St. Tammany farmer., 1911-01-14
ARTFIUR'S
PERIL


was called away from her pupils for
few minutes the other day one lit
tie boy took the opportunity to .show
off.''
There was much excitement among
the self-appointed monitors when the
teacher returned. Fifty little hands
shot up. waving and darting. Fifty
little bodies wriggled in sympathy
All were eagerly demanding permis-
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 fstes
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. / shall count the whole room
disorderly.'
The children sank back abashed
and disappointed. They looked at the
offending Arthur, who sat stifly erect
at his desk. tightly clutching read
er from which his glance never wa
vered.
The teacher continued to prepare
writing lesson as if 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 occa-
sions they might have recognized In
the twinkle and the smile danger
signal for the offender.
In the meantime Arthur's fear gave
way to establishment He had ex-
pected to stay after school, at least.
With a cautious glance to assure
himself that Miss 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 low, clear "Stung!"
The murmur Of scandalized propri-
ETY. which this new defiance aroused
stirred him to fresh daring. Before
risking a 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
" 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. You
may make faces now"
Arthur hung his head.
asrm 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 yigor-
ously. and drew down the corners OF
his mouth.
"Are you sure that's right?" per
sisted Miss Booth, with funny hesie
catch In her voice.
This time Arthur squinted his eyes.
puckered up his nose. drew down the
| corners of his mouth and darted out
his tongue.
"Now. you may continue that for
the next five minutes" said Miss
Booth.
Then. turning to tho other children,
she asked: "How many boys in this
room have strong muscles?"
Thirty right arms swung In the air.
aHaye you ever noticed" she con-
tinued to the class. what kind faces
some people have and what norrid
faces others have?"
"yes saw a man the other day.
and he had only one eye," interrupt
ed an excited voice from the rear.
"Rut / wonder" continued Miss
Rooth. "why some people have frown-
ing wrinkles between their eyes. even
when they are smiling"
/ az know" said Walter. "Dat's cuz
dew frowned 80 much dere faces stays
dat way"
using their bad face muscles 80 lone
that they have grown strong enough
to mil, their faces out of shape. Go
/ an Arthur: / didn't tell you to stop.
some old people, you know. have such
sweet kind faces. They have been
using their good muscles all their
j lives so their faces are always pleas
ant and kind"
"Yes'm. know. saw an Old lady
once"
/ "Neyer mind, now. Willie. Go ON,
Arthur. You have three minutes yet.
Little children can't frown at al"
continued Miss Booth. Don't you re-
member
A loud, convulsive sob from the
front Of the room suddenly startled
every one.
.Why, what's the matter, Arthur
asked Miss Booth, with suspicious
sympathy.
I d-do-on't w-want to spoil my
facet" he blubbered. rubbing grimy
fist In each eye.