The Yale expositor., 1907-12-27

sieur looked away at the pine-tops pom
dering what the something must be,
and madame. his wife, recapitulated
the discouraging facts with brevity:
Yes. Teacher send us word she
come on ten of May. Girls go scrub
schoolhouse; boys go mend fence. Me-
make bed for her. Den teacher send
word she can't come. Belle affaire!"
She curled her bare toes around the
rundles of her chair and looked bright
eyed at her big monsieur Alum, their
hve-year-old son, took up the tale of
trouble. He spoke of his school-books
that consisted of primer and slate.
And me, | get my books toget'er.
Dey was all scattered" he spread his
hands wide-"Mon Dieu, | have trou-
Bile! And, VOLTA, teacher don GOMEZ"
A CLEAN shot over M. Noises trou-
bled face.
Alum he chuckled, you amt big
enough man for say Mon Deu.'"
Nine. Noise laughed, then she
said:
Mais, cher boy ought to go to
school Ma fol. das last teacher we
have she say she never did see chap
learn so fast like he do"
Yes, said monsieur "sho, shot"
They looked at the conscious little
rogue sitting so meekly on the bottom
step. When their first boy had been
dead for 20 years; when their girls
were nearly grown. the Holy Mother
in her mercy had sent them this lit.
tie fellow. And how they loved
him!
Yes, said monsieur, boy ought to
be in school. sho!" He sat for some
time and considered it before an idea
came.
Il reckon, he said, and got up slow
ly, better go see scholard."
Madame watched him saddle up in ST. !
lence. Old man Sam Santerre had been |
known through all the days of his |
manhood as a "scholard," but he had |
never been reverenced for his schol- |
arship-had, indeed, been pitied for it |
until the coming of the public |
school to Bienvieu had put a new face
on the matter. When it was found |
that M. Santerre could sign the teach.
er's report, the Bayou revised it's opin-
ion of the Intellectual old fellow.
Maybe it's" NJ. Noise said now as
he frightened his cinch. Maybe It's
Sam can write letter to president
of school board to send us teacher"
Maybe" admitted madame. but it
seemed a wild hope.
But the hope was destined to be full
filed
While NJ. Noise with slow, careful
words explained the complicated state
of affairs, NJ. Santerre listened all
sympathy and interest; when NJ.
Noise stated that the boys ought to be
in school, NJ. Santerre said "sho."
and nothing more, but when the big
monsieur paused before the delicate
question, cracked his knuckles and
said: Il fought me, Sam, maybe twas
you could write letter to president of
school board for send teacher" the
old scholar sat up, incredulous of his
good luck. After all the years that
the big monsieur had helped him,
backed him, here was a chance for
him to help NJ. Noise.
You wish das | write letter for
you, he stammered. And then as
he saw how much the big monsieur
did wish it:
"Ha, ] can write letter for yor. Yes.
sir; certainly, sho. Write letter fne!"
lie called eagerly to his favorite
Felicie, that she bring to
him at once her copy-book. pen and
ink. And when, he had put the ink.
bottle open on the floor beside his
chair and spread the copy-book VIDE
upon his gaunt old knees, the scholar
turned beaming to NJ. Noise:
"Bien, Noise! You can tell me
now what tbs | write If you please"
NJ. Noise considered, then began to
dictate. M. Santerre leaned side.
ways to dip his pen, then began to
take him down. And SO they wrote
the letter to the president of the
school board;
Dear Sir: AS l will take the great
est of pleasure to drop you this few
words as to ask you for Gods sake
10 send us teacher for Bfenvieu school.
Teacher was to come, and send us
word she don't come, so we wish you
send us teacher for Gods sake If you
please.
Yours truly. Alum Noise and Sam
Santerre, Trustees of Bienvieu
school
The scholar tore the page carefully
rom his copy-book and read it aloud.
w. Noise brought the front legs of
his chair to the floor with hearty APP
probation:
&C est bon. I'm proud, me, Sam.
Proud for you, sho." Then another
bought presented itself.
MATS Victor Reneau, he's trustee,
90. reckon me he'll want his name +
write down aussi" /
Yes" said Santerre. His enthus.
asm left him. He was always a lit.
lie shy of the proud, stern sheep mag
ate. and he felt sure Reneau would :
want to do something to the letter IL
e heard about it-and it did seem Y
UGH beauty just as it was.
And, indeed, M. Reneau had hardly :