Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-26
ygE DAILY NOVELETTE,
JUST EGGS .,.
GERTRUDE G. BAbIbNIiNh

"a n.
,or,o n dozen of eggs from that
."".mery near the school''
nice ",n riobt. mother" replied her son.
..,nr M rho finishing touches to his al
rsady immaculate toilet any o'"er
errands" .. ,ho ,cw,y an.
"o" s ,oocber of the sixth grade IN
pOl"''D p- School. His fellow teachers
u. Oa.idered him rather reserved and Dig,
co.. .ss "somc stiff. I'll say one OF
nl"'u .;r, teachers had remarked. 'Nev-
srthslcss. s some class I'll say S"pp'e-
mcptcd another. ,no.. ",,oa.
" "a. .oory way" trying to plant the
u.o .ods Of reading, writing and 'rithmctic
,",. ,itt,e minds that were much more
,".o.ostcd ~" in coasting, skating ana snow
bullins. ,u ,dod ,ho doors
thrown open; there was great
,.nalo of little feet, and the children
- N pour out into the afternoon
M
sshinc Then such noise Such laugh
,.s and shouting! Such throwing and
dodging and snow-balls
II was a pretty good old world just
a.. somc So thought the children as
,bev rompcd and played. so thought
,,o tcacbers as they put away their
hoots and papers and prepared to go
S0mo So thought Miss Goodwin, the
sf,h. grade teacher, as she dismissed
her Inst pupil, whom she had kept after
ochool for punishment. (Jimmy had
a,s,rrbcd the class by passing around a
toy fountain pen which exploded when
.he con was removcd.) But now Jimmy
was gone and there was no reason to
detain her longer, so she arranged her
desk. gathered her things and started
for home.
The snow crunched under her feet !;
the air was cold and clear. She pulled
her little turban down on her head and
frightened her fur about her. 1t was
good to be out in Gods pure air after
the sitting atmosphere of the class
room.
Everywhere children were coasting,
shouting and playing in the snow.
"What good time the children have:"
she thought, wouldn't mind having a
few good slides myself. | haven't had
a good coast since | was up to Uncle
Toms in Maine. Oh. but that was n
good time" she sighed. with happy
recollection of that good time. but
picture me coasting down these
streets. Thus she dismissed the sub
ject.
After a few minutes walk she came
upon n crowd Of children with Miss
Nelson. the eighth grade teacher. in
| their midst. They were laughing and
arguing and she was laughing and pro
testing.
What ever is the matter with you
people, Miss Goodwin asked of the
crowd.
"Oh, save me-" cried Miss Nelson,
in mock alarm. ''Thcy want me to go
coasting with them" Then the children
surrounded Miss Goodwin. "Oh, but
Miss Goodwin is coming. too" they
exclaimed. And before they coulu pro
test further they were swept away on
the wave of childish enthusiasm.
At the top of the hill there was more
arguing and protesting, but to no avail.
1t was agreed ut last that Miss Good
win should have the first coast and
little Mary Johnson should kneel on
the back of the sled. So, after assuring
. herself that no one was around to see
her, they started down the hill.
The flexible flier was short and as
they bounded over lump in the snow
little Mary was thrown off, leaving
Miss Goodwin to coast alone.
She thought how funny she must look, g.,
but still she had to admit that it was a
dandy slide and she was enjoying her
self. The hill was steep and the sled
flew swiftly over the icy snow.
But rs fate would have it, just as the
sled neared the foot of the hill, a man
dashed across its path, intent Oh catch
Ing street car just slowing down at
the next corner. Man and sled reached
the spot ut the same time. There wns
crash as dozen of eggs struck the
ICY pavement, and sprawling in undig-
mined confusion in the gutter lay John
McDermott.
What luCk.' he muttercd. Then,
US he faced his assailant, he stammered
beg your pardon, Miss Goodwin. |
IN" fault was all mine" she man.
sssed to say when she had gained her
teet' am very sorry. Really,
uiuh thlnk there was-you see, the
children teased so,' she stammered.
by TINS time McDermott had recov
erde himself. Il don't generally come
TINS way, he said, but had an err.
rant TO do today. But l hope you are
fa"ni ao. ihnrt' Miss Goodwin. l should never
forgive myself"
When she had assured him that she
was quite all right, he said he must be
getting along toward home.
IN out your package, Mr.. McDer-
hVts, she called after him.
Ihat $ all right. They are-iust
bssSI,Dr i, ne laughed. Il guess they are
Uaoheh. a yellow, oozy mass on the
p'>yintht confirmed his statement.
IT.. >SNt morning McDermott found on
naas ''Sh DoX containing dozen of
eggs lie haStened to Miss Goodwin's
ioo!4 Tor an explanation.
oh, but you must take them .ho
others" 'ou preak the
wen, in order to get them homo
sately, he said, smiling. "you must
pnOn On''Sc not to go coasting this after.
noon. hJon. Instead, would you care TO %
'oSS9SgaElng at the park this evening -
o,h n0 'heS went that evening and many
SLIT SLIT evenings. 1t was between the
SSimiHeS' Sm during the long climb I'M The
R,,' Ronat mat Alice Goodwin and John Nc.
Tha Thre'lntt nIIi got to really know each other
tooI salde @ was long and the walk back
70 oV" some some minutes, but they seemed Mi
Tho siIo sWort to the boy, these walks urder
ine ne SnT SIIyer moon with the snow crunch.
mSriaGn M anger their feet and sparkling like
her IS %%;. OF diamonds; while the girl, In
coioMnlte Mnlte sweater and tam and rose.