Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-10-05


Mr.. Massachusetts was there for the open
ing day Of school and greeted his pupils,
one and all with almost pathetic tenderness.
He mentally noted the wonderful improve
ment in Molly and almost stammered when
he shook hands with her. Everybody loved
Mr.. Massachusetts and he seemed to love
everybody, especially the children and
played no favorites.
rs jest come to get your VIE, Mistah
Massachusetts, bout Molly. l got letter
from some 'sity in de Nof wantin to edicate
her, widout it costin me muffin l don't
want to Civ up my Molly, but I do want
her to be a fin lady. Would you VIE me to
let her go' 1t was happy moment for
the teacher, but he concealed his happiness
and looked puzzled.
"Molly is an unusually bright pupil, and
if she could 60 North she would make a
mighty fine lady. I believe I would let her
60 1t, however, is quite dangerous for
young girls to travel alone, but my mother
and sister, who are visiting the Cotton Ex-
position at New Orleans, will come by and
take her with them, if you consent"
This pleased Molly's mother very much
and she willingly consented Mrs. Massa-
chusetts, accompanied by her daughter,
stopped over to see her son and to get Molly
and even Molly's mother was surprised at
the interest the two white women took in
her daughter and wondered why they bought
so many nice things for her. But Molly with
her new found friends were soon an their
way
This proved to be very successful school
year for the Yankee teacher and he induced
the fathers of number of the boys and
girls to send them off to Normal schools
and universities His exhibition that year
4ho III
left as usual the day school closed, but re-
turned just as promptly for the next school
year opening. He said to those who enquired
Of Molly that he had heard of her while
away and learned she was getting along
well. He told Molly's mother little more
than to the others. Molly, however, wrote
regularly to her mother and some Of her
friends, which kept her memory more or
less green. The whole community went wild
one Sunday at basket meeting when Gun
ker Edmund s Zach, who had been to the
post office, gave Molly's mother great big
letter. She got Brer Brown, the preacher,
to open it for her, and instead of letter it
was a cabinet size photograph Of Molly,
who to them looked more like a kings
daughter than governors daughter. There
letter also, which said that Molly
would visit the old home the coming sum-
assembling his congregation, there was so
much to be said about Miss Molly.
Whether or not Mr.. Massachusetts had
any interest in what was being said about
his former pupil or her expected visit to
that place was his own secret as he showed
no signs Of having any interest in either.
His school closed before Molly came. At
the close Of that exhibition he announced
that he would not return any more. my
father has been eectd governor Of the state
of Massachusetts and [ will serve under
him. He, however, fingered day longer
than usual and Molly's mother cooked
him an old fashioned southern dinner as
her feeble reward for the kindness he had
shown Molly.
That evening Mr. Massachusetts shook
the dirt of Freedman Hall off his feet for
ever and as he did so pang Of regret came
over him because he had given up his mis-
sionary work.
For twenty mile radius Miss Molly was
the model and fashion plate Of the colored