The Globe-republican., 1910-05-19
PAYING THE
FIDDLER

"teOrB0 ulQ lLS Bn6 crleu. 11e JuSt
grabbed It and chased around tho,
room with It and"
II did not!" shouted George. 1T
wasn't me any more'n anybody else.
Anyhow. It was broke. And II Jim.
mie hadn't chased me-"
"Be quiet, George" said the be.
wildered teacher. Whats broken,
MargaretY ia
Why the--the--you know. the"
1T was broke all the time," inter.
rupted George. y
George, leave the room. Now, Mari
garet, what is IT."
Margaret pointed, unable to speak,
to the bracket which contained the
statue Of the Flying Mercury. y
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 a vigorous af-
frmative. h
well, they needn't blame 1t all on
me, II I did take 1t down, for Ernie
and Jim did Just as much" yelled
George from the door.
The teacher waved him majestical-
ly back. As his tear-stained face was
withdrawn from sight he shook a
threatening fist at Robert, who still
held the head in his hand.
1--WE won't take up any more time
now," said the teacher, "but Of course
the fiddler must be paid. 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
day. 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
when they were chasing around hav.
ing anything to do with it?" asked
| Robert, intense anxiety In his coun-
tenance.
"Decide among yourselves at re.
cess" replied the teacher. "Talk 1t
over as gentlemen should"
During recess another teacher said
to Miss Heath: you'd better 60 and
look after your boys or first thing you
know you'll have a perfectly good boy
charged up to your account I couldn't
decide whether 1t was a riot or a
carnival, but George, as usual, was
it."
Miss Heath, however, found that the
trouble had blown over for the time
being. An noon an indignant trio
stopped to talk to her.
"They say me and Ernie and Jim
are the most to blame because we ran
around the room," complained George,
"but we wouldn't have run around so
long II they hadn't jollied US and then
l wouldn't have bumped against the
desk and fallen down; and don't you
think they ought to help pay the fid.
| dler?"
"And, Miss Heath, don't you think
that when It was George that took
Merkery down he ought to pay the
most?" asked Ernie.
"I have nothing to say" replied
Miss Heath. 'T told you to decide
like gentlemen. Were you three
boys most to blame?"
"They say we were," said George.
what do you think?" insisted Miss
Heath.
We'll guess we were," said Jim
II didn't care so much anyway. I've
got ten cents and it won't cost
more'n 25"
ut cost three dollars" said Miss
Heath, impressively.
Three dollars!" shrieked George
For an old statoo with no clothes or
him and one leg broke OF? Why
didn't you make the kid that broke
There, there!" said Miss Heath
with dignity. Get new one cheap
er If you can, but that's what l paid
for the one you broke"
Later in the day she found this note
or her desk.
Dear Miss Heath: If we get .
stature we will break off his leg JUS
like the other. We won't give goot
one for old one; 1t amt fair. Re
spectfully yours, GEORGE"
The teacher wrote in reply:
my Dear George: There was onct
man named Shylock who wanted ;
pound of flesh from near the heart O
a man who owed him some money bu
who could not pay. The judge tolt
him to take 1t, but If he cut the small
est piece more than his pound h,
would be severely punished.
Break the leg off If you wish to d.
20. Affectionately,
HELEN HEATH
: 1--WE were only fooling,' saiC
George next day. I'VE couldn't cut |
Just exactly off. Jim said he bet h
could, but me and Ernie said W,
wouldn't be in It. We're going to earl
%ha ynnnav hot WOMB hova an,