The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1921-09-01

|
cold his plan to walk home with he
alone Don't blame the children
though, for the little teacher was TIN
kind THAI the girls copy and the boy
would rather look Mt than their les
| sons. while the minister. instead o
being one Of those s0letnn dignitartel
whose opening conversation was SURF
TO expose d fellows ignorance o.
Youngsters right on the bat, such a
Il trust you attend chtrch regularly
William Can you reclte the Com
| manhmentsT' would call, SAY Bill
II sou can hook twopounder to
| any III 20 you one better" Yes, and
| dig his own bait too.
From the hedge squirmed the under
| sized body and unsmiling face OF a
boy who had listened wistfully. Stingy
Bad Daniels, on the back road. had
| taken him from nm institution TO
| ''chors" In return for hard bed and
| poor food. and he had not made a
but with that cruelty to animals That
children unthnkingly practice on each
other. they made his life miserable,
July 9TH was as perfect as II made
to order, and things went or gloriously
TIL the happy procession neared the
schoolhouse.
Fire
The flames were eating greedily
through the dry tlmbers, and the
youngsters stood aghast. for their be-
loved fireworks were stored inside.
Suddenly figure that had followed
ufnr on hurled Itself like q streak
across the yard aud into the burning
building Men tried to follow, but re-
turned gasptng, and there In an up
per window poised "the Shrimp" with
The new flag IN his arms.
lie threw It to safety. and before
II touched the ground scouts caught
and raised II high The rockets ex-
ploded deafeningly, and he fell into
strong arms below.
In the preachers study he opened
his eyes as the doctor gently I'M
fastened the bistered fingers from
package pinned inside his blouse,
which disclosed mn exquisite pictured
face called Neither" little flag,
three medals and letter, frayed with
much reading
"Deur little son whom have scarce
ly known ~once when misfortune
crushed me. l took money to buy
necessities for which your angel moth
er was suffering, yes. dying; and JUS
tlce showed no mercy. But from
Chnrlestnwn prison to Flanders was
a step upward, aud now I am about
to receive the highest promotion pos
sihle and he with her, These are all
| have to bequeath you, but try and
forget my great mistake by remember
Ing that died for America, and. what
ever your lot In life. be 4 brave and
honest gentleman"
The doctor adjusted the bandages
aud slipped out and got busy.
simultaneously the minister and teach
er bent and kissed each scorched
cheek for their eyes were too misty to
see distinctly, Their own cheeks
brushed as lightly MS butterfly wings
aud their hands met behind the pill
low.
"Muriel," he said, softly, 'as your
spiritual adviser. may | clearly point
out your patriotic duty to marry mo
and help me look after this herof
Wen put youth In his heart. JOY In his
life and flesh on his homes" He
paused for happiness and disappoint-
ment wrestled together In ''the
shrhmp's' face
II wanted to marry her myself" he
gulped, "hut you spoke FIRST; so she
enn take her pick"
She smiled down at him. Let's
make II three eornered partnership,
laddle boy. | fancy you would like
me better as sister, while Mr..
Thayer has no use whatever for sis
ters."
But why the hand playing and peo-
pie cheering to beat the bandf The
doctor re-entered, and, wrapping "the
Shrimp" IN rug. carried him out
where the assembled village waited to
do him homage.
The scoutmaster saluted I'VE want
an is.carat American like you In our
ranks as soon as you can Join us"
and then. in behalf OF all, he unfurled
a beautiful silken flag and presented
II to the speechless boy.
As the cheering burst anew he bur
led his poor singed head In the doc
shelt<ring folds OF the starry banner,
the healing tears washed away the ac-
cnmulated bitterness of eleven lonely
years, for never again would he -
"NObody's Kid"