Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-06

soon stumbled, heSltated, ana walled:
Stands a fierce word. l don't know
what it is" and teacher turned to
write the puzzling word upon the
blackboard.
Morris heart stopped with a sick
ening suddenness, and then rushed
madly on again. He had a new and
dreadful duty to perform All his
mothers counsel, all his fathers pre-
cepts, told him that it was his duty.
Yet fear held him in his little seat
behind his little desk, while his con-
science insisted on this unalterable de-
cree of the social code: so some
body's clothes is wrong it's polite you
says 'scuse und tells it out"
And here was the teacher whom he
dearly loved whose ideals of personal
adornment extended to full sets of but
tons on jumpers and to laces in both
shoes, here was his immaculate lady
fair in urgent need of assistance and
advice, and all because she had on
that day inaugurated a delightfully."-
vigorous exercise for which, architec-
turally, she was not designed,
There was yet room for hope that
someone else would see the breach and
brave the danger. But no. The visitor
sat stolidly beside the chair of state,
the principal sat serenely beside him,
the children sat each in his own little
place, beside his own little desk, keep
ing his own little eyes on his own little
book. No. Morris soul cried with
Hamlet:
let's:
The time is out of joint; o cursed spite
That ever l was born to set it right.
JJp into the quiet air went his timid
hand. Teacher, knowing him in his
more garrulous moods, ignored the
-. ;,,to 11Nti
spirited resume, but the windmill
action of the little arm attracted the
Hon. Tins attention.
"The best of boys wants you" he
suggested, and teacher perforce asked.
"Well Morris, what is it?"
Not until he was on his feet did the
monitor of the goldfish bowl appre-
ciate the enormity of the mission he
had undertaken. The other children
began to understand, and watched his
struggle for words and breath with
sympathy or derision, as their natures
prompted. But there are no words in
which one may politely mention inef-
fectiVe safety-pinS to ones glass OF
fashion. Morris knees tremb ed queer
ly his breathing grew difficult, and
teacher seemed a very great way off as
she asked again:
"Wel, what is it, dear?"
Morris painted a little, smi'el weakly,
and then sat down. Teacher was evi-
IDENTIFY puzzled, the "comp'ny" alert,
the principal uneasy.
"Now, Norris" teacher demonstrated,
you must tell me what you want"
But Morris had deserted his etiquette
and his veracity, and murmured only:
"Nothngs."
"Just wanted to be noticed" said the
Hon. Tim. at is easy to spoil them
And he watched the best of boys rather
closely, for a habit of interrupting
reading lessons, wantonly and without
reason, was a trait in the young of
which he disapproved.
When this disapprobation manifest
ed itself in Mr.. O'Shea's countenance
the loyal heart of Morris interpreted
it as a new menace to his sovereign.
No later than yesterday she had
warned them of the vital Importance
of conference. Every one knows" she
had said "that only common little
boys and girls come apart. No one
ever likes them" and the big stranger
was even now misjudging her
Again his short arm agitated the
quiet air. Again his trembling legs up
held a trembling boy. Again authority
urged. Again teacher asked:
"Well Morris, what is it, dear?'
All this was as before, but not as be-
fore was poor harassed Miss Bailey's
swoop down the aisle, her sudden tax
ing of Morris troubled little face be-
tween her soft hands. the quick near
meeting with her kind eyes, the note
of pleading in her repetition:
"What do you want, Morris?"
He was beginning to answer when it
occurred to him that the truth might