Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-12-30
A KNIGHT
BY RACHEL E. BAKER.
1g21. by mcclure Newspaper syndlcate.l

playmates stumbled over the stately
name until they shortened 1t to PUSSY,
to which someone tackled Willow, and
Pussy Willow she had been from that
time to all her friends. But Priscilla
was not thinking of her name to-day
as she faced her room of sixty first
graders.
81 am going to try another nature
lesson today" she said, and before
last attempt. The geranium had quite
Unexpectedly put forth a pink bud,
and she had attempted to show her
class the beauty of it, quite forgetting
the pretty green smock and pink tie
that she herself had worn
~ am thinking of something that
is very beautiful" she had said.
EYES," the class beamed In sym
pathy.
"You have all seen it before at
school," They were not quite sure.
"You can see it today" continued
the teacher, remembering that some
times she put it on a shelf in the back
VI the room.
Yes they could see 1t today all right.
at Is beautiful and part of 1t Is a
lovely green"-a chorus of lifted hands
interrupted her-"and right in the cen
ter of it is a dainty bit of pink. ="
Every hand shot into the air at
that, and as one voice they had shout
ed, Miss W%illoughby's waist"
Sixty little faces glowed up at her.
Rosy from recent washing, they some
how reminded her of cherubs, and
again of very precious little cups into
which she was to pour the wine of
knowledge.
"Now, this morning l want you to
put your thinking caps On. Remem-
Der to tie them carefully under your
chins. Last Tuesday we talked about
the geranium." All eyes sought the
window, then turned to consider Miss
Willoughby, but, no, she wasn't wear
ing the green smock this morning.
II want you all to look carefully at
my dress. 1 am going to tell you
about something that is just the same
color as my dress"
They eyed it appreciatively.
us it silk?" queried Rebecca SLOW
sky. "Can l feel of it?'
Eyes" consented Miss Willoughby,
because the thing 1 am going to tell
Of is just as soft as my dress. | will
walk slowly up the aisle and each of
you may put your hand on my dress.
"Please, Miss Willoughby, Johnny
s%quashed a cholate in his hand an
nounced Katie Flanagan, trembling
for the precious dress.
Johnnie admitted his guilt, and his
little face looked so unhappy that to
prevent the shower she saw i1npend-
ing there, Miss Willoughby sent him
off to the layatory whence he soon re
turned, and relief settled upon the
class nee more.
All were ready for the great adj
venture and Miss Willoughby walked
slowly down each aisle. Timidlg the
little hands went out to touch the
beautiful dress, and great joy swelled
each breast as they patted the soft
fabric with their little starfish hands.
Miss Willoughby took her place in
front of the class.
"Who can tell me something about
the dress?"
Its silk" asserted Rebecca. Teach
er acknowledged it.
"It's soft as my kitty" murmured
Johnnie, thinking out loud.
Its very much like your kitty and
it lives out in the woods. It's just
the color of my dress, and it's just as
soft as my dress. Can you tell me
what it Isl"
They stared at her in bewilderment
and she went quickly to her desk and
produced a brown branch on which
were several pussy willows. She told
them the name and allowed each to
feel of the tiny velvety toes.
"See if you can find some for me
and bring them to school tomorrow"
number work, now that the days
work was over. A tap sounded and
to her "Come in" there entered an as
tonishing figure, little Johnnie, mud
dy as to legs, perspiring and red as to
face. He held his hand extended In
front of him as he stumbled up to
the teachers desk.
"What is it, Johnnie? Something
for me?"
Eyes, Miss Will'by. I got some Just
like o dress but it was a long
ways"
His perspiring face mutely Ques-
toned if this were good or evil in
her sight, and his tight little fist
slowly disclosed before her ~astonished
gaze five little pussy willows, crum-
pied as to fur, bereft of their brown
sheaf but still pussy willows.
"Where did you get themT
Down by Miller's River" her face
grew white, "and I slipped in the mud
and most fell in, but l crept back on
my hands and knees. and 7 got fhnnn