Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-05-19
JUST EGGS
BY GERTRUDE BALLENTINE.

John, would you mind bringing
home a dozen of eggs from that nice
creamery, near the school?"
"All right, mother" replied her son.
pn.ting the finishing touches TO his al
ready immaculate toilet. "Any other
errandsg"
John McDermott was the newly APP
| pointed teacher of the sixth grade in
the - school. His fellow teachers
considered him rather reserved and
dlgnified. "Some stin, I'll say" one OF
the girl teachers had remarked. "Nev-
ertheless, some class. I'll say" supple
mented another.
In the meantime McDermott "plod-
ded his weary way" trying 10 plant the
seeds of reading. writing and 'rith-
metic into little minds that were much
more interested in coasting. skating
and snOwballing.
The dismissal bell sounded, the doors
were thrown open; there was great
shuttle OF little feet. and the children
began TO pour out into the afternoon
sunshine. Then such nolsel Such
laughing and shoutingl Such throw
Ing and lodging and snowballs!
II was a pretty good old world just
the same. So thought the children as
they romped and played So thought
the teachers as they put away their
books and papers and prepared 10 go
home. So thought Miss Goodwin. the
fifth grade teacher, as she dismissed
her last pupil. whom she had kept
after school for punishment.
Everywhere children were coasting,
shouting and playing in the snow.
"What a good time the children have"
she thought; wouldn't mind having
few good slides myself. | haven't had
good coast since l was up TO Uncle
Toms. In Maine.
At the top of the hin there was
more arguing and protesting. but 10
no avail. II was agreed at last that
Miss Goodwin should have the first
coast.
She thought how funny she must
look, but still she had 10 admit that
Il was a dandy slide. and she was en-
joying herself. The Hill was steep and
the sled flew swiftly over the Icy
snow.
But as fate would have Il. just as
the sled neared the foot OF the hin.
man dashed across its path, intent on
catching n street ear just slowing
down az the next corner. Man and
sled reached the spot at the same
time. There was a crash as dozen
eggs struck the icy pavement, and
sprawling In undignlfied confusion in
the gutter lay John McDermott.
"What luck!' he muttered. Then.
as he faced his assailant, he STAN
mered: Il beg your pardon, Miss
Goodwin. II"
1.-The fault was all mine" she said.
by that time McDermOtt had recOv-
cred himself. Il don't generally come
this way" he said: "but had an err
rand to do today. But hope you are
not hurt. Miss Goodwin. ] should new
er forgive myself"
When she had assured him that she
was quite all right, he said he must
be getting along toward home.
ooh. hut your package Mr.. McDer-
mott" she called after him.
That's all right. They are-just
eggs" he laughed. Il guess they are
broken" A yellow Oozy mass on the
pavement confirmed his statement.
Next morning McDermott found on
his desk box containing dozen OF
eggs. He FASTENED TO Miss Goodwin's
room for an explanation.
ooh. but you must take them" she
assured him. Il made you break the
others"
"Well. In order 20 get them home
safely" he said, smiling. "you must
promise not To go cOasting this after
noon. Instead, woc!d you care 10 go
tobogganing at the park this eve
ning?"
So they went that evening and many
other evenings. II was between the
slides. during the long climb up the
| hin. that Alice Goodwin and John Nc
Dermott got TO really know each 9th
er. The slide was long and the walk
hack took some minutes, but they
Il StelneN AT 100 SHUT W lttC IVY hN'o'
walks under the silver moon with the
snow crunchIng under their feet and
sparkling like diamonds; while the
girl. IN her white sweater and tam and
rose-colored scarf trudged beside lin.
Sometimes before leaving the park
they would stand aside and watch the
fun on the slide. One night toward
the end of the winter II seemed 10 the
boy that the moon was brighter, the
wind was soft. and the snow sparkled
more than ever. TIE girl at his side
looked prettier than ever before. AZ
ter putting away his toboggan for the
evening. they stood for while on the
rock terrace NJ the left Of the tobog-
gan slide.
isn't II wonderful =" exclaimed the
-irl. looking over the miles and miles
u sparkling ground. dotsed here ana
there with chmps of trees and shrub
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