
He said:
We'll, you just get off my property,
the lot of you. l don't care who you
are. I won't have you trespassing on
my ground. I amt keeping an orphan
asylum or charity horsepital for town
| trash's children. Get right out or I'll
set the dog on your
The wicked looking bull terrier that
| skulked at his heels yawned and licked
it's jaws.
Come. boys. quick!" called Miss
| Pickles.
| All ran like a flock of sheep down the
road, Miss Pickles bringing up the rear,
putting and painting. nor paused till
they were safe in the friendly trolley
car After Miss Pickles counted noses
to see II any had got away the car took
| them back to the city.
JOSEPHINE HUNTER.