The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-20
TEACHERS ERROR is
THE MAKING OF BILLY

tChiCdgO News.)
When Billys report for the month was
handed to him he thrust it into his pocket
without a glance. being satisfied from
past experience that there was that upon
! 1T which would give him bad quarter
of an hour.
| Rapidly through his mind went the pos
sibilities of what his punishment at home
would be this time OF one thing he was
ceTtain-he would not be kept in on Satur-
day. I suppose his mother had said the
last time that she didn't see why she
should also be punished for his bad re-
ports at school
Suddenly a cold fear seized him. If the
array of red ''poorsf was unusually large
his father might make him give up his be
loved bull pup. If he could only defer the
showing of the card until he had taught
Spotty to stand on his hind legs without
being held up all the time, the sight OF
so much talent might save the pup.
He thought of losing the card for a
day or two. but remembering the unhappy
fate of Johnny Hughes. who had tried
that plan, only to have his father dragged
from work to be told more emphatically
of his deficiencies than the card would
have told, he concluded not to do so.
Such was his desperation that he almost
resolved to learn his lessons thenceforth.
When he reached home that evening his
sister Victoria's card, bearing one Eek
cellent'' to which she ostentatiously
called the attention of the family several
times, had been signed and delivered and
her ) cents reward had been carefully
tied up in her handkerchief
Walk up, kid and get it over with,
said Jack. the 16-year-old trother. with
a grin. Don't pretend that you can't
find it, as Billy fumbied in his pocket,
because it won't go. Lizabeth told NIcky
all about it. What did she say. Vicky!
said she'd be ashamed If her brother
had a card full of red 'poors,' and that
you were stupid" announced Victoria.
Billy. too miserable to say anything,
put the card OF the table as far from
manded to pick it up and hand IT over
like a gentleman. With an air of know
ing only too well what it contained, his
father opened the envelope, looked at the
card looked ar it again, scrutinized the
name at the top, and then--'was the day
of miracles come back-smiled-
well, son, you were trying to fool US,
were you? Just look. mother. Full of
if you please I'll be bankrupt with two
such smart children VIII you give me
six for a quarter, Billy@'
Sure" said Billy, wondering when he
"WeI1. / guess not; I think I'll pay my
excellent bets If L have TO do without
cigars.
3Geer' said Jack, examining the card.
81 never got a report like that and l
wasn't so worse You must have sprained
your BRAIN kid I'll tell you what wen
do to celebrate: well go and get one of
the sweater vests that you are so wild
about"
'Td rather have collar for Spotty,"
said Billy eagerly. ''One of the KIND fun
of nails that make him look like
fighter
I'm see TO the collar" said his mother,
beaming with pride.
For the first time in his short life Billy
began to study his history lesson with
out any proddings from his mother or
threats from his father. With very
much injured air he wanted TO know
how a kid could learn his lessons and
get Es' when Vicky and Spot were maxi
ing so much noise"
"Td give a good deal to know what
has made that young imp of a William
turn into such an angel child" said Bill
Tvs teacher to her neighbor at school.
Sometimes he seems so modest and re-
firing and smiles at me in such secret
way that / have the feeling that we are
feIioW-conspirators in some plot"
At the end of the month when she took
I'D Bills card and saw the fully arary of
"excellents' she had an illumination.
Il hate to do it," she said to her neigh
Dor, sitting with eraser poised over the
card. Il really think these marks have
been the making of him. My eye must
have slipped last MONTH"
I'm glad l haven't got to solve the
problem" said the other teacher. laugh
ing.
BiIIy's card went home unchanged, with
a small footnote to the effect that
blunder had been made last month, but
that Billy was everything that could be
desired this month, and the teacher was
nro;1d of him.