The Hope pioneer., 1920-04-29
A GREATER PRIZE
BY MARY T. NOLAN.

liz. Ful'liS VI lle IOurIn Srlue were
very sure there wasn't another teacher
In the world quite as nice and interest
ing as their Miss Hall.
She had pleasing way about her
which made each member Of her class
anxious to do willingly and promptly
whatever she asked them to do.
And how the little boys and girls
did love to listen to Miss Hall telling
them, sometime during the afternoon
session. about strange and interesting
people who lived in other countries.
or she would speak to them of their
own native flowers and trees, and the
different kinds of birds and the furry
creatures that inhabited the woods
One afternoon in the late fall Miss
Hall gave a talk on thought-up jour-
ney to southern Europe.
When she had finished she smiled
upon her bright-eyed charges and then
brought the happy tourists back home
to their everyday duties. She began to
hear their spelling lesson.
Toward the close of the session Miss
Hall stepped down from the plat
form and went to the blackboard, fol-
lowed by IL hundred questioning eyes.
She took Il piece of chalk from the
groove and began writing in the center
Of the blackboard.
The first word looked otftl to the pu-
pills. 4 very, yere strange word, in
deed. thought each child there.
This was the first word on the board: !:
"Quercus."
The word following "Quercus" was
"alba."
Miss Hall had resumed her chair.
Then little hand was raised and a
sweet voice said, rather timdly:
"Please, teacher"
Miss Hall looked up and toward the
signaling hand.
"Well, Lottie?" she inquired COM
radely
"PleaSe, teacher, what do those
words YOU just wrote mean?" asked
the brightest and most inquisitive pu-
pill in the whole class.
"Thank you, Lottie, for mentioning
them. l had intended little surprise
for you. children-a sort of test, if you
please, for observation"
Miss Hall showed n small, green
covered book to the class. 1t was u
thin volume. about three inches square,
with an attractive leather binding.
Il will present this little book-a
very neat and useful book it is, chill
dren-to the boy or girl who first gives
me the correct meaning OF the words
that l just put on the blackboard.
Now. know won't have to wait long,
because, children'-she smiled encour.
acknowledgements alba is well known
to you, think"
One somewhat Indifferent pupil-a
boy named Judd-informed his chums
that he'd all the books he wanted al
ready. "A little smartie. like Lottie
Blinn, will get that book; you wait
and see! proclaimed young Judd.
"Well, s'long, you kids! I'm off to tn
park STR some barberries"
The sour little berries tasted almost
as good to Tommy Judd as his favor
itc delicacy. pickles; and the bushes
were red with them.
The teacher happened to be passing
and heard Tommy's parting remarks
to his schooImates.
"He would rather roam the woods
than study his books" she told herself
as she watched the running figure of
her unprOmising pupil heading toward
the park. II do wish he were more at
tentive-like Lottie Blinn," she
unused.
The air was crisp and invigorating
and she walked briskly toward the
great city park, a short distance away.
1t contained many tall, rugged trees.
Along the gravel footpath of this beau
tiful park Miss Hall walked daily and
found health and quietude.
The rosy-cleeked teacher became
aware of anOther's presence beside
her. The sonorous greeting Of one she
used to know caused her heart to beat
with ecstasy.
udSSu SecA yOu LUZ Il lOIlS llIue,
Etta," said Ray Blinn, after the first
greetings had been exchanged; mot
since went away, nearly two years
ago"
The velvety brown eyes Of the pretty
schOolteucher looked into those of the
stalWart young soldier.
"I'm SO glad you are back home
again. Lieutenant Blinn." she said.
Roy, please-like you used to call
me. 1t sounds more clumlike. Don't
you think so, Etta?'
"Why-er-yes.' she answered,
reminiscent; Il think So"
They were walking along the path,
when small boy, wildly waving a cap
about his head. as if hornet-chased, and
shouting gleefully 1.-The books mine |
The books mine!" came rushing to-
ward them.
The painting youngster stopped in
front OF the teacher and gasped out
something about "a sign he had seen
'while was lookin' at a squirrel run
min up tree"