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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1909-2-25, Page 6trq S QWrdCd thi s1iin Fon rfze "SHE CAREFULLY TENDED 6 gP�q-'4EAVII.ORl Teacher' Shamus A®®, McGonlgal shoots things mit mine head:" ehrhled Rachel Poleski. "Aw, g'Wan, softy tattle -tale," grum- bled Shamus in her ear. Aloud he cried indignantly: "Didn't do no such thing!" ONE POOR LITTLE FLOWER" "Shamus, don't yon know it's wrong to tell stories?" asked Miss Harrison, gently. "I think you had better bring me whatever you have there." The boy slowly delved into his pockets. and brought forth a large rubber elastic, hidden the moment before. With this he had been enjoying target practice j'' (. lir/0✓n'OlrfteF4lC/774;7/ �infriel)7Vo Allea'sorre/h,e7/1 , n °mere rro.7 f,fe , yreteveno /%'r aj9trn, P. Tortct/rrir/ Dr�� - /7lvrrr fame srri�iro,.f//i1 er, e/7lload ?75' y f77 ;frn..5�OO ivn0117fe err,/ ITR en exclamation of impa- tience, 8011 etepped to the side of the roadway. An instant he Paused, watching rho camels and mules of an approaching caravan. Then be rested a hand upon the ruined wail and lightly vaulted into what had once been the courtyard of a grand 'palace. Ordinarily Ieull, Ince most other Per- sian lade of 3. would have remained to look at the caravan, But today he yearn- ed for solitude. A great sorrow lap ]heavily upon his heart and he turned naturally to the friendly forest for re- lief. Scrambling over huge masses er crumbling masonry, upon some of which the wonderful modelings and stucco work still bore witness of an ancient builder's art, he gained an open spare wherein stood a fountain, unused for many a century. Beyond, wild flowers, shrubs and vines andgrasseswove them- selves together into an almost Impass- able barrier, I€u11 made for bbmsett a path, however, and passed thence into the open. On and on he went, through fields of wheat and barley and rice end sugar cane; among the nodding, crim- e eon heads of poppies; by patches of ';round cultivated for indigo, madder root and henna. Along irrigation ditches She.traveled; along courses of torrents bona amid the spews of mountains, :sometimes he passed ]louses, with their gardens of tangled, flowery masses, ihete little Vegetable plots and melon patebes, • and orchards of plum apricot, peal and apple trees. Anil so he left the city of 100 tar behind. els he crossed n stretch of desert land, Ilrartis, with tells aquiver, scuttled to hiking places in the-Ra11d, But Keit heeded them not. Straight forward he bent his steps, until he entered into the cool shade of the torest where it starts to crawl upward over the slopes of the Valued mountain range. Threading his way among cypresses and dwarf oa1te,the lad finally threw. Id fl kendinself e !tenor of hie, Ilerown under a tlhe ] thoughts ire had been struggling to escape Came felly upon him:. Surely he could net help thinking of what lee had heard his tattier say but a few 110urs ago. Even new he seemed to hear the voice apaa Ing to his norther, Yea, I fear we must part with our most preciousoseesslon, nor l(lrman- eha;• During the long, time I have been.. 311 our savings 'nave been dwindling. do that now, with my health recovered I am Without money to buy materials ler my earvluge and filigree wont." Sell the magnificent I(trmanehah rugl 3buli shttdderod.51 the mere sugggestion, xlew well the boy remembered the time • 311e Outlier )tad brought hams this treas- 01'el It had been ,iurchased several eeeeere belnre in .1(h•maushah, whither Aathcr had joienove1 to vt.'lt a friend, against the back of Rachel's head, u ing for ammunition tiny pellets tulle from copybook paper. Shamefaced) walking to the teacher's desk, he sur rendered his 'weapon, "Yuh ain't gain' to make me give u bean' blackboard euonitor, are youse Miss Harrison? Honest, I won't do no more," pleaded Shamus, who had in mind a similar punishment visited upon him not man:" weeks ago, Ho was proud of hie ability to sponge and dry the blackboard in half the tinge any other pupil would take, and thoroughly he did the work, too. 'It's 'cause I. got moremuscle," lie would explain,' "an' 'cause I help me dad. rub down the ]losses," To bear out his words, he would modestly bold out an arm for in- speeticn. The teacher replied judicially, after short reflection: "No, not this time, Shamus; but you must remember your promixal and not do k again." 'When the offender had taken his seat and quiet was restored, Mies Harrison began: "Which of you can tell me who George Washington was?" THE CHERRY TREE EXPLOIT Every arm shot upward to its full length. while the hands wiggled about eagerly. Many of the boys sharply cracked their lingers to attract her at- tention. "Well, Isaac, what do you know about him?" she .asked, observing that the bey was like to burst with excitementt, "licherrieswas of tree and outs himitdown eat it ha:co ven cherries is them all ate and tree could nut to ho of some use enny- Shairtusalmtdly aout dded, "An' George's dad was so orful s'prised at George givin' 'im the tale straight, wit'eut )yin' at all, that he didn't have stringth enough to lick 'Im." was obligedagain about e to o rread�IagHarrison lunGeorge e s- Washington's boyhood and something d of what he did in later years for his y - country, With this information still fresh In the minds of her little pu- 'pits she ventured to make the follow - p ing- announcement: "You have been doing so well in t your drawing lessons that I am go- ing to let you all try for a prize, It Is now one week from 'Washington's Birthday On the day before that. holiday I will give a nice prize to the boy or the girl who hands me the best drawing. Make your drawing a picture of something Washington did." IMPATIENT PON THE CONTEST "Might ve him begin on already?" was the impatient request ofIgna.z I.ermonsk. And teacher, seeing. with What anxiety they awaited her reply, kindly gave her consent for short drawing. period Immediately. Then one by one they consulted Miss Harrison about the choice of a subject for their drawings, 'These conversations were always held in whispers, the pupils apparently being suspicious that others might... -borrow their ideas. But after it had been carefully explained to Ignatz that George Washington did not steal the cherries and peddle them around the neighborhood, and, therefore, a draw- ing about such an incident would be inappropriate, and when peace had. been restored between the pencil monitor, Isaao Bernmier, and Shamus McGonigal, because the latter insisted upon having a new pencil, the boy's and girls went busily to work—that is, all except Rachel. This little -girl hesitated Si long that the teacher asked the reason for her idleness. "1 is yonder vlch shall I do --mine best or mine not so best—the while I do not. know )tow geed the prize could to be," was the cautious remark. And Miss Harrison replied: "Don't worry about the .prize, Racbel. It will be a nice one; good enough for your best work." The competition was fairly begun. Ex- citement ran high upon- this and the succeeding days, although it soon be- came evident to the members of the class, who couldnot resist comparing drawings, that Isaac Bernmier and 01- -ga Mlshky were rivals fore first honors. Olga wasflower monitor, however, and not even her great interest in the contest would allow her to cease giving attention fo one poor little flower which she had placed on the window silljust beyond her desk: So much 'time did shespend in its care that finally she asked of Miss Harrison: "]RINE BABY' WESTER IS -PUT- IT.. IN TU$". "Teacher, may I some drawing do to home?" . Glad to find such interest' Ire the work, the teacher permitted all the scholars to take the drawings home with them and do work there. At last the day arrived for the award- ing of the prize. To the surprise of all, when Olga appeared there were traces of tears upon her face, the expression. of which was very, very forlorn: "Isaac Bernmier is the .winner of the prize"for the best drawing!" Miss Har- rison announced,, and Isaao stepped for- ward to receive the handsome portrait - of George Washington,, "Una was nine better as Olga's?" - asked Isaac In the glow of triumph. "Why did you• not turnin your draw- ing, Olga?" questioned Miss Harrison of the little girl who sat with head bent mournfully over her desk. "Mine baby sister is put it in tub mit water in this mornin'," stammered Olga, vainly trying to stem the flood of tears. Then the Fifth Primary School was startled as it had never been before. Isaac .darted to Olgo'e seat, clutched the weeping glt] b,v the arm and drag- ged .her beforeMissHarrison. Hand- ing back the portrait to his teacher, he pointed to' Olga and saki firmly: "Olga, not I; is von it, teacher. Mit mine eye I see her drawing last ..night, and It was much better as mine." - "Hooray fer Ikey! Good of sport, 'key!" howled 'Shamus in glee, And his applause was echoed. by every scholar in the room, even the tiny "bainbina," Carlotta ]]'erllnf, contributing her mite of a "bravo)" - - - Miss Harrison justified the faith the children had in ben "Z, too, think that Olga should be re- warded," said she; "but it would not be right to take the prize from Isaae. So I shallgive, another prize to OIga." With these words, she produced in some myeterioua manner a George - Washing- ton' hatchet,' made of paeteboard and Riled with delectable sweets. Olga's prize called forth more admira- tion than did the portrait, maybe be- cause the former was by Olga of candy and . b to its was bass og Bernmler's • kindly friends;eed that ,provoked the greatest comment, and that placed him on a. pedestal beside thamus McGonlgal, to be worshiped: bythe other boys - and, girls of the "P1ih." he og who didn't b r forward quickly and soon g"b WORE him, on the road which pL-!C wound up tho steep hiti.olde, toiled an old woman. Wrinkled was she with age and bent almostdouble by the. heavy burden of fagots she had gath- ered in the forest and was now.carry- ing home. - - But it was not pity for the old woman's feebleness that moved the lad, Ormond, to quicken. his pace so that he. might overtake her, "She looks like a witch, or she rimer be a fairy in disguise," said Ormond to himself; "and should I help her with, the fagots she may reward me well," Tberoupon he -stepped to the old woman's side and. asked, politely;. "May I not relieve thee of thy bur- den for a distance?" Gratefully the aged peasant surrender- ed the bundle to him, Anxious to gain his reward, the youth S UVC 33 'ice "I%ULI, LYING 'UPON Arriving home father had greeted the family, joyously and then gave him (1ie was only a very little boy then) a handful of dates bought on tho way thro0gh Bagdad, 8nh's mouth watered at the memory of those dates Me eyes kindled -.tined at the reeollectlon of how father had then unpacked the rug and mead It out, In all its Magnificence, 'PIED RUG HE I-1AD SAVED, SLUMBERED AND DREAMED" for them to toehold. "0.1)0".father had sold; "naught but a fondue. 00nld weav0 such a nig, It Is a ddream come from •the Morn. Those 1' 01110rt as days were gone, however, end good fortune was not yet returned, So tee rugg must ge, TWO dark, lnstrotts eye brirnmrd with tears, and hell burled his little brown face In the Mose.. Squeo-awl,! Squeal -a -a -wk t" The boy leapr,l to his feet, (tended, Looking. quickly about him, soon he perceived Wh0nce the attend had come. To the lowest henget Of s, -walnut tree hardby clung a falcon - upon wboso breast the blood showed 1n s lotohes, So badly wounded was the bird that it could scarcely clang to its perch. Dole fully now 1t made complaint. Kull stared, and his eyes opened wider. Yes, he ,was sure of it. Many a time he had seen the wealthy Abdul h'asr ride forth to hunt rooks and par- tridges, with this very falcon perched upon his wrist, The bird was' hooded then but Kull could not -mistake the peculiar bristles which covered the.yel- low, waxy band of skinatthe base of the beak, nor.the beautifully. mottled colors of the plumage. Quickly tightening the red silk Cord which bald .his. blue cotton trousers (zerejumah) the boy climbed easily up the tree. 'The falcon seemed to re- gard rim as an enemy at first and But soon'it�permitted ICult torbearicit tenderly to the ground. You may know that the boy lost no time carrying the falcon back to its owner. "By tho serpent god, Azhi Dahakal" exclaimed Abdul Weer,. when the bird was brought to ltlm, "I had. grieved for my. favorite hunter as utterly loaf, and now he is returned! Boy, take this. for thy service." Mull lowered• his head. "I would not take the money, sir, but dor-" ma ,t asogu111helssitatedcl Iln�a surprised the kindly Abdul knew the story 02 1' e misfortune of 1(111 3 family, , "Bid thy father come to me, boy,", said the man. A tete minutes later Kull was bend- ing Ilia head reverently before his father. Master," said he, respeetfully,as do the Persian children, Abdul ieasr wishes to speak w101 MU" Alter a word or so of explanation, the father 'went. upon his errand. Soon he returned. Rushing into. the house, he•clasped 1n his arms. Itull's mother, 8ui1'o sister and X'Iuli-all at once. Tllon lie gave I+".ull a beg. all by himself, and finally ended by bestow- fia hearty hiss uponbaby. "Our rug is savedl" oiled he. "I am to have a loan of money, and the good hull there, is to study under the tutor of Abdu]'s son and to be tattght also by the eon's governor. So the,first thing we buy with our money' is a new lambskin kola (cap) and a. ger 0500s ailfa-lull (waistcoat) for rho lad, Now, let sus rejolae for a bright season has come nt last!" But half, 010r0omt with weariness from his adventure, passed int° "10101- ber. And with )tis glossy black Bead resting upon mystic. trete of Info and s mbollc 0°tahodrone patterned 10 tiio beautiful 8lrmanebah ru save 1 o 11100, he dreamed Of the time when s d be called mlrea" (scholar) and carry In • hie muslin kemmerbend tl tools Ofn th the era! t that he paper— theoged eomo time to 101100: 0.11 03 a ar- rived strode rived at the top o1 the hill, where he gave the fagots back to the woman. Then, after bowing low, he stood ex- pectant. -r 'I thank thee again, young sir. .God will reward thee," quavered the peas- ant. "What!" the boy cried. • -"You aro not a fairy nor a witch,, and you have notlt ing to give me?" In a furious rage he seized the bundle of fagots and hurled it far down the steep bank. And as he walked angrily away he cried: No more do I believe in fairies. I've done with such foolish fancies," The cid woman was still gazing des- pairingly at the fagots, wonderinghow she could recover them, when along' came.. an honest lad. No sooner d10 he observe her trouble than he set about helping her. Pivaltily descending to where the bundle had been stropped in its down- ward flight by a clump of bushes, he raised thedead branches and twigs to his shoulders, Teat than, what should he see but a leather bag, the contents of which chlnkod musically,' as he raised With great eagerness jehe regained the summit of the hill. There rte opened the bag, discovering that 1t was :lied with shining golden coins of - much value. Heaven hos given it thee for thy kindness: exclaimed the old woman. And the lack, aftergenerously bestow- ing upon her a shard of thecolns,took his way joyfully home to bear newsof ileve "IIID SAW A LEA.TI-IER BAG" his good fortune. Afar off stood Ormond, 'Ile it was. who had brought about this happy find. In which he himself had 110 benefit, "Tho old woman was a fairy, after• all," muttered he, in bitter disappoint- ment• and she has chosen this way of punishing me." LITS call George Washington tile. "leather'. 0f tile'Nlted States, Though I'm Melo sure that I'd be ratter "Xing" at any rates, - But what I sestet to know, Is why, If he's the country's pa, ' IIis wire Is Haver mentioned .by The name,""Our Ceentry's Ma," And it the stator for 151)0511 105 fought, To Oa)1 him '''Pa" ogres, I think Unit Georgo'e mottilr ought Nilo country's grandma sin,.