Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-26
he Substitute
eacher

be different if we were going to have
her right along But l don't exactly
like her and l just hore Miss Barker
will be back soon"
so do L." said Clare; everybody
loves Miss Barker. But Miss Sill is
nice, too We just don't know her
very we'll yet And do you know, Del
la. think it must be real hard to be a
substitute"
''Oh, l suppose it is Della said.
! But, anyway, l don't care much for
+, her, and it doesn't seem worth while
to try to-when we're only going to
have her little while"
But Clare's face was rather sober
| when the bell rang to tell them that
recess was over.
Miss Sill, even if she was only a
substitute was trying her best to be
a good teacher to the thirty lively
boys and girls in the B Fourth. To-
day she had brought microscope to
to school with her, and some curious
objects to show to the children under
its powerful eye. A bees barbed
sting, a butterfly's rainbow-tinted
scales, a fy's thousands of six-sided
eyes, tiny scarlet spider found in the
moss at the foot of the big oak tree
all these wonders made the children
exclaim with delight. Somehow
though they all enjoyed this half hour
with the microscope, Clare was the
only one who remembered to tell Miss
Sill afterward how nice it had been.
Its so interesting Miss SILL she
said, shyly, "and think it was very
kind of you to bring your microscope
to school to show us all those things"
Miss Sill looked pleased at this word
of appreciation.
The arithmetic lesson followed. Mel.
Their Della nor Clare was fond of num-
Der work. But Clare made up her
mind she would give, Miss Sill her
best attention. 1t was the least she
could do, after the pleasure the sub
stitute teacher had just given them.
Miss Sill found great comfort and en-
couragement in looking into Clare's
earnest eyes.
I'm afraid Della isn't paying much
attention. she remarked, after calling
suddenly upon that little girl and re-
ceiving very vague answer.
Della made no reply, and when ten
minutes later she was asked another
question, with the same unsatisfactory
results, Miss Sill spoke more de.
cided reproof.
ooh, but l hate arithmetic" Della
said, pettishly, and the other children
caught their breath at this retort. But
Miss Sill went on quietly with the les.
son, after long, peculiar look at
Della.
Della felt bit uneasy, but comfort.
nd hor hxy all
she's only a. substitute, anyway"
Delserte exercises followed. Clare
stood like a soldier through the drills,
but Della was again inattentive, and
had to be reproved more than once.
Finally Miss Sill called her to the front
of the room and made her stand beside
her through the remainder Of the ex-
ercises.
ooh. just can't bear herr" thought
Della
A big surprise awaited the children
in the morning when Mr.. Beadie, the
principal, came in to speak to them.
T have something to tell you boys
and girls You will all be sorry to learn
that Miss Barker has resigned and is
going South. You will miss her, but
you will be glad to know that Miss Sill
will remain with you. You have had
her long enough as a substitute to
I am sure you will all give her your
best loyalty"
1t was all Della could do to keep from
a gasp of dismay, and she felt the color
burning hot in her cheeks.
Miss Sill was speaking to them with
bright smile as soon as Mr.. Beadie
had left the room.
II know just how you children will
miss Miss Barker; you love her, as you
should, but / hope we shall be very
happy together, too. ] have known for
several days that / was to have you
right along, but / felt glad to become
acquainted with you while you did not
know it." Just for an instant her eyes
rested affectionately on Clare, then
turned for second to Della. Was there
any special meaning in their glance?
Della felt uneasily that there was.
But it was mean not to let us know
sooner" she thought. I'D have been so
different if I'd have known
Miss Sill drew Clare aside for a mo-
ment, as school was dismissed. II want
to thank you. dear" she said, in a low
tone, for being such j little helper to
me all the time when YOU thought I
was only a substitute. That was the
real test of you little girl