The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-12-07

:, DECEMBER Z, 1905.
look incredulous. They all said about
here that you, city chap could new
er make farmer, but you showed
them you could. I'll show you I can
make teacher"
Having made this telling point, Lydia
took her departure. Immediately the
housekeeper came in and expressed her
approval of Wight's concession.
"Lyddy's smart gal, and for all her
purity looks and baby way she's got
heap of grit. Pity her pa didn't have
it. He used to be professor, and he's
eddicated Lyddy to use good speech"
At the meeting the next night Lydia
received unanimous vote, and when
school opened she was installed as
teacher. She made companions of the
big boys and girls and pets of the little
ones. The country people were perfect
ly satisfied. In due course of time Dea-
con Watrous and Bill Stiles came to
make the accustomed visit. Lydia was
fully prepared for this occasion and in
vited them to question the class. They
knew but few questions to ask, and
as they had paid many visits to the
school the pupils knew the answers by
heart Then Lydia asked them to sing
stirring war song and a hymn. Bills
little girl spoke piece, carefully re-
hearsed beforehand. The two members
went away enthusiastic over the new
teacher and told Wight he had better
60 and see for himself.
And he did, appearing suddenly and
Unexpectedly near the close Of an In
dian summer afternoon. Lydia's ex-
preston of dismay caused litter of
appreciation among the older boys. In
stead of q reprimand she gave them an
imploring look that could not be with
stood, and order reigned at once. Ly-
dia felt that the visitor had noted the
look and interpreted it as confession
of inability to govern.
| Just as she was about to call upon
the school for song little Bob Hanks
let loose mouse he had carefully con-
fined in his book bag Excitement pre-
vailed among the girls and delight
among the boys. Had Lydia known
that she was to lose her position she
would still have done as she did now,
jumped up on her chair.
Hugh caught the mouse, threw it out
Of the window, elected Bob and his
book bag and in stentorian tone re
stored order. Lydia came down from
her chair and in her confusion called
upon the arithmetic class to come for
ward. She wished that Lige Jenkins
had remained at home that day. Arith
metic was not his forte. She planned
adroitly to omit him, but the visitor In
stantly detected the omission and
pounced upon the unfortunate lad.
"Lige," he asked, show many times
does 8 go in 27?"
To Lydia's dismay Lige promptly
menced solution via long division
finally putting down for an an
swer.
"Try again. Lige," urged Wigh
cheerfully.
Lige then substituted the figure 4
for 2.
you've got another guess coming
Lige."
The boy looked bewildered, and Ly
dia desperately came to his rescue.
"Lige, won't it go three timesY' sh'
asked insinuatingly.
Lige looked at her axiously.
'Why, yes," he replied slowly, Il
will, but it's dern'd tight squeezev'
Then came that delightful uncon
strained burst Of laughter that Lydi
had heard once before from Hug
Wight. The school joined with him
The teacher looked at the clock an
thankfully observed it was time 70
dismissal She stood at the door unit
the last scholar had vanished. The
she came back to the platform, wher
Wight still sat and Lige fingered.
"Say," observed the lad earnestly
faint her fault. l never did know
; nuthin' about 'rithmetic nohow. She
. the best teacher we ever had"
} This touch of sympathy from tn
little champion was too much for Ly
J dia. Her self control slipped, and lie
head went down on the desk.
"Lige," said Wight gently, ''you di
better than expected There are LOT
Of things in life more desirable than
knowledge of the science of number
Take this dime and go down to th
Corners and see what it will buy"
The boy sped happily away. Lydi
. raised her head. A little gleam of al
ger and defiance flashed through til
tears.
"You can send and get a man teacl
l er as soon as you want to. l am gla
am not man."
$50 am 1, LYDIA" he said heartil
e with such earnestness of voice an
eyes that the slender hand of IL
: schoolteacher went up in pathet
Q little way to her eyes.
y Il am your quorum you know"
said whimsically. but with the ne
! softness still in his voice, land l didn
e come to inspect the school nor Il
scholars, but to take the teacher dri
q ing. Will she go?"
Her hands came quickly down fro
y her eyes, whose dimness was meltil
Z away in glow of pleasure.
i "Yes," she replied, 81 will CO."
The New England Kitchen.