The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-09-07
Patsy Morgan's
Waterloo.

The gong in the x school
sounded for dismissal, followed by
the usual outpouring of children with
their clatter and noise.
"We got a new teacherl We got a
new teacher!" chorused the excited
pupils of Room as they made a
Lodore-llke exit among the others.
Immediately they were surrounded
by group OF interested boys and
girls from other rooms. who clamor-
ously delighted them with questions.
Out of the confusion which followed
from trying to answer several ques-
lions at the same time, Miss Ethlyn,
OF the eighth grade, who wore an ac-
contemplated skirt to school every
day, made her-elf heard above the
rest
What does she look like?" she
asked, polntedly.
Several little girls tried to answer,
but Elizabeth, the immensely of
whose butterfly bow made her author
fly on matters OF Importance, waved
them haughtily aside:
"W'y, she looks somethin' like the
lady what used to keep the lunch
counter at the junction, only teacher
she's kind O. thin, an she's got blue
eyes, stead O blown, an her hair
amt black like that lady's, but it's
kind O. slate-colored, an she don t
wear no rat, an"
An she amt got no di'munt ring,
neither!" added Gladys, pityingly.
But she's got green silk waist,
Just like my ma got down town at the
bargain SALE" said Helen, whose
mother was the acknowledged leader
OF the styles In that neighborhood.
"An' she hath a buckle on the
fronth Of her belth and one on the
back" lisped Annie. The failure Of
Annie's eyes to track" probably ac-
counted for the complete inventory
she had taken of her teachers APP
pearance.
Meanwhile, an excited group Of
boys had gathered around Patsy Nor
gan. Patsy enjoyed the honor of be-
Ing the incorrigible of the school.
Patsy's former teacher, with the COM
bined help of Patsy's mother and Of
his father (sometimes), the principal,
the truant officers and the janitor,
had succeeded in reducing Patrick to
q state Of docility, which, at least,
made life with him bearable. Now a
grin which out-Cheshired all known
Cheshires, illumined his freckled face
clear up to his stubby hair, as he
strobe proudly among his admiring
friends and delivered himself thus:
Gee, but she's easy! She amt
goggle-eyed like old Blnkins was, al
ways watchin' Teller to see what he
is dom! This teachers peach! She
don't hear nothin', an she don't see
nothin'. Here's where Patsy Moran
studies hard, nit! From this time on
l has a good time, and don't you fell
lows forget It! It's me fer the gay
life, hal hal" and Patsy tapped his
chest significantly as he staggered up
the alley toward his home.
And Patsy kept his word. He not
only refralned from study, but he
made it impossible for those around
him to study. Miss Morris, who had
met Patsy's type many times before
In her varied career, went blissfully
about her work as II Patsy's disgrace
ing. The other children were simply
amazed at her behavior, and Patsy
himself was somewhat puzzled by itl
1t was too good TO believei Boldly
he ran the whole gamut of INSIDE
meanors incident to school-shuming
his feet under his desk when any one
walked across the room, rafting his
inkwell top with exasperatiug regu-
larity, banging up each seat as he
passed down the aisle, pulling down
the curtains as he passed the win
dows, filling his floor with ink and
scattering It on the floor I'm a semi
circle Of mountaineering blotches.
Thus the week passed BY Friday
afternoon Patsy had very nearly ex-
hausted his resources I'm the way OF
amusements. Somehow he couldn't
understand Miss Morris-she was SO
unlike any other teacher he had ever
seen. To tell the truth, he was really
beginning to think she was no good
else why didn't she make him behave?
When the gong rang for dismissal
Patsy began to throw his books into
his desk preparatory to making a
nasty exit.
Patrick Morgan and Douglas
Smith may remain after school," an
nounced Miss Morris quietly. "The
others may pass
Patsy could scarcely believe his
ears. lie was so taken aback that he
could only stare I'm open-mouthed
wonder, too astonished to notice the
significant winks and mods OF his de-
parting classmates.
Outside the schoolhouse door a
group Of his intimate friends excited
~ speculated on what might happen
20 Patsy, and they decided to wait
until he came out and get the story
lranl the hnrn hl...nnIa IT,. -. -.