Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-01
When Florabe liz
Went to Schoo!

room, and almost the champion in
geography, and almost the champion
in arithmetic. When you were cham
pion for q month. your name was writ
ten on roll of honor" with gilt star
after it; and Jessie's name would have
been there for every month, had it not
been for Philip Lucas. Philip was al
most the champion, too. and would
have been except for Jessie.
AS 1t was. they were taking it turn
about. September's honors had gone
to Jessie Then Phil had spanked up
and got October's. Not to be outdone,
Jessie had carried off Novembers,
Phil DEFENDERS, and in January they
had tied in everything. Starting afresh.
Jessie had won February, Phil in
March and then again in April. Jessie
must-simply must-win in May; and
because she must. while fate was
against her, Jessie cried.
Il can't come to the spelling-test this
afternoon" she said, in a trembling
voice. 1--WE got to stay home and keep
the baby; and Phil will win and-I
can't help it,"
A little questioning brought out the
story, Mother had to go to the Court
House about some papers which must
be signed today. Mother was sorry.
but she couldn't help it. Could Jessie
be excused until after two and then
come in for the spelling test? Teacher
shook her head. The directors were
coming. and Miss Agnes had set two
dered-it 1t would be an impossibility
Miss Agnes thought rapidly. She
a Sn~ hAP0
and the directors would be here too,
and they might think she allowed chill.
dren to bring their baby brothers and
sisters to school, But in the face of
Jessie's despair she wondered-won-
dered-if it would be am impossibility.
Then she decided swiftly Teachers
often have to make up their minds in
hurry. So Miss Agnes said
do you suppose Florabelle would
be quiet it you brought her to school
until after the spelling and then took
her home to your mother?"
20 Miss Agnes, I just know she
would! Oh. II you only let me. Why, If
you give Florabelle paper and pencil
she will mark until the lead wears
out. She would be good, really she
would Miss Agnes!"
In the face Of such earnest protes.
tations Miss Agnes yielded, and in the
afternoon Jessie walked in trium.
phantly leading F1orabelle by the hand
She was very much out Of breath, be-
cause she had carried her little sister
much Of the way, In order to reach the
school house before that dreaded tar
dy bell rang. So the children had only
a chance to look with big eyes at
baby in school before the directors Al.
ed In and the spelling test was an
nounced.
As the class took their places, Flora
belle caught Jessie's hand eco too"
she announced firmly and clearly.
Paper and pencil would have no at
traction II big sister left i1er. Miss
Agnes frowned trifie, then babe
Jessie take F1orabelle with her. Az
they took their places the teacher gave
word Of explanation to the directors.
whose eyes sought the roll Of honor
and saw the close race which Jessie
and Philip were running
Every child in the class knew how
It would end, that is how the first
part would end; and by and by only
Philip and Jessie were left standing.
The test was nearing it's end "Awry.'
gave out the teacher Philip after a
blank look shrugged his shoulders and
sat down. Now that was really too
bad, for Philip had spelled many hard
er words in the course of the afternoon
without blinking an eyelash.
When Philip sat down. .Tessie's
heart gave great thump. Why. oh.
why. had she taken that very moment
to straighten the blue ribbon bow on
Florabelle's curly head. She had heard
the word but. because her fingers were
busy when they shouldn't have been
and because of the sudden shock Of
Philips failure, 1t had gone in one ear
and directly out at the other. In A
panic she realized that she must spell
word which she knew she had
known. but now had forgotten
Miss Agnes did not pronounce it
again. She looked at Jessie and the
latter looked back niteously. Just at
that moment. little FlorabeIle sudden.
ly stepped out in front of her sister,
lifted out the sides Of her white dress
made a little bobbing bow. and said
clearly and distinctly:
ne iOlIOWS HIS nose Wherever ne
goes.
And that stands all awry"
The school burst into a roar of
laughter that made the baby turn and
bury her face in big sisters dress.
They had forgotten their Mother
Goose until baby Florabelle recalled
two lines Of it to them
She had recalled the word to Jessie
also and the latter with her face Grim
son. caught little sister up in her arms
and spelled "A-w-r-y." as distinctly as
baby had pronounced it.
The spelling lesson was over and
Jessie had won. Her name was placed
on the spelling part Of the roll of bno-
or with a star after it. and Miss Agnes
had hidden her take Floral belle home
and return in time for the gengra ply
test
With still scarlet face she obeyed
but while tho "R" Grade scholars were
going through their spelling test. the
door opened and Jessie slipped in
again with baby Florabelle tagging
after. "Shall we never get that baby
bo,,oo- eiobad Mice honoc ~ bor,oIf