The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-10-18

the night you disgraced yourself b!
laughing in the tent"
Fran" Abbott interposed severely
attend to your work"
Fran 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 II doesn't seem to matter
| Nothlng interests me unless il has
something to do with living. These
angles and lines are nothing to me;
what | care for is this time I'm vast.
ing, sitting in stuffy old room. while
the good big world is enjoying itself
Just outside the window She started
up impetuously.
Sit down." Abbott commanded.
Franz" exclaimed Robert Clinton.
stamping his foot, sit down."
Fran sank back upon the bench.
Il 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 be tried in
rooms" Fran explained, II want 10 be
tried In acts-deeds. Until came
here, Id never been to school q day
in my life,' she went on in a contiden-
tial tone. Il agreed to attend because
| imagined school ought to have some
connection with life-something in il
mixed up with love and friendship and
justice and mercy. Wasn't | silly! I
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, IF we put
you in a room where you can under
stand the things We try to teach. If
we make you thorough"
Il don't ant to be thorough" she
explained, 81 want to be happy. |
guess all that schools were meant to
do is to teach folks what's in books,
and how to stand in a straight line.
The children in Class A, or Glass B
have their minds sheared and pruned
to look alike; but | don't want my
brain after anybody's pattern"
You'll regret this, Miss" declared
Clinton. in a threatening tone. You
sit down. Do you want the name of
being expelled?"
Il 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 you come
to see him beaten?" She darted to the
corner, and seated herself beside
Jakey.
Say, now" Bob demonstrated, pull
Ing his mustache deprecatingly. "ev-
erybody knows / wouldn't see a dog |
hurt If it could be helped. I'm Jakey's
friend, and I'd be yours, Fran-hon-
could. But how's a school
% be run without authority? You
lint reasonable. All we want of you
g to be biddable."
And you!" cried Fran to Abbott,
beginning to give way to high pres
sure, II thought you were a school |
eacher, not just but also-a some
hing very nice, also a teacher. But
lot you. Teachers all you are, just
ules and regulations and authority
md chalk and abe and def"
Abbott crimsoned. Was she right?
Vas he not something very nice plus
lis vocation? He found himself des-
'erately wishing that she might think
o.
Fran, after one long glowing look at
i'm, turned to the Lad in disgrace, and
laced her hand upon his stubborn
rm. Have you a mother? she
sked wistfully.
"Yeh." mumbled the lad, astonished
t finding himself addressed, not as
n ink-stained husk of humanity, but
s an understanding soul.
81 haven't" said Fran softly. talk.
ng to him as II unconscious of the
resence Of two listening men, but
ad one, few years ago-and. oh, II \
GEMS SO long since she died, Jakey-I
nree years is a pretty long time to be
'ithout a mother. And you can't think
hat a fault-blindest, spoilingest. can
lest mother she was, I'm glad yours
living. for you still have the chance
make her proud and happy. /
70 matter how fine | may turn out
o you reckon I'll ever be admired by
nybody, Jakey? HUH | guess not