Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-15
, His Little Sc1loo1ma am
 By JOHN l.. MEYER
tcopyright. 1oas, byDany,story Pub. CO,

X people. When the little budding hearts of the classroom, who will be misehdev- ous despite protestations and commands, grow warm with love toward the Miss whose duty it is to act as the target as well as the instruc- tor in the teaching of the young idea how to shoot, it somehow takes seed fin 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 unconsciously, 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 a good place for the planting. Though the school had heretofore held Q 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, therewas 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 Tact, everybody wished him we'll. Such ig not always result in such affairs.
 Everyone liked William MastHrson, superintendent of the Southern division of the B. & B. To hear the words ''sup- erintendent of the division" once in- gpired the villagers toconjureup 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 heart less corporation n"-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. "AIl right, sir,'' he said, 'TTl go.~ The whole road can't buy my heart! Sup pose she is only a little schoolma' ann as you say, she is a woman dearer to me than any of the dolls'who prance about in your drawing roomsi"
 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 a regular paid ticket
 .Tt's all right, Jim,'' Billy ansyered. "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 srWhy should you leave"
 Billy drew the pretty head close to his shoulder and held it there snugly and ever so long. Only a 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 best 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 a position on Zone 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 Billy's heart some thing that cut and caused a deep yearn- ing. He worked every day except Sun days and on Sundays there was no traiT in or out of Merton.
 The little schoolma am suffered, too To be sure, every few days one of he1 little tots brought an envelope, the con. tents of which, according to the variou: pupils, caused Jennie to become quite tosy and ever so much more pretty Even little schoolma 'ams-but that i' immaterial
 "Oh!" she cried out one afternoon 1T school, and all the pupils wondered After vainly trying to hide her blushes and discomfort, she dismissed her pu pils-it was four o'clock then-and hay ing no one to tend to after school, al usual, proceeded to write long letter
 T have plan," she wrote, eff it vii only answer! Then we can see eact other often"
 No sooner had Billy received word O the secret plotting, than he straightway proceeded to work on the lines suggested So did the little schoolma am. She wal successful-the branch was bearing new buds and the buds were opening.