The Washington herald., 1914-07-14
DAILY SHORT STORY.
LOSING A LOVER.
BY LAURENCE ALFRED CLAY.

Copyright. IsIJ
When the fall and winter term of the
school Of District No. 4 began there were
thirty scholars, all farmers children, and
some of them living two miles away.
Few of the children were more than
twelve years Of age. but there was Bob
Burton. eighteen. He had been the terror
of three teachers. He was overgrown.
belligerent and obstinate and he attend
ed school from no desire to learn.
When Miss Frances Bailey applied for
the school the blum old trustee with
whom she talked laughed heartily and
said:
why, you are only a girl!'
But I'm most twenty years DID,
But don't believe you can lift a good
sized pumpkin
Has that anything to do with teaching
children?"
1T has a heap to do with Farmer Bur
toms son Bob. He has made three teach
ers give up the school. and they were
men, too. Just carried 'em outdoors and
chucked 'em head first into snowbanks.
Why. you wouldn't be more'n a feather
to him."
He won't carry me outdoors II get
the school,
He sure will IL he takes a notion, but
an idea strikes me. Bob isn't downright
mean
Il think can manage him"
well, I'll talk IT over with the other
directors and send you word"
Two weeks later Miss Frances opened
school. and Bob Burton was the first pu-
pill. The girl was there with a smile and
q hand extended:
Good morning, Robert, and welcome
here. was in hopes you'd attend this
winter
Bob liked that smile and handshaks.
He liked her words. A doubt crossed his
mind whether or not she had been told
that he was a bad fellow. and he asked:
Haven't they told you about my break
ing up the schoolsr'
"Oh, yes; but maybe 1t wasn't alto
gether your fault. You didn't think the
school was being conducted just right. I"
That's it. They said 1 must remem-
Der how many oceans there were, and
because l couldn't one Of the teachers
was goin' to lick me"
THAT was wrong"
''If dad told me there were LIE pump
kins in the cornfield and l forgot the
number should l be licked for it?'
'Of course not. 1 am going to tell
you that there are four great oceans
Robert, and you needn't remember them
five minutes. Only this is the point:
fall and some one should say there were
only three great oceans and they were
Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michi-
gan. Would you feel a bit proud If you
could stand up and say:
Ladies' and gentlemen, the person Is
wrong. There are four great oceans, to
wit. the Atlantic, Pacific, Arstic, and
Antarctic"
'''You bet your boots shouId"' heart
lily replied Bob; and he repeated over the
names until they were firmly fixed in his
memory.
The big boy in a school either makes
trouble or falls in love with the teacher.
One course is about as bad as the other
Bob Burton started in as a model scholar.
but within fortnight was in love with
Miss Frances. He was so shy about II.
however, that she alone was sure OF the
fact.
In most country schools. whether
taught by men or women, the teacher
is supposed to get to the schoolhouss
first in the morning and build the fire
and sweep out Miss Frances was ready
to take this duty upon herself, but upon
her first appearance she found Bob ahead
OF her by half an hour.
But. II was for me to do" she said
to the boy.
You are a lady," was his reply.
IN about fortnight BOb.s mother said
to her:
eve can't just make Bob out"
"No?"
He studies his lessons nights"
81 thought so,''
1T takes him ten minutes to comb his
hair"
II have noticed that 1t is very slick"
"And he has sent away for some saIve
or something to make mustache grow"
''The poor boy!'
Bob was in love with her. and the