The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-04-29
IIMMY'S TEACHER
J Rx MARGARET LouNssuRy.
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(@. 1871. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicsteJ
"Then Miss Small" said the superin-
tendent to the young teacher, 1T Is I'M
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"
ayes, 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 necessitated,
had 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
ingS 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 a bench
sleeping soundy. To her he seemed
pltiful little figure, and she kneli
down beside him and looked earnestly
into his face. There were marks OF
tears upon his grimy cheeks. He hail
opened his eyes and looked into the
face above him.
Mamma" he murmured.
The teacher knew that Jimmy
mother was dead, and her eyes fel
| a sudden mist. III he were my littl
boy, and were his mother who !
dead" she thought. II would want +
be pretty near him right now"
Something fell from the boys RI
Taxed fingers onto the floor beside hel
It was piece of wood partly carve
into q whistle. She looked at Jimm
again. and seemed TO understand hir
! In an altogether new way. OF cours
that was why he wanted the othe
boys knife. His fingers had falrl
, aclied to use the keen blades.
How rapturous were the few me
ments that he held that knife in hi
hands. Then Jimmy awoke. He hear
voices outside, end his sharp litt
face seemed anxious.
what yer goin' ter do ter me?" h
S demanded.
/ 1.-THE Superintendent is going TO e!
= pei you from school before all Oh
8 other children, and them
D He shrank back from her, lonelines
|, and terror seemed to stare at her OF
of his pinched face. He looked up int
her eyes. What he saw there she di
;, not know, but suddenly he chung to he
l with little strangled cry.
: Miss Small" called the superb
t tendent from outside. She rose an
: lifted Jimmy to his feet. Come" ii
said. taking his little hand tightly
hers. Then she opened the door M
faced the superintendent. She w;
convinced that to eXpel Jimmy Won
be fatal mistake, and she knew thu
= she was going to tell them sG-sl
whose only hope of promotion lay
U unqueStiOning obedience to orders.
Has he given you any more trO
ble?" asked the superintendent.
a NO" said the teacher.
The children we're coming now, al
In another moment ii would be t.
late. "Stop them! !" she cried. "Dor
let them come. Jimmy isn't going
be expelled-we are going to give hi
another chance"
The superintendent closed the do
and faced the teacher.
y She was kneeling on the floor wi
u her arms about Jimmt's neck. Ii
O. che eks were crimson, her eyes big al
n. dark with excitement. The beauty
d, her made him catch his breath. In h
<, protecting arms, which sheltered I
NJ o.