Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-05-09
CHAPTER xxv-contfnued.

Did you all hear what Miss Larri-
more, who teaches the little children
at school, said about us?" asked Lima
Importantly.
Nav" they chorused, what was
it?"
She told the superintendent" was
the reply Of Lima, pleased with her
self and with that big word, that
she would have to have more money
next year, for she heard that Lima
Hamilton, Frances Black, William
Hill and Jimmy Garner were all com
ing to school, and she said We were
the most notorious bad children il
town"
She is the spitefuIlest woman they
is, Jimmy's black eyes snapped;
she bout the meddIesomest teacher
in town"
Who told you bout It, Lina?"
questioned the other little girl
The superintendent told his wife
and you know how some ladies are
they just can't keep a secret. Now it
is just like burying it to tell mother
anything; she never tells anybody
but father and grandmother, and
grandfather, and Uncle Ed, and Bro
Their Johnson, and she makes them
promise never to breathe it to liV-
ing soul. But the superintendent
wife is different; she tells everything
she hears and now everybody knows
what that teacher said about US"
Everybody says she is the crank
lest teacher they is" cried Jimmy
"she won't let you bring nothing to
school 'cepting your books; you can't
even take your slingshot, nor your
air-gun. nor"
Nor your dolls" chimed in Fran
ces, and she won't let you bat your
eye. nor say a word, nor cross your
legs. nor blow your nose"
What do she think we s goin' to
her OF school fer if we can't have
fun?" asked Billy. 'Tabernicle sho'
had fun when he went to school. He
put pin in the teachers chair an she
sat down on it plumb up to the head,
an he tie the strings together what
two niger gals had they hair
wropped with, an he squOZe up a
little boys legs in front of him with
a rooster foot tell he squalled out
loud, an he th'owed spitballs an he
make him some watermelon teeth, an
he paint chicken light red an tuck it
to the teacher fer a dodO, an he put
cotton in his pants fore he got licked,
an he drawed the teacher on slate.
That s what you go to school fer is
to have fun, an l sho' is goin' to
have fun when / goes, an l amt gOin'
to take no bulldozin offer her,
neither"
4 bet we can squelch her" cried
Frances, vindictiyely.
yes, we Il show her a thing or
two"-for once Jimmy agreed with
her, she bout the butt-in-est old wo-
man they is, and she's going to find
out we bout the squelchingest kids
ever she tackle"
alfred Gage went to school to her
last year." said Frances, and he can
read and write"
Yes" joined in Jimmy, land he
bout the proudest boy they is; all
time got to write his name all over
everything"
You member bout last Commun-
ion Sunday" went on the little girl,
when they hand roun' the little en-
vellups and telled all the folks what
was willing to give five dollars more
on the pastors sally just to write his
name; SO Alfred he so frisky cause
he know how to write; so be token
one of the little enyellups and worten
Alfred Gage on it; so when his papa
find out bout it he say that kid got
to work and pay that five dollars
ht'self, cause he done sign his name
to it,"
"And if he amt bout the sickest
kid they is declared Jimmy; IN
betcher he won't get fresh no more
soon. He telled me the other day he
at had a drink of soda water this
summer. cause every nickel he gets
got to go to Mr. Pastors saTry; he
says he plumb tired supporting Bro
Their Johnson and all his family; and,
he say, every time he go up town he
sees Johnny Johnson asserting on a
stool in Baltzer's drug store just a
swiggiug milk-shakes; he says he
gOfng to knock him Off some day
cause its his niCkels that kid s a
spending"
There was a short silence. broken
by Billy. who remarked, apropos OF
nothing:
i sho' is glad don't halter be a
oman when l puts on long pants;
mems is heap mo account"
Il wouldn't be a woman for moth
ing at all" Jimmy fully agreed with
him; they have the pokiest time
they is"
Il m glad am going to be a young
lady when l grow up" Lima declared.
Il would Mt be a gentleman for any
thing. I'm going to wear pretty
clothes and be beautiful and be
belle like mother was, and have lots
Of lovers kneel at my feet ON one
knee and play the guitar with the
other"
How they goin' to play the guitar
with the other knee?" asked the prac-
teal Billy.
And sing Call Me Thine Own, q"
she continued, ignoring his Interrupt
ton. Father got on his knees to
mother thirty-seven-and-a-haL times
before she'd say. I WILL