The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-11
PAYING THE
FIDDLER

AT the door or her SchOOlrOOh MISS
Heath, the teacher, was met by
GREATNESS little girl.
George did it," she cried. HE just
grabbed it and chased around the
room with it and"
81 did mott" shouted George. 1T
wasn't me any moren anybody else.
Anyhow, 1t was broke. And if jim
mic 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 a vigorous af
| firmative.
well they needn't blame it all on
me, if I did take it 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withdrawn from sight he shook a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
I'VE won't take up any more time
now" said the teacher, but of course
the fiddler must be paid I suppose
in this case that the fiddler will have
to be paid by your fathers. I 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 hoy who had anything
whatever to do with breaking this one
must be honorable enough to pay his
share toward getting another"
D. "Would you call laughing at then
when they were chasing around hav
ing anything to do with it?" askeC
Robert intense anxiety in his coun
tenance.
Decide among yourselves at re
cess replied the teacher. Talk i
over as gentlemen should"
During recess another teacher SAT-
= to Miss Heath: You'd better go ant
5 look after your boys or first thing yo
know you'll have perfectly good DO
charged mp to your account. I couldn'
decide whether it was a riot or
carnival, but George, as usual, wa
$ 1T"
S Miss Heath, however, found that tn
< trouble had blown over for the tim
being. An noon an indignant tri
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
I wouldn't have bumped against IL
desk and fallen down; and don't yC
think they ought to help pay the fl
dler?"
And, Miss Heath don't you thir
Iy that when it was George that too
c. Merkery down he ought to pay Il
e. most?" asked Ernie.
DO 81 have nothing to say" repli,
,s Miss Heath. q told you to deci,
=, like gentlemen. We're you thr
boys most to blame?"
Is "They say we we're" said George.
~ What do you think?" insisted Mi
lie Heath.
We'll I guess we were" said iii
81 didn't care SO much anyway L
got ten cents and it won't &C
- more'n %"
~ ct cost three dollars" said Nj
Heath impressivoly.
all Three dollarst" shriaked Georl
Ike "For an old statoo with no clothes
IS him and one leg broke off? W
~ didn't you make the kid that broke
"Thera. tbs7a'" said Miss Hea
with dignity Get a .ew one chel
er if you can, but that's what I pa
for the one you broke"
Later in the day she found this NJ
on her desk:
Dear Miss Heath: # we get
stature we win break Oft his leg il
like the other We won't give q go
one for a old one it amt fair.
--, spectfully yours, GEORGE
The teacher wrote in reply:
MY Dear George: There was OF
! a man named Shylock who wanted
pound of flesh from near the heart
man who owed him some money
who could not pay. The Judge t.
him TO take it, but if he cut the SIN;
est piece more than his pound
would be severely punished.
Break the leg off if you wish to
So Affectionately.
HELEN HEATH.
n I'VE were only fooling" s;