The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-29
His Little SChOOIma'd
BY JOHN L. MEYER.

Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Co.
Schoolm'ams are just as susceptible
to kindness and love as ordinary peo-
pie When the. little budding hearts
of the classroom, who will be 1niSchiev-
Gus despite protestationS and COM
mands grow warm with love toward
the miss whose duty it is to act as the
target, as well as the instructor. in the
teaching Of the young idea how to
shoot, it somehow takes seed in her
own hearth the heart offers the
ground for the rightful planting
the flower and the fruit is beautiful.
The sweetness of the blossom is given
back ever so quietly and unconscious
iy, but there is an invariable reward
for its return. There is more love and
more kindness for the branch that
bears the flowers, and soon all is radi-
ant with happiness.
Miss Jennie Williams, teacher in
charge Of the Third ward school at
Merton, knew the secret well, and her
heart was a good place for the planting.
Though the school had heretofore held
a name which carried hesitancy to the
minds of many schoolma'am who had
applied for the place, Miss Williams
was most successful in her work.
Happy and really jolly at all times,
there was no loss of dignity for her.
Then, when another bit of a seed
took root in her bosom, and when sew
eral lads in the village saw their hopes
we call such things hopes" always
-benumbed by the arrival of the
young railway man from the city, no
one dared to begrudge him his good
fortune. In fact, everybody wished him
well. Such is not always a result i'll
such affairs.
Everyone liked William Masterson,
superintendent of the southern division
of the B. & B. To hear the words
superintendent Of the division" once
inspired the villagers to conjure up
visions of a merciless creature. with
several idle dollars ceaselessly jingled
in his pockets by an oppressive right
hand. That was before they knew
Billy.
Even when the Mertonites found out
that Billy was the real enough son OF
the president of the road, they were
merely surprised; their interest grew
to the fact that one can be the son of A
railway president-the head Of a
'heartless comparatively being
a monster.
Contrawise to the situation at Mer-
ton, some one in the city found out and
that started all the trouble.
One evening the father and the son
stood face to face in the Mastersou
house both flushed with wounded pride
and anger.
What strange things love will bring
about!
Billy was very short and decisive
"All right. sir" he said, I'll go. The
whole road can't buy my heart! Sup
pose she is only little schoolma'am
as you say she is a woman dearer to
me than any of the dolls who prance
about in your drawing rooms"
After delivering this rather ultra
democratic speech, Billy Masterson
wrote and delivered his resignation
from services on the 3. & B.
He was on the Southern, going to-
ward Merton, the next afternoon.
"Why, Mr.. Masterson!" exclaimed
Old Jim, the conductor, surprised when
Billy offered him a regular paid ticket.
Its all right, JIM" Billy answered.
I've quit the road" Then he leaned
back in his seat and wondered what she
would say
There was long silence in the room
when Billy finally told her-"my little
schoolma am" he called her. She
spoke first.
please. Billy, go back" she pleaded.
"Why should you leave"
Billy drew the pretty head close to
his shoulder and held it there snugly
and ever so long. Only sob, and then
another lost itself in the stiffness all
about -
you foolish, dear boy" came muf-
fled voice from near the shoulder of the
man.
mo, dear, I'm not going back" he
said
When the p1eadings of those loved
best fail, 1T is best to stop pleading
when the sweet little mouth is hidden
and the cheek is softly pressed to an
other cheek. Jennie pleaded no more
not then.
A week later Billy had a position on
one of the great newspapers in the city
and was hustling about daily in search
Of the evasive news item. And all the
time there grew in BiIly's heart some
thing that cut and caused deep yearn-
ing. He worked every day except Sun
days, and on Sundays there was no
train in or out of Merton.
The little schoolma'am suffered, too
To be sure, every few days one of her
little tots brought an envelope, the con-
tents of which, according to the various
pupils, caused Jennie to become quite
rosy and ever SO much more pretty
Even little 5seheolna' amsAbut that is
immaterial
'Ohi' she cried out one afternoon in