The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-26

k6*3fk<fl was making signs 10 ner.
She had noticed the little boy
before. He was square little boy. with a
sprinkling Of freckles over the bridge of
the nose and cheerful breadth of nostrii.
His teeth were wide apart. and his smile
was broad and constant. Not that Emmy
Lou could have told all this. She only knew
that to her the knowledge of the little boy
concerning the things peculiar to the primer
world seemed limitless.
And now the little boy was reckoning
Emmy Lou. She did not know him, but
neither did she know any of the seventy 9TH
er little boys and girls making the primer
class.
Because of the popular prejudice against
whooping cough, Emmy Lou had not en-
tered the primer class until late. When she
arrived. the seventy little boys and girls
were well along in alphabetical lore, having
long since passed the a, b. Of initiation,
and become glibly eloquent to a point where
the l. m. n. o. slipped or the tongues
with the liquid ease OF repetition and IA
miliarity.
but Emmy Lou can catch up" said
Emmy LOUIS Aunt Cordelia, plump and
CHEEKY lady. Deaming with optimistic placid
fly upon the infant populace seated in par
allel rows at desks before her.
Miss Clara, the teacher lacked Aunt Cor
delia's optimism, also her plumpness. mo
doubt she can," agreed Miss Clara, politely
but without enthusiasm. Miss Clara had
stepped from the graduating rostrum to the
schoolroom platform. and she had been
there some years. And when one has been
there some years, and is already battling
with seventy little boys and girls. one can
not greet the advent Of a seventy-first with
acclaim Even the fact that ones hair is
red Is not an always sure indication that
ones temperament is sangiine also.
So in answer to Aunt Cordelia, Miss Clara
replied politely, but without enthusiasm,
mo doubt she cam"
Then Aunt Cordelia went, and Miss Clara
gave Emmy Lou desk And Miss Clara
then rapping sharply. and calling some
small delinquent to order. Emmy LOUIS
heart sank within her.
Now Miss Clara's tones were tart, because
che did not know what to do with this late
conner. In a class Of seventy, spare time is
not offering for the bringing up of the back
ward. The way Of the primer teacher was
not made easy In a public school of twenty
five years ago.
So Miss Clara told the new pupil to copy
digits.
Now, what digits were Emmy Lou had no
idea. but being shown them on the black
board, she copied them diligently. And as
the time went on, Emmy Lou went on copy
ing digits. And her one endeavor being to
avoid the notice Of Miss Clara, 1t happened
the needs OF Emmy Lou were frequently
lost sight OF in the more assertive claims
OF the seventy.
Emmy Lou was not catching UP. and it
was January.
But to-day was to be different. The little
boy was nodding and reckoning. So far the
seventy had left Emmy Lou alone. AS a gen.
eral thing the herd crowds toward the lead
ers. and the laggard brings up the rear
alone.
But to-day the little boy was reckoning
Emmy Lou looked up Emmy Lou was pink
checked and chubby and In her heart there
was no guile. There was an ease and swag-
ger about the little boy. And he always
knew when to stand up and what for. Emmy
Lou more than once had failed to stand up,
and Miss Clara's reminder had been sharp
1t was when a bell rang one must stand up.
But what for. Emmy Lou never knew, until
after the others began to do ii.
But the little boy always knew. Emmy
Lou had heard him, too. out on the bench,
glibly tell Miss Clara about the mat, and a
bat. and black rat. To-day he stood forth
with confidence and told about a fat hen
Emmy Lou was glad to have the little boy
beckon her.
And in her heart there was no guile. That
the little boy should be holding out an end
of q severed India rubber band and inviting
her to take 1t. was no stranger than other
things happening In the primer world every
day.
The very manner OF the infant classical
ton breathed mystery. the sheep from the
goats. so TO speak, the little girls all one
side the central aisle. the little boys all the
otker-and TO overstep the line of demarca-
tion. thing too dreadful to contemplate
Many things were strange. That one must
get up suddenly when a bell rang was
strange.
And to be cold GROSSLY to sit down was be-
wildering. when. in answer to c, a, (, one
said Pussy" And yet there was Pussy
washing her face. on the chart, and Miss
Clara's pointer pointing TO her.
So when the little boy held out the rubber
band across the aisle. Emmy Lou took the
proffered end
AT this the little boy slid back into his
desk. holding to his end. At the critical mo-
ment Of elongaton the little boy let go. And
the property OF elasticity is to rebound
Emmy Louis heart stood still. Then IL
swelled. But In her filing eyes there was no
suspicion. only heart. And even while a tear
splashed down. and falling upon the labori-
ously copied digits. wrought havoc, she
smiled bravely across at the little boy 1t
would have made the little boy feel bad to
know how il hurt. So Emmy Lou winked
hravely and smiled.
whereupon the little boy wheeled about
suddenly and fell to copying digits furiously.
Nor did he look Emmy LOUIS way. only
drove his pencil into his slate with fervor
that made Miss Clara rap sharply on her
desk.
Emmy Lou wondered II the little boy was
mad. One would think II had stung the little
hoy and not her. But since he was not look