Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-06-11
improving A Boy
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tend he was dog once IN while or
do something else to show that he
IS a real live boy"
"Dog?" repeated Miss Carpenter,
looking puzzled.
Yes, Roy, the young rogue. spent
about five minues this morning bal
ancing an eraser on his nose, tossing
II into the air and catching it in his
mouth. My! How he seemed to en-
JOY it," Miss Lucy laughed at the
recollection. HE looked exactly like
my dog Bob when Bob is doing tricks.
mo; the other pupils were entirely
unaware of his performance. because
this month Roy sits In the back row.
But little George seems never to
have any fun, he is so poor and weak
and shabby and dun. He never moves
all day
mo, I'm not tickled to death to
have him so quiet. He's too good. I'm
afraid he'll turn out to be like that
embezzler who was the pride and JOY
Of every teacher he ever had. Didn't
you hear about him? Why. it was
right here in Chicago.
Il pointed out TO Roy" continued
Miss Lucy, when | told him to copy
poem tonight, that he'd better learn
TO be good when he had kind teach.
or to punish him than be punished by
some hard.hearted employer when he
went to work and perhaps lose his
place. From his actions | think he
would rather take his chances with
the cruel boss in the dim future than
be killed by behaving himself in the
present" Miss Lucy laughed. Il as
sured him that he would be thankful
to me some day for making him copy
the beautiful thoughts in the poem,
but he seemed very unappreciative.
He didn't hesitate to tell me that he
would have beautifuller thoughts IL
he could read Frank on Gunboat.'
yes, ! agree with you that making
children copy poems Is a splendid
way to encourage a detestation Of the
best literature but | was determined
that Roy should do the work himself
this time. His mother stayed up half
the night to work out the cancellation
examples that | gave him the other
day to punish him.
But dear me! | wish Roy could
divide some of his surplus energy with
George. What good times they
would both haye!"
The next day Miss Lucy had an
other story to tell. Il can grow elo-
quent today on the curse of granted
wishes she said to Miss Carpenter
"Why, | absolutely had my breath
taken away this morning. That timid
little George persistently kept his feet
stretched out in the aisle. When
Gertic fell over thcm / confined N.Y.
self to Il few remarks about girls who
went LA the aisles with their heads
~ Led over their shoulders; but when
j went down the aisle and George
put ont his foot so quickly that it
was only by falling on the neck of
Harry and nearly strangling him that
] saved myself | could see nothing in
1t but pure righteousness. DO you
suppose he could have heard what |
said to you yesterday about him?
Eyes. l do like boys to have a lit.
tie fun, but | draw the line at fur
nishing it for them by turning somer-
saults in the aiSles" Miss Lucy Join
ed in Miss Carpenters laugh, but not
with her usual heartiness. She was
plainly worried. at noon" she said.
I'm going to try to find out what
possessed the little imp"
So Miss Lucy began her investiga.
tons at the first opportunity. Don't
cry so, George" she said. '"but Just
tell me why you were so bad this
morning. Don't be afraid; won't
punish you this time because you
have always been such a good boy.
But you must promise not to do it
again, viii your"
But all her coaxings and pleadings
and threats were unayailing. Sobs
which shook the poor, thin little frame
were the boys only answer.
We'll. George. you will have to
bring your mother" said Miss Lucy,
quite out of patience
The mother. as timid as her son,
could give 10 explanation when she
came to see Miss Lucy.
He is always a good boy at home"
she said He always gets the sup,
per and cleans up the house when |
am at work. This week he gets up
half an hour earlier than usual and
he Is SO sleepy-to clean bis shoes,
because then he thinks you will be
glad and maybe will let him stay by
you after school and clean the black
boards. He is so lonesome at home
when | am away, and the boys don't
like him, because he is so still He
likes you much, Miss Lucy. | don't
think he means to be bad"
"Oh, Mrs. SMITH" said Miss Lucy.
her voice tremulous. q did notice
his shoes, but didn't say anything
he is such a timid little fellow that |
don't say much to him. And his
shoes are lovely, and I'm never go
ing to be cross to you again"
George is improving" Miss Lucy
to Miss Carpenter a month
later. Perhaps it is the familiarity
which brings contempt, but he told /
me a joke yesterday after school and /
actually laughed as much as Roy
would have done. And he has wills
pered in school twice within a week /
and he was reported twice for squirting