Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-28
EIGHTH CHAPTER.
T. ROM that day the doctors boy
considered that / belonged t.

L NUM- ludl udy tne doctors boy
considered that | belonged to
him, but not until l was sent
to school, with my cousin and her
stepsister, did he feel called upon to
claim his property.
1t was mixed day school in the
village, and it was controlled by a
board which had the village butcher
as its chairman. The only teacher
was tall woman OF 80, who plated
her hair, which was of the color of
fax, into ridiculous-l looking crown
on the top OF her head. But her ex-
preston, I remember, was one of
perpetual severity, and when she
spoke through her thin lips she
clipped her words with great rapidity,
as If they had been rolls of bread
which were being chopped In a char
ity school.
Afterward | heard that she owed
her position to Aunt Bridget, who
had exercised her influence through
the chairman, by means of his ac-
count with the Big House. Perhaps
she thought 1t her duty to display her
gratitude. Certainly she lost no time
in showing me that my character had
gone to school before me, for in order
that ] might be directly under her eve
she placed me in the last seat in the
lowest class, although my mothers
daily teaching would have entitled me
to go higher.
! dare say ] was, as Father Dan
used TO say, as full of mischief as a
goat, and | know ! was chatter
box, but | do not think / deserved the
fate that followed.
One day not more than week aft
or We had been sent to school, held
my slate in front of my face while
whispered something to the girl be-
side and the girl behind me, Both
began to litter
"Silence!" cried the schoolmistress
who was sitting at her desk, bur
went on whispering and the girls be-
gan to choke with laughter.
] think the schoolmistress must
have thought was saying something
about herself-making game, perhaps,
Of her personal appearance-for after
a moment she said, In her rapid ac-
cents:
Mary o'Nelll, please repeat what
you have Just been saying
! held my slate yet closer to my
face and made no answer.
Don't you hear, miss? Speak!
You've tongue in your head, haven't
your"
But still did not answer, and then
the schoolmistress said:
MARY O'Neill, come forward"
She had commanded me like a dog
and like a dog ! was about to obey
when caught sight Of Betsy Beauty's
face which, beaming with satisfac-
ton, seemed to be saying: Now, we
| shall see"
| would not stir after that, and
the schoolmistress, leaving her desk,
came toward me, and. looking darby
| into my face, said.
you willful little vixen, do you
| think you can trifie with me? Come
out, miss, this very moment"
knew where that language came
| from, so ] made no movement.
Don't you hear2 or do you sup
pose that because you are pampered
and spoiled By a foolish person at
home you can defy me?"
That reflection on my mother set
! tied everything. ] sat as rigid as a
rock
Then pale as a Whitewashed wall,
and with her thin lips tightly com
pressed, the schoolmiStress took hold
Of me to drag me out Of my seat but
with my little nervous fingers | chung
to the desk in front of me, and as
often as she tore one OF my hands
open the other fixed itself afresh
you mink! Wen see who's mis-