Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-05-11
A LICKING AFTER SCHOOL

about which the master was pc
culiarly insstent. That was to drop
all play when the bell telling the open
ing of the school session sounded.
When the ruler fell upon the desk be-
fore that august personage-,he teach
er-Tom, as we'll as the rest Of the
scholars, knew they must be at their
desks ready for business. Several
| times had the new teacher reminded
the boys Of this rule: Quit play at
the sound of the bell and make for the
school house; don't bother about fin
ishing the game of marbles, ball or
whatnOt; when this ruler falls every
one must be at his desk. That is all.'
Tom Lawton had overlooked that
rule once too often; twice the new
teacher had forgiven him-he was
| boy once-but when Tom came In and
| slipped to his seat after the ruler had
fallen. the master crooked his finger
at the second desk from the left front
and softly said:
"LawtOn, please step this way"
| 1t was way the new teacher had.
always particular about small things.
and very polite when he wanted any
thing done, as, for instance, puzzlng
problem in figures, he would say: "lf
you will be so kind as to show us how
to solve this problem on page go. fourth
from the top, shall be obliged to you"
Or, he had a taking manner of saying
to a chap whose fingers tingled because
of a personal engagement: Beg par
don, my friend. for troubling you-but
1t has been coming your way for some
time; very sorry to have annoyed you.
but it annoyS me most"
Tom felt trihe uneasy when he
walked up to the desk. leaned against
it, and heard a soft voice say in low
tones:
"Please be so kind as to remain after
school for punishment. l am sorry to
bother you about it-uut 1t must come.
Return to your seat"
AS the boy turned, glance from his
left eye sized up the new teacher who
was SO painfully affable. my! but
he'll break my hand" was Toms
thought as he saw the strong wrist and
goodly forearm.
When recess came. all the boys and
girls, except Tom, filed out. Tom re-
manned at his desk with eyes fixed
upon the book before him. The young
man on the platform took a book from
drawer and started to read, when his
eyes fell upon the boy at the desk. A
curious smile came upon his face, and
goodly feeling seemed to make his
nerves Jingle. He laid the book down,
keeping n long finger in it to mark the
place, and said:
"Lawton, why 10 you not go out
with the restY'
Tom looked up through misty eyes.
"I'm staying after school, SIR
But it Is recess now"
81 might cut sticks and run away;
others do-and l have.
But not with me, Mr.. Thomas Law
ton. You have too good a face to let
me believe you would do such a thing
now. Did the Otner teacher keep the
fellows in at recess when punishment
hung over them?"
Always"
"Well. run out to your games, my
friend"
Maybe I'll not come back to get that
punishment after school," said Tom.
with a grin, as he rose.
Yes, you will; l know you would
not deprive me of the pleasure of Civ.
ing you a few pleasant moments aftel
school, and then, l can trust fellow
with such face as you have"
IL am sorry l stayed"
"Run along. Lawton;. we'll talk that
over after school"
Il may not come back"
eyes you will. Now go out and have
good time. Recesses are as short
to me as they are to the rest of you"
And the young man plunged into his
book and forgot all about Tom Lawton
for the time being.
To stay after school for punishment
was, in the eyes of the girls, something
heroic, though painful, hence Tom
came In for a large share of their pep
PERMITS, candy balls and little at
tentions.
"Why don't you cut sticks and scoot
wouldn't stay for lambasting from
him." suggested playfellow to Tom.
II could punch your nose for saying
that. Jim Brown; it's a mean thing to
say to me. I've got licking coming,
and I'm going to take what's coming
to me. You never did enough to de-
serve whaling, so you know nothing
about it, anyway"
81 only thought you'd be glad to get
out Of it. l would"
4 know you would; you'd get out Of
anything coming your way that might
hurt you"
And Tom plunged into the games and
forgot all about the matter. He was
up to the top notch In his lessons dur
Ing the afternoon session, and he spell
ed down the entire first class at the