The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-07-07


mems boots and take them Off when
she got there, carryin' her shoes along
with her to put on. She wrote that
much that she had to wear mems
boots, never seemin' to think there was
anything about it to complain of, but
then she was like that There was
allus sort of spunk in the girl what
carried her through. Jim Leverin had
to own It. Spunk and bravery. Once
he told her she was sassy to him, and
he started to slap her. He raised his
hand, he said, but there was somethin'
so brave and quick and bright in her
black eye he had to stay his hand. It
fell at his side OF Its own accord. He
couldn't, he said.
"No. That amt the boiler boilln'
over ag'in, Mirandy. Don't worry.
can see it from here. I'm watchin' OF
it. One mint longer and I'm done.
Margaret had taught the school six
weeks about when she begun to have
trouble. Mind you, she didn't write q
word about it till it was all over and
done with But think how it must "a
worried her at the time. Spunky,
want It? Not to write home, both
erin 'em about 1t? 1t seems that there
was great, big, broad shouldered
sunburncd Teller what was determf1-
ed when he see girl runnin' the
school to break it up. You've heard,
haven't you, Of young mems schools
being broke up by toughs? But you'd
think they'd let girls school alone.
Wouldn't you? But he didn't. lie
made Margaret all the trouble he could.
and she stood it pretty brave, as | say.
for six weeks Then he got worse and
worse till one fine day he brought some
of his pals along with him and said
MS how he was going to close the
school then and there and send that
sassy little teacher home, where she
belonged
"Naw. as it happened. Margaret had
made few friends for herself the time
shed been teachin'. so she was pretty GER
tain she could count some baekin' In
case of a fight She want much afraid:
but, then. she don't hardly know what it
Is to be afraid. nohow. She was at her
desk teachin', then. that mornin when she
saw him and his friends comm along the
road to close up her school, She Is a big.
broad shouldered. strong girl. that Mar
garet, muscular as many boy. She's
gone In a little too for this here phz-
zical cultcher they talk so much about.
expandin' her chest and the like. She
hain't been behfndhand either In practice
in her muscles on the children in the
school. Shed Jest about licked one or
two Of EN-. Jim Leverin told me. laugh
tn At to split his sides. every blessed
mornin' she'd been there. to sort of keep
her hand in like. So that was how 1t hap
pened that she had fine lot OF birch
rods hangin' right over her desk. conven-
lent. when she saw this big giant Teller
comm to break up her school,
well, she gets up out of her seat.
!. closes her book and takes down the birch
rods"
Here Jane commenced to laugh.
And then?' urged Mirandy.
You'd hardly believe It," gasped Jane,
but that girl Margaret she whipped the
big Teller with them there birch rods till
he yelled for mercy. That's what they
said he did, yelled for mercy his friends,
thunderstruck past helpin' him. suppose.
standin' by with their mouths open, look
in on. She whipped him till she got good
and tired. Then she let his friends take
him home. After that she set down agin,
opened her book and went on with the
school,"
Another fit of laughing took possession
Of her.
And that amt ALL" she stammered.
finishing with cough.
Mirandy rested her hands on her hips,
the wash forgotten.
What happened?" she queried eagerly
THAT there big Teller come back to
school the next day. meek as any lamb,
turned over new leaf and took to study
in. He got to be Margarets best pupil,
they said, followin her round s If he was
tied to her apron strings, and after awhile
gettin' SOS he could help her with the
others. Then when school was out and
Margaret was about to come back home,
guess what he did,
Tile didn't ask her to marry him. ejac-
uiated Mirandy. helped to an inspiration
by the twinlle in James eye.
That's just what he did," nodded Jane
asked her to marry him. You'd think
he'd be afraid. wouldn't you. to ask a
girl to marry him what had whipped him