Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-03-09
ARTHUR'S
PERIL

tie boy took the opportunity to show
on"
There was much excitement among
the self.appointed monitors when tho
teacher returned. Fifty little hands
shot up, waving and darling. Fifty
little bodies wriggled in sympathy.
All were eagerly demanding permits
sion to tell what had happened dur
Ing the teachers absence. Contrary
to their expectations, she seemed In
different to disorder.
Suddenly one little boy In a back
seat remembering that the teacher
had forbidden tattling and fearing
that no explanation would be allowed.
jumped to his feet and, still waving
his hand, excitedly exclaimed: Miss
Boots, AFTER, he wuz maxim fistes
when you wuz out o. de room"
Huh! He does like dis here" said
another boy, shaking his fist threaten
ingly.
That means he'll show you" in
terpreted a fair-haired little girl in
the front seat.
AN den"
Six excited and scandalized chill
dren began to relate In chorus the de-
tails of Arthur's misdemeanor.
That will do" said Miss Booth,
calmly arranging some flowers in her
belt. IF you children had been do
ing your work you couldn't have seen
Arthur. l shall count the whole room
disorderly."
The children sank back abashed
and disappointed. They looked at the
offending Arthur, who sat stifhy erect
at his desk, tightly clutching a read
er from which his glance never wa
vered.
The teacher continued to prepare a
writing lesson as IL nothing had hap
pened. Yet her eyes twinkled just q
little bit, and the ghost OF a smile
twitched the corners Of her mouth.
Had they remembered similar oooa-
sions they might have recognized In
the twinkle and the smile a danger
signal for the offender.
In the meantime Arthm,s fear gave
way to establishment. He had ex-
pected to stay after school, at least.
With a cautious glance to assure
himself that Mas Booth was not look
ing, he jumped up beside his desk,
which for the teachers convenience
was at the front Of the room. Facing
the other children, he rapidly darted
his tongue forth and back several
times. and finally megaphoned through
arched palms a low, clear "Stung!"
The murmur of scandalized propri-
ETY. which this new defiance aroused
stirred him to fresh daring. Before
risking repetition, however, he
turned warily about, only to look
straight into Miss Booths keen gray
eyes. Slowly and meekly he slid into
his desk and hung his head.
Come here. Arthur" she said.
quietly. Stand here by me and do
that again for the whole room"
Arthur came slowly and reluctant
ly forward and backed against the
wall.
"Out here IN front, where every one
can see you" said the teacher. indi-
eating space by her desk. "rou
may make faces now"
Arthur hung his head.
I'm waiting, Arthur" she said.
He twitched his sharp little nose
feebly.
"Oh. no; that won't do. Make the
same kind of face you made at Wal
ter"
He twitched his nose more vtgor
ously, and drew Gown the corners OF
his mouth.
Are you sure that's right7" par
sisted Miss Booth. with n funny little
catch in her voice.
This time Arthur squinted his eyes,
pucksred up his nose, drew down the
corners Of his mouth and 'darted out
his tongue.
Now. you may continue that for
she next I'VE minutes" said Miss
Booth.
Then, turning to the other children.
she asked: How many boys in this
room have strong musclesr'
Thirty right arms swung In the air.
Have you ever noticed" she con-
.inued to the class, what kind faces
some people have and what horrid
aces others have7'
Eyes, / saw a man the other day.
md he had only one eye" interrupt
ID an excited voice from the rear.
But. / wonder" continued Miss
Booth, why some people have frown-
ng wrinkles between their eyes. even
when they are smiling"
'I know" said Walter. Oats Gus
ley frownsd SO much dere faces stays
lat way"
Yves, that's right. They have been
sing their bad face muscles so long
hat they have grown strong enough
O pull their faces out OF shape. Go
N, Arthur: / didn't tell you 70 stop.
Iome old people. you know. have such
weet, kind faces. They have been
sing their good muscles all their
YES, SO their faces are always pleas