The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-04
PAYING THE
FIDDLER

NSoi 90 AAu IL. oAS CiiCu. AiO yoos |
grabbed it and chased around the
room with it and"
II did mott" shouted George. 1T
wasn't me any more'n anybody else.
Anyhow, 1t was broke. And if jim
ME hadn't chased me"
BE quiet, George" said the be-
wildered teacher. Whats broken,
Margaret?"
Why the-the-you know, the"
1T was broke all the time" inter-
rupted George.
George, leave the room. Now, Mar
garet, what is it?''
Margaret pointed, unable to speak,
to the bracket which contained the
statue of the Flying Mercury.
Whats the matter with it," asked
the teacher, whose rapid glance failed
to discover anything amiss.
Robert jumped nimbly on the steam
pipes and with a swift movement de-
capitated the statue, holding the head
dramatically toward the teacher.
| That's what's the matter" said he
Them kids needn't say they didn't do
it because everybody in the room saw
them"
Many heads nodded . vigorous A.
firmative.
well, they needn't blame it all on
me, II did take 1t down, for Ernie
and Jim did just - much" yelled
George from the door.
The teacher waved him majestical-
ly back. As his tear-stained face was
withdrawn from sight he shook q
threatening fist at Robert, who still
held the head in his hand.
I'VE won't take up any more time
now" said the teacher, "but Of course
the fiddler must be paid. l suppose
in this case that the fiddler will have
to be paid by your fathers. | think
a boy is pretty mean that has all the
fun and leaves the bill for the fiddler
to be paid by somebody else. The
Mercury must be replaced by Mon
cay. Any boy who had anything
; whatever to do with breaking this one
must be honorable enough to pay his
share toward getting another"
would you call laughing at them
|
ing anything to do with it?" asked
Robert, intense anxiety in his coun
I tenance.
Decide among yourselves at re
, cess" replied the teacher Talk i
over as gentlemen should"
During recess another teacher sal,
to Miss Heath: You'd better go an,
| off Erct thing n,
know you'll have a perfectly good bo
charged up to your account. l couldn'
decide whether it was riot or
carnival, but George, as usual, wa
| it"
Miss Heath, however found that tn
trouble had blown over for the tim
being. An noon an indignant tri
d stopped to talk to her.
"They say me and Ernie and Jill
are the most to blame because we ra
around the ROOM" complained Georg,
but we wouldn't have run around S
long if they hadn't jollied us and the
| wouldn't have bumped against tn
desk and fallen down; and don't yo
think they ought to help pay the fl,
A. dler?"
D. And, Miss Heath, don't you thin
S that when it was George that too
Merkery down he ought to pay th
most?" asked Ernie.
Il have nothing to say" reptile
III Miss Heath. 81 told you to decid
IS like gentlemen. Were you thre
at boys most to blame?"
H. They say we were" said George.
-, What do you Think" insisted Mi!
=, Heath.
We'll, I guess we were," said Jill
~ 81 didn't care so much anyway. "
lie got ten cents and it won't co
6, more'n %"
TT cost three dollars" said Mi
e. Ieath, impressively.
3 Three dollars" shrieked Geore
NJ For an old statoo with no clothes
him and one leg broke off? WI
II didn't you make the kid that broke
There, therel" said Miss Hea
he with dignity "Get a new one chea
KY er if you can, but that's what pa
MT for the one you broke"
m Later in the day she found this no
or on her desk:
Dear Miss Heath: If we get
stature we will break off his leg ju
lu- like the other. We won't give go
Ial one for a old one; it amt fair F
at specially yours, GEORGE.
M The teacher wrote In reply:
in my Dear George: There was on
man named Shylock who wanted
pound of flesh from near the heart
III a man who owed him some money b
as who could not pay. The Judge tC
a him to take it. but II he cut the sms
RS est piece more than his pound
,,o would be severely punished.
Break the leg off if you wish to
fe so. Affectionately,
HELEN HEATH
ice I'VE were only fooling" S;
W. George next day. I'VE couldn't cut
ar just exactly off. Jim said he bet
=. could. but me and Ernie said
''A wouldn't be in it. We're going to es