Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-11

fran with mummy; tne name ol IL
Religion"
If I were you," Clinton returned,
flushing. I'D be ashamed to refer to
the night you disgraced yourself by
in the tent"
Fran" Abbott interposed severely.
attend to your work" y.5:t
Fren bent her head over the desk.
but was not long silent. 81 don't like
abe and def" she observed with
more energy than she had hitherto dis
played. They're equal to each other,
but don't know why, and don't care,
because it doesn't seem to matter.
Nothing interests me unless 1t has
something to do with living. | don't
care how far Mars Is from the earth
If it was next door, wouldn't want to
leave home. These angles and lines
are nothing to me; what care for is
stuffy old room, while the good big
world is enjoying itself just outside the
window" She started up impetuously.
''Sit down." Abbott commanded.
Fran" exclaimed Robert Clinton.
stamping his foot, "sit down."
Fran sank back upon the bench.
81 suspect" said Abbott mildly.
that they have put you In classes too
far advanced. We must try you in
another room"
But don't want to he tried in
rooms" Fran explained. "I want to be
tried in acts-deeds. Until came
here, I'd never been to school day in
my life," she went on in a confidential
tone. II agreed to attend because
imagined school ought to have some
connection with life-something in it
mixed up with love and friendship and
justice and mercy. Wasn't I silly! |
even believed-just fancy!--that you
might really teach me something about
religion. But, no! it's all books moth
ing but books"
Fran Abbott reasoned eff We nut
you in a room where you can under
stand the things we try to teach, II
we make you thorough"
II don't want to be through" she ex-
planned, 81 want 70 be happy. guess
all that schools were meant to do is to
teach folks what's in books, and how
to stand in straight line. The chill
dren in Glass A, or Class B have their
minds sheared and pruned to look
alike: but I don't want my brain after
anybody's pattern"
you'll regret this. Miss declared
Clinton, in threatening tone. "You
sit down. Do you want the name Of
being expelled?"
81 don't care very much about the
names OF things" said Fran coolly:
there are lots Of respectable names
that hide wickedness." Her tone
changed: "But yonder's another wild
animal for you to train: did Won come
to see him beaten?" She darted to
the corner, and seated herself beside
Jakey
"Say, now" Bob remon strated. pull
ing his mustache deprecatingly
everybody knows ! wouldn't see a
dog hurt If 1t could be helped. I'm
Jakey's friend, and I'd be yours, Fran
I could. But how's a
school to be run without authority?
You amt reasonable. All we want Of
you is to be biddable."
"And you!" cried Fran to Abbott, be-
ginning to give way to high pressure.
II thought you were schoolteacher,
not just. but also-a something very
nice, also a teacher. But not you
Teachers all you are, Just rules and
regulations and authority and chalk
and abe and def"
Abbott crimsoned Was she right?
Was he not something verv nice Mus
his vocation? He found himself des-
perately wishing that she might think
so. .g,s ,E
Fran. after one long glowing look at
him, turned to the lad in disgrace. and
placed Ter hand upon h's stubborn.
arm. "Have you mother" she asked
wistfully.
"Yeh.' mumbled the lad. astonished
at finding himself addressed. not as an
ink-stained husk Of humanity. but as
an understanding soul.
"I haven't" said Fran softly. talking
to him as If unconscious Of the pres
ence of two listening men. "but had
one, a few years ago-and. oh. it
seems so long since she died. Jakey-.
three years is pretty long time to be
without a mother And you can't
think what fault-blindest. spoilingest.
candiest mother she was. I'm glad
yours is living, for you still have the
chance to make her proud and happy.
No matter how fine ] may turn
out-do you reckon I'll ever be adj
mired by anvhcdy. Jaksy?. Humh!
guess not. But If / were. mother
wouldn't be here to enjoy it. Won't
you tell Professor Ashton that you are
sorry?"
"Fran--' Abbott began.
Fran made a mouth at him. ~ don't
belong to your school any more" she
informed him. "Mr. School-Director
can tell you the name of what he can
do to me; he'll find it classified under.
the Els"
After this explosion. she turned
again to the 'a1: 81 saw YOU punch
that boy. Jakey, and heard YOU say
you didn't. and vet it was good punch.
What made YOU deny it? Punches
aren't bad ideas. If J. could strike ont
like You did, I'd wait till saw man
bullying weaker one. and I'd stand
up to him" Fran leaned impnlsive)y
to her feet, and doubled her ARMAND
ia let her land! PunchiDg's a good
thing, and oh, how it's needed. :.
Except at school-you mustn't do any
thing human here, you must be an
oyster at school,
"Aw-right," said Jakey. with a glim-
pering of comprehension. He seemed
81 &use