Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-21
pupils to wear small twig Of some
sort in honor of the dax

crowd that filed into the school room
Wnen the last bell rang that afternoon.
Several were tardy their mothers hav-
ing bestowed many unusual touches
to the monday toilet Of their sons and
daughters. Boys, wearing stiff, I'M
comfortable collars about their seldom
fettered necks, and with shoes which
still retained their original store polish
and telltale squeak, tiptoed to their
seats, their faces shining from the ef-
fects of recent scrubbing. Girls, with
stiffy starched skirts lowering over
new stockings and tightly buttoned
shoes, and with their hair so tightly
| drawn back by their crescent-shaped
combs that to close their eyes seemed
almost an impossibility. marched
proudly to their desks, each evidently
remembering her mothers final asser-
ton that she would be the prettiest
girl there.
After singing, ''Under the Greenwood
Tree" as being appropriate to the day
they were celebrating, and listening
to an Evolutionary recitation Of Wood
man, Spare That Tree" by city niece
Of Red Feathers who was visiting in
Enterprise. the pupils were marched
from the building to certain spot in
the ward, where preparations had al
ready been made for the planting Of
the tree. Pinkey and Bunny were sore
ly disappointed when Red Feather in
structed them all to leave their hats
on the hooks in the hall, for this meant
the loss Of at least two minutes, when
the exercises should be over, before
they could be Off The pupils of the
other rooms were congregated here
and there in gaily dressed groups, all
bent on simiuar observances of the
day.
GIVE got old Polly all bridled now"
whispered Pinkey to Bunny as the pro-
cession wended it's way through the
yard; land all We'll have to do as
soon as it's over is to get our caps,
hurry home and change our clothes,
and scoot for the country. III come by
for you and you must be all ready"
When all had reached he appointed
spot, Red Feather arranged the boys
and girls in circle around the hole
in which the tree was to be planted
The tree lay on the ground on one
side, and a brand-new shovel, on the
handle Of which we're few bows Of
red ribbon, lay on the other. All were
anxious for things to begin, and when
Red Feather did not seem to be In as
much OF hurry as did her pupils,
they grew impatient at the delay.
Nov, children" admonished Red
Feather, severely, as two or three of
the boys began to nudge each other
and to give evidences of suppressed
mirth, this is no time for play. We
70
one greatly to be admired by ALL
in manner BETTING the occasion"
With that. she, detailed Pinkey and
Eddie Lewis. whom Pinkey had reason
heartily to dislike, to place the tree in
position and to support it until enough
earth had been thrown in to hold it up
right A sudden movement of the tree,
when Red Feather was not looking,
caused Eddie to lose his balance and
fall into the hole, thus soiling his new
shoes and stockings and affording cor
responding amusement to the rest Of
the pupils, among whom Eddie was
known as teachers pet"
When all was ready the pupils
stepped forward, one at time, and
tossed in shovelful of earth, each
pausing long enough to repeat the as
signed verse or sentiment. When
Pinkey's turn came, he failed to ex-
perience any thoughts which could be
called appropriate to the fulfilment Of
noble purpose. He took the shovel,
| filled it with earth, cleared his throat
and began the recitation Of the lines
he had committed to memory:
Here thou hast found a resting place,
Where, more and more sublime,
Thy towering height may glorify
The corridors Of Time"
When he finished he stepped back
into the circle, load lifted from his
mind in the realization that his part
was over. More than anything else,
Pinkey disliked being required to
"speak a piece" Of any kind, Of any
length, and on any subject.
Bunny got off easier than did Pink
ey. With his short, jerky style of de-
livery, he declared that "Great oaks
from little acorns grow" hastily tossed
a small shovelful of earth against the
scene Of action.
One after another, the other pupils
stepped up and did their parts, until
Wnen 'PuLIy Black came 1OrWdTd anu
announced, Just as the twig is bent,
the trees Inclined the tree was firmly
planted, the earth was we'll packed
about its roots, and the pupils only
awaited the word which would set
them free.
THAT finishes the program, chill
dren," said Red Feather, "and now you
may all return to the school house.
You will have fifteen minutes for
study before I call the "A class in
grammar"
For moment the pupils were struck
dumb and motionless with amazement.
Return to the school house," "a
class in grammar" Could 1t be that
they had understood Red Feather
Alright? Surely no one could utter
such heartless words as these and still
live to enforce them! Something dread
| full monster!
"Pinkerton, what are you muttering
about?" demanded Red Feather, sc.
verely as audible expressions of wrath
escaped from Pinkey's lips.
81 thought we were going to have
q half-hD1iday &c soon 40 the ODD