Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-28
HE WOMAN THOU CAVEST ME y. xe AaM SAg E7@a5

tress here. Will none of you big girls
come and help me?"
With the utmost alacrity, one big
girl from a back bench came rushing
to the schoolmistress' assistance. 1t
was Messy Macleod. and together,
after fierce struggle, they tore me
from my desk, like an Ivy branch
from tree and dragged me into the
open space in front of the classes BY
this time the schoolmistress' hands,
and I think her neck, were scratched,
and from that cause also she was
quivering with passion.
Stand there, MISS" she said, land
move from that spot at your peril
My own fury was now spent, and
in the dead silence which had fallen
on the entire school, I was beginning
to feel the shame of my ignominious
position.
Children" cried the schoolmis-
tress, addressing the whole of the
scholars, put down your states and
listen"
Then, as soon as she had recov-
cred her breath she said, standing by
my side and pointing down to me:
This child came to school with the
character of wilful. wicked little
| character of a willful, wicked little
character By gross disobedience she
| has brought herself to where you see
| her. Spare the rod spoil the child is
q Scriptural maxim, and the foolish
parents who ruin their children by
| to them But there is no reason why
other people should suffer, and, small
| as this child is. she has made the
| life of her excellent aunt intolerable
| by her ENJOYABLE, unsociable and I'M
| childlike disposition. Children, she
was sent to school TO be corrected of
her faults, and I order you to stop
your lessons while she is publicly
| punished"
Martin to Rescue.
With this parade of the spirit of
| justice. the schoolmistress stepped
back and left me. | knew what she
was doing-she was taking her cane
out of the desk which stood by the
wall. I heard the desk opened with
an impatient clash, and then closed
with an angry bang. l was as sure as
| if l had had eyes in the back of my
| head, that the schoolmistress was
| holding the cane in both hands and
| bending it to see if it was 1.-the and
| Timber
l felt utterly Inundated. Standing
| there with all eyes upon me, | was
| conscious of the worst pain that en-
| tiers into a child's experience-the pain
of knowing that other children are
| looking upon her degradation.
thought of Aunt Bridget and my lit
tie heart chol5ed with anger. Then l
| thought of my mother, and my throat
I throbbed with shame. ! remembered
what my mother had said of her lit
! tie Mary being always a little lady,
and l felt crushed at the thought that
| ! was about to be whipped before all
| the village children.
At home l had been protected if
| only by my others tears, but here /
only by my mothers tears, but here /
| little and helpless. But just as my
| lip was beginning to drop at the
! thought of What my mother would
! suffer if she saw me in this position
| of infamy, and ! was ABOUT to cry out
| to the schoolmistress: Don't beat
me. On. please don't beat mel" 4
strange thing happened, which turned
my shame into surprise and triumph.
| Through the mist which had gath
/ cred before my eyes l saw a boy COM
| ing out of the boys class at the
end of the long room. 1t was Mar
| tin Conrad, and 1 remember that he
| rolled as he walked like old Tommy
| the gardener. Everybody saw him
and the schoolmistress said, in her
sharp voice;
Martin Conrad, what right have
you to leave your place without per-
mission? Go back, sir. this very mo-
ment."
Instead of going back, Martin came
On, and as he did so he dragged his
/ big soft hat out of the belt of his
| Norfolk jacket and with both hands
pulled it down hard on his head.
Go back, sir' cried the school
mistress. and / saw her step toward
him with the cane poised and switch
| ing in the air, as if about to strike.
The boy said nothing, but just shal1-
| ing himself like big dog he dropped
| his head and butted at the schoolmis-
tress as she approached him, struck
! her somewhere in the waist and sent
her staggering and gasping against
the wall.
Then, without word, he took my