The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-30

to South America before I'll do it!'
 Me, too" echoed Frank. 'I'r- I'll get up early in the morning and cut down that old pole-you see if I don't"
 But when each boy reached home that evening" he found that, some how, the news had gone before him; and both father and mother were very much interested in the part he was to play in the festival. Also. pro- tests and pleadings were of no avail they simply had to take part!
 Presently came the first rehearsal. Now, Miss Dodd was a teacher not to be trif1ed with; and both George and Frank had found that out to their sorrow several times in the past. So, of course, there was nothing to do but at least pretend to learn the Gas they thought sissy" mincing, silly danc- ing steps she taught them to take as they danced with the girls around an imaginary May pole, with out- stretched hands holding imaginary ribbons.
 The girls were all excited and eager for the dance; and, indeed, all the rest of the boys and girls in the room" seemed to be, too. But not George and Frank. And they vowed to each other that they would do all sorts of desperate things before they would make fools'' of themselves in that fashion.
 The next afternoon came another rehearsal Miss Dodd was very pa- toh she became convinced that George and Frank were purposely trying not to learn the steps and were very rude to their little dancing partners.
 Then Miss Dodd decided to "attend to their cases as the saying goes. She took them aside and gave them se- were talking to; furthermore, she called on each of the boys parents that night and explained the circum- stances. Both fathers, you may be sure, had considerable to say to their respective sons-and right before Miss Dodd, too!
 The next day remarkable change was noticeable in the behavior of both boys. They seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion willingly, eagerly and with interest.
 q guess I fixed their cases" said Miss Dodd to herself, with grim sat- isfaction
 "Oh, isn't it nice to have George liking to dance with us," said Grace to Tillie as they were walking home that afternoon after rehearsal.
 'tYes, indeed" answered the latter. "And Frank didn't step on my toes once, not even once, all during it!''
 But, in that half hour just after rehearsal and before it was time for them to be at their respective homes for dinner. the two boys had their heads together and were chuckling in high glee at the way they were go- ing to be revenged upon Miss Dodd and (they thought) upon their un- kind parents.
 "Y'see, Frank" George explained for the one-hundredth time, 1t seemed, we'll dance the first part of it all right and then when I whistle, each of us'll take hold of his ribbon tight and then turn around and run round and 'round-and the first thing you know both those girls will be tied right smack up against that old May pole so fast they won't be able to move We'll just wrap those ribbons round them and-'
 Wish we could tie up that old Miss Dodd, tool" said Frank.
 You just let her wait-you just let her wait-that's all I've got to say. One of these days we'll-''
 But, that time at least, George didn't finish the dire threats of all the awful things he was going to do to Miss Dodd-someday For they