The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-05-20
A KNIGHT
BY RACHEL e. BAKER.

W ucu sue WIS poNcTic.e 70 rccA.ls
her parents christened her Priscilla
willoughby. As she grew older her
playmates stumbled over the stately
name until they shortened IL TO Pussy.
to which someone tackled Willow. ard
Pussy Willow she had been from that
time TO al her friends. But Priscilla
was not thinking OF her name TODAY
graders.
Il am going to try another nature
lesson today" she said. and before
her minds eye rose q vision Of her
last attempt. The geranium had quite
Unexpectedly put forth pink bud.
and she had attempted to show her
class the beauty Of II. quite forgetting
the pretty green smock and pink tie
that she herself had worn.
Il am thinking OF something that
is very beautiful" she had said.
YES" the class beamed In SYM
patty.
You have all seen II before at
school" They were not quite sure.
you can see II today" continued
the teacher, remembering that some
times she put 1t on shelf In the back
| of the room.
Yes they could see 1t today all right.
1T is beautiful and part Of 1t is a
lovely green"-a chorus Of lifted hands
interrupted her-"and right In the cen
ter of 1t is dainty bit Of pink. :"
Every hand shot into the air at
that. and as one voice they had shout
ed. Miss Willoughby'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 Mt
my dress. I am going to tell you
about something that Is just the same
color as my DRESS"
. They eyed 1t approximately.
"Is 1t silk?" queried Rebecca Slow
sky. "Can l feel Of it?'
; "Yes," consented Miss Willoughby.
because the thing 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
squashed cholate in his hand" an
nounced Katie Flanagan, trembling
! for TIE precious dress.
Johnnie admitted his guilt, and his
!, : little face looked so unhappy that to
= prevent the shower she saw impend.
ing there, Miss Willoughby sent him
off to the lavatory whence he soon re-
turned, and relief settled upon the
: class once more.
: All were ready for the great ad-
? venture and Miss Wllloughby walked
: slowly down each aisle. Timidly 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.
70 "Who can tell me something about
= the dressw
: ITS silk" asserted Rebecca. Teach
err acknowledged it.
= sits soft as my kitty" murmuret
q Johnnie, thinking out loud.
. ITS very much like your kitty and
10 1t lives out In the woods. It's Jus
- the color of my dress, and it's just al
= soft as my dress. Can you tell m,
= what 1t is?'
!. They stared at her in bewildermen
~ - and she went quickly to her desk ant
produced a brown branch on which
~ were several pussy willows. She tolt
:. them the name and allowed each t
-. ~ feel of the tiny velvety toes.
NO "See IL you can find some for M
and bring them to school tomorrow.
She sat at her desk correcting thel
-, number work, now that the day
q work was over. A tap sounded an
w.. to her "Come in there entered an a:
an tonishing figure, little Johnnie, mu(
a.. dy as to legs, perspiring and red as {
!, face. He held his hand extended |
,.p front Of him as he stumbled up
al the teachers desk.
nd "What Is 1t, Johnnie? Somethin
cd for me?"
ne "Yes, Miss Will'by. got some ju.
he like your dress but 1t was lor
In ways"
His perspiring fece mutely que
toned If this were good or evil
her sight and his tight little fl
slowly disclosed before her astonshe
gaze five little pussy willows, cruz
pied as to fur, bereft of their brow
B sheaf but still pussy willows
~ "Where did you get them"
Ill Down by Miller's River" her fa
HI grew white, land slipped In the M,
III and most fell In, but l crept back (
| A. nd I bn