Newport weekly independent., 1903-09-25
His Little Schoo1na'a am By JOHN l.. MEYER
%tcopyright, 1903. by Daily Story Pub. co.)

C CCHOOLM'A AIMS are just as susceptible iO to kindness and love as ordinary people. When the little budding hearts of the classroom, who will be mischiev- ous despite protestations and commands, grow warm with love toward the Miss whose duty it is to act as the target as we'll as the instruc- tor in the teaching of the young idea how to shoot, it somehow takes seed in her own heart-if the heart offers the ground for the rightful planting-and the flower and the fruit is beautiful. The sweetness of the blossom is given back ever so quietly and uneonsciously, but there is an invariable reward for it's return. There is more love and more kindness for the branch that bears the flowers, and soon all is radiant with hap piness.
 Miss Jennie Williams, teacher in charge of the Third ward school at Mer- ton, knew the secret we'll and her heart was good place for the planting Though the school had heretofore held a name which carried hesitancy to the minds of many a schoolma am who had
  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 seed took root in her bosom, and when several lads in the village saw their hopes-we call such things Hopes" always-be- numbed by the arrival of the young rail- way 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 in such affairs.
 Everyone liked William Masterson, superintendent of the Southern division of the B. & B. To hear the words sup erintendent of the division" once in- spired the villagers to eonjure 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 merely surprised; their interest grew to the fact that one can be the son of a railway president-the head of a heart less oration''-without being a monster.
 Contrawise to the situation at Mer- ton, someone in the city found out and that started all the trouble.
 One evening the father and the son stood face to face in the Masterson 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 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 B. & B.
 He was on the southern, going toward Merton. the next afternoon.
 why, MT. Masterson!" exclaimed Old Jim, the conductor, surprised when Billy offered him regular paid ticket
 "It's all right, Jim,' Billy ansyered "I've quit the road" Then he leaned back in his reat and wondered what she would say.
 There was a long silence in the room when Billy finally told her-"my little schooIma am," he called her. She spoke first.
 Please, Billy, go back" she pleaded ssWhy should you leave"
 Billy drew the pretty head close to his shoulder and held it there snug 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.
 "No, dear, I'm not going back" he said.
 When the pleadings of those loved hest fail, it is best to stop pleading-when the sweet, little mouth is hidden and the cheek is softly pressed to another cheek. Jennie pleaded no more-not then.
 A week later Billy had position on one of the great newspapers in the city and was hustling about daily in search of the evasivs news item. And all the