The Lone Tree School

When the boys and iris wlio atil the l.i'iic Tree School in Dakiiu aseemibled at the echool-house lorniii'jf i'arly in November, they iui.i'id behind th." teacher's desk, a tall, angular. Bevere-looking woman, alxwit íorty yeaxs o! ju;.'. S1k wore a perfeétly plain, rtark liromi flannel dress, reacMng bo Her topa only, a long black slik n with velvet ribbon fcrimmijigs and a cliockod gingüam kerchiei aroiMid her neck with the ende crossed nuil íastened witJi an immense oldiasluciicd gold and glaes breast pin, Avith BeYeral varietiea and shades m' under the glaas. Her own ha ir, black tliinly streaked with gray, was ooinbed down moot li and flat ovvr Oach car and an-an.ncd afc the back in ome af tl now heppily bselete exereBcences oalled a "watei-fall." The uam oí this nw and not very 1 eablé looki-ng teaoher was Miss Miranda Pyickette. siic made rtlfl jerkey little luns, e ned destructíon to her watefiall, tp tlie cbilda-en as they carne ii, peerad ai thrm over her epectacles, and smiled in a grim sor1 o! .! way on those who carne aea Hér ik-sk. "They ncver hircd her for her ty," said Bryee Sheldon, a mischievous boy oí sixteen. "N05 I ü'ucs.-i they hired hor to mak-e saeh. ehaps as you toe liiu marie," replied Ben Lewlfl," and Bhe 11 cï'i it, too." ■Wuüder what Oid Drcwse '11 say ii) fier," said a tliird boy. "W'rll, i wondier what she'll say to iiini, ' replied iiiyct! Siioldon. In nearly all village and eountry ficiiouLs tlierii is one boy who has tlie .lisiinctioiii- usuully veil eained- at beiug the watst boy In the school. iii.L deerns it his duty, in order to aimoy and defy tlie teacher, and, ii püasible, to créate a rebellious and mutüMj'US spiric aiuoaig' his schoollnaoes. His iuiluemce is bod, and he counte it a great victory if, tlu-ougli lii ixTKeeutioiis ajid wrong-doing, the teaclier fails so íar as to resiga, or his or her resignation is asked lor by the school board. Suca, a boy waa Gideou Drewse. líe was íi feall, stroiag fellow oí Bevenbeen, wíth, umisual capacity for leaínng, Hiitíii he chose to apply himsell a liis studies. H-e had pride eiiough to ket'i) ap witdi his classes, and stíll Had time aaul oppoa-tuuity to make Uiü lile oi his teacher a hard oae. He faced Miss Miranda Kicketts thiat iirst Mottday rooruiiig as a yomig man upon wliom there rested -lie iiüinoir oí haring caused the last eachier, a sickly, inefficiënt girl, to asign lx'caiióe oí üüs own insuburliiuilitm anti the a-el)ellious actions ie luul iü.spirrd on tho paxt oi tlio t kt pupils. ■ i gav Miss RickeUs a long, earc'hing look when lie carne in. vtiHiu'd t -vvitii interest. For be first time a teaeher had looke'd im "out of countenance." ïiie keen eyes belaad the spectacles never h-i l (idecai'a faee until he turned it away, and said. in i low tone, to on'j of hüs matee: "I'm not afraid of her." He realized, hcnvever, that the persom he had to deal with tlus time was no coinmon one, and he resolved to proceed cautiously at first; but from liie moment lie stiw Miss Iticketts lic was resolved to cut short her eareer as teacher oí the Lone Tree school. Wïien nlrne o'cloek came Miss Ricketts rang lier little bell, and stood prim juid soldier-like, with aa-ms stil'i and straight at her sides waiting her pupila to take their seat.-i. When slie spoke, her severe face twightened up, iuid lier voico was a pleassant surprise, it was o clear and soit, and even eweet. Some of the cfotldren thought they might like her, after all. Thcy knew tliat they likod her when the Hret week carne t an end. Tliey iouiHl her to bc a just and kind teacher - stern oaily when it was necessai-y for her tö be so, in ordi'i- to enforce some rule that ought to have been obeyed without question tir force. A full momtli had passed, and (iidecm Dorewse ïiad not yet made what tlie O'ther boys called a "bad break," aawl had bien questioned often as to why he had not done so. He gemerally replied tluit he would do r when he "jrot a srood readv." He liad been neariy ready severa,] times, but something in those remarkable, piercing oyes oi Miss Rickett liad held hirn in check. On two or tliree occasions he had put out "ícolers," as he mentally called tiLem. That is, he bad disobeyed tiic rules in trilling tbings to see how Miss Kicketts would "take it." Htr oyes liad flashed ominously, and tlie pleasant look had died quite out of lier íace as sbe told him "nevei- to ropcat the offense," and he never liad. But "run out" two men teachers, (Jideon did ïiot propose being conquered and subdued by a womaia. It waa ou Monday oí the fifth week oí the seliool that Gideon de" eided to "malie a break." Misa Ricketts alvrays called the roll aa lioou as the school camo to r in iliy mürning. Those present nt that time were to say "Presand were to keep their arme fold.'d during the calliug of the roll. When t!ie teacher called the name of Gid c.i Drewse, hè answered wtth a loud re !" Miip Rickette sat up very straigW in au tnatant; . her keen eyea Bhown behind her glasfcies; ,s!ie looked towa-rd Gideoai. HU arate wcre unfolck'il and liis hands wwe spread out flat on liis disk. "Thüit in not Ilui Wii, y tp iiikwit a.nl yom know it pèrfectly well," said Mise Ricketts, in a. Uuarp voice. "Folrt your arma inwtantly. and say 'Preswiit !' " 'I'vc ansv ved once, and that's &nwigh," said Oldtöö, "and 1 ain't doing any liai-iu witli in.v iinus unid' Miss Kiaketts spraiig bo hor feet, lier face very red and eyes brighter tiiau ever. "i;l:ciu Drrnsi'," nlic said, slowly, and icily, "Iï you don't have your arms i'olded Avitliin tliirty h.'c(hhIs, and í yon llave .not, answri'rd 'Preeent' witliin tlic same langth of time you'l] be eorry for it." Wiili a i.ii.M'r on ,liis face, Gideon coolly claeped lii.s hands over liis Beat, a.ud Htarcd at Miss Ricicetts wlth oompreesed Ups rhat shówéd no signa oí yi.'li'in.u-. Kviii bhoee wiio weté there,, and Saw wliai followed, wen.' unab'ic to give a Very coherent account of it. ï lï i said tiia! the lid al Miss Rickette' desk wi'-it jip nu,' a llalli, tliat Blífe di-i'w froim t a. long, new raiviiiil ■, and Séiemëd 60 fairly ily Oom ü 1 1: ■ i-l ■ tu Gideon'a seat. He iiad mil foT oae nioment te 'Hila (Jare v.ith ]ia." He had ctínftdéntly ex■ ! i ' frigluten hrr at the last and sriim! bO thin'; th;it hli boldoeea Jiad stricikem h.-r WTth terror. Musí ól tibe lafly teachers hád eried vyheri he deiied tin-m, and he rathe-r expeoted Miss EÏéketta to bea i ;i rétreal oi ,same sart. He was, tlicreiore, whally unpre]'.■: d the vigor luid fury oí Mise Rickett; ansí á.iigC?. He liad not time to even leave Jus seat when one of JJisis Kicketts' strong, bony hands was iastetned firmly in hi.s long, tliiek hair, his head was pulled iorward, aaid tlic blows rained down on his back, every etroke cuttiug the íiir wlth. a sliarp wliirriiig sound. In vaia hie writher and struck óut bliiidly. Ho could not get out of üiis éeat nor out of Miss Bicketts' clutch.es. Never had he lallen into such 'luuids before. Her grip was like a vise. ISlie Bhook him until his teeth chattered; Bhe whiDDed him until he faii-ly roared, and sonie of the little chilUrcai bogan to cry. "Pull oif, boys; pull off ! roaa-ed Gicloon, at laet. "Here you Bob Urwii, Jed IJke.s, Luke Sluvw [help, help .'" ïlie boys wiiose ñames üe calle at awetrickem in their seate. Th Avhole ischool looked oü iu wonde tuul amazement, uot unmixed witl (leligh't oji the párt oí some whon Uidfun had tyranuized (yvei all theii iivu.s. ■S"ík'ji Jie at last lay writhing anc begglng morcy in hls seat, Mis Iik;iviUs loosoned her grasp, and said: "Noíw, Gideoin, we undei-st;uid raeli otlitr clt'arly, don't w ? I knuw il abüiiL tiie iL'aclicTs you've 'run out,' and all about your plans for tilg mtí iu a. .similar maniUT, and I tape ,n.i underafcand now that I'm lwit to bo run out by you, and that ■ "Good ft v you, Mies Kicketts ! Hooray fr you ! Thafs the talk ! Liked m.v Gid, eh ? That's right ! Llcbed lum g-ood? Good enough !" Misij Riobetts looked up. In the opeu doorway therc stood a tall, angular man, dressod in the garb of a farmer. Hls sunburned face wore a pleaeed eipression, and ho burst into a laug-h as Gideoin looked up with sta'eaming eyes. "I tJioiught I'd be needed here this UKK-mng," eontinued Mr. Drewse, "but I see I aint. Fact is, I over(heerd Gid teil Luke Shaw this morning wlieu Luke stopped on the way to school ier Gid, iuid tiie two of 'cm was out iu the baru together - I iK'erd Uid mako bis brags as liow he ullowcd to kick up a fuss with you tlila morning, and that be'd ruu you oufn the Bcuool 'fore mother niontli. WeTl, 1 dldn't say nothin', but I jest made up niy miud I'd bc ou liand to take part tri tiiat little circus myseli, tuid if you couldn't manage Gid, I üuuld. "Yü-u'rc teachin' a good school lu-rc, Mies lUckotts; it's the best isckool vk ve iiad Ier o. long time, I'vé ldud o' benn Iettin' Gideon do 'bout as lic pleaeed heretoiöre, but I been tlnnkhi' tne ma-tter over ;i gooil deal oí late. and I iiggered out that it va'n't llw fair thlng to let a big, Baesy boy like Uid makc trouble fer a lady teacher; and I said as much to Gid, but he didn't see fit to niind me. But lno'll miad yoai, I 've an Mee- bey, Gid, you i-ascal ?" Gideom turnod his face to the wall, and some of the scholairs tittered. "Gid's a umart enoug-h boy, ain't be, Misa Ricketts ?" asked Mr. Drewse. "Oertainiy," replied lliss Ricketts, ooa-dially. -'He lciinis easily and stands at the hcad ai his classes." "Miglit makc a smart aart of a man, eh '.'" "1 laan Mire of it," said Miss Ricketts. "Ií lie would ouily apply himBelf, aoad- " ''Hear that, Gid! liear that, boy !" cried Mr. Dre-wse, in a kinder tone. 'Ain't y ow 'shamed to be lettin' yer balente run to waste whilst yer tryia' to 'run out' teachers that's trying to sornothiii' out'n you? Now, lookco Jure, Gid, you got to mind -ain't lic, ma'am ?" "He oertainiy must if lie stays in this school," said the teacher, without a trace oí anger in her voice. "Ho's got to stay in it," said Mr. Drew. . Tijen ho turned to the school, and gave toe boys and girls i singular but sonsible talk on duty and obefl that diil lliom good. Miss Kickciis tau.síMt five years in that schooi. She Htted Gtdeon DrewBe tor college and was the best riiMid he ever had. Iíis fatlier Baid, and m did Cid om, ,tha.1 sh "made ;i nia.i! o! liim." I to jesl ïiatchelly shake it'n hlm tliat day i whopped Mm o," said Mr: ! ;■ ■-. Mi.-; [;i":,.'i!s. still plato oí spci'cli and odd in inannn1. was tlic firsi to tak.1 Giéct i hand 5v4wb he groduatèd trom college Bis i-.:rs later, i öótapdüiy wlt-A tlin'i' other boys wüio I (8 to Ji.'li) ■run her out" oí tin' Im.' Tree School. They .slio!)!;. her hand warpily, iili so'methüig l'.'.at looked likc 'it-ai-s ín Uu ir eyes, aüu said that théy ow i il her moro tlien tliey conld eVer repay.