The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-05-14
JIMMY's TEACHER
BY MARGARET LouNsBuRY.
% NoO % % r % INN oo

(0. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.D
Then Miss Small" said the superin-
tendent to the young teacher, iii is un-
derstood that when school closes this !
afternoon you will detain your pu- |
pills few moments, and Jimmy Nor
ton will be publicly expelled before
them ALL"
/ Yes, sir" said Miss Small, in tones
of quiet respect.
/ She crossed the hall and entered the
storeroom where she had left her
lunch. The door was locked. She
paused moment, then her face be-
came serious. Within that room was
Jimmy Norton, the boy who at one
O'clock was to be publicly expelled be-
fore the other children.
His outbursts of temper, and the fire.
quent punishments they necessltated,
bad brought down the average Of her
room alarmingly.
Her determination to bring him safe
ly through to the end of the year had
given away gradually, and this morn
ine's performance had run the end of
her patience. During the recess Pc
rod he had knocked down one OF the
younger boys and taken his knife, a
Christmas present, with wonderful new
blades.
The teacher softly unlocked the door
and entered the room.
Jimmy was huddled on bench,
sleeping sounGly. To- her he seemed
pitiful little figure, and she knelt
down beside him and looked earnestly
into his face. There were marks OF
tears upon his grimy cheeks. He half
opened his eyes and looked into the
face above him.
Mamma" he murinured.
The teacher knew that Jimmy's
mother was dead, and her eyes felt
sudden mist. IF he were my little
boy and l were his mother who Is
dead" she thought, II would want to
be pretty near him right now"
Something fell from the boys re-
: lnxed fingers onto the floor beside her.
1t was piece of wood partly carved
!, into whistle. She looked at Jimmy
i again, and seemed to understand him
in an altogether new way. OF course
that was why he wanted the Other
II boys knife. His fingers had fairly
y ached to use the keen blades.
- How rapturous were the few mo
:. ments that he held that knife In hi
hands. Then Jimmy awoke. He hear'
!, voices outside. and his sharp littl
- face seemed anxious.
70 What yer goin' ter do ter mel" h
~ demanded
Se "The superintendent is going to e,
or pei you from school before all II
other children, and then"
pr He shrank back from her, lonelines
q and terror seemed to stare at her OF
n of his pinched face. He looked up int
in her eyes. What he saw there she di
is not know, but suddenly he clung to he
r. with little stranged cry.
r. Miss Small" called the superin
tendent from outside. She rose ant
s. lifted Jimmy to his feet. Come" sht
e said, taking his little hand tightly iL
5, hers. Then she opened the door and
k faced the superintendent. She was
/, convinced that to eXpel Jimmy would
8. be fatal mistake, and she knew that
e she was going to tell them so-she
e whose only hope of promotion lay In
] unquestioning obedience to orders.
Has he given you any more trOu-
ble?" asked the superintendent.
NO." said the teacher
r ! The children were coming now, and
In another moment it would be too
late. "Stop theml' she cried. Don't
let them come Jimmy isn't going to
be expelled-we are going to give him
another chance"
The superintendent closed the door
and faced the teacher.
She was kneeing on the floor with
her arms about Jiinmy's neck. Her
cheeks we're crimson, her eyes big and
dark with excitement. The beauty of
her made him catch his breath. In her
protecting arms, which sheltered the
frightened child, she seemed TO express
the divine instinct of motherhood. low
ing and forgiving.
He came and stood near her. She
shivered and closed her eyes.
He was going to tell her she must
go. This was the end of years of
dreams and hopes with which she had
begun her work.
der music which seemed like caress-
"rell me ABOUT it, he said. smil-
ing down at her
He was so Ittle," she said, 'and his
mother is dead. She"
4 She held out the partlymade
/ whistle. That is why he wanted the
knife
Jimmy" said the superintendent,
would you like another chanee?' The
boy shunled his feet, then nodded Wig
orously.
"You are right said the supern-
tendent to the teacher
Understanding is above discipline. |
Jimmy shall have a chance-have it, /
my boy, because Miss Small believes
in you, and has made ME believe in /
you. You are not going to disappont
us"