promise you'll like me a great deal betterer
than you do Dick Ray." There seemed something nice about this plan, very
nice; the more Tommy thought of it, the better he liked it; only there
were two objections to it. Firstly: Daisy never by any chance ventured
out doors after dark. Secondly: Neither did Tom.Both objections being insurmountable, this delightful scheme was
reluctantly abandoned, and the thinking process went on harder than
ever, till at last--oh, oh! if he only dared! What a triumph it would
be! But then he couldn't--yes, he could too. Didn't she say that she
"wouldn't be one bit s'prised if he hollered so loud that they would
hear him way down in Colorado?" Colorado, indeed! He'd show her there
was one boy in the school who wasn't a girl-cry-baby!Yes, actually, foolish Tommy had decided to prove his manhood by being
whipped, and that that interesting little event should take place that
very afternoon!What did he do? He whispered six times!Had it been any other child, he would surely have been punished; but
Miss Linnet knew both Tommy and his mamma quite well, and therefore
she knew also, quite well, that only a few days ago the one horror of
Tommy's life had been the thought that he might possibly be whipped.
Then too, it was his first term at school, and hitherto he had been very
good. So she decided to keep him after school and talk to him of the
sinfulness of bad conduct in general, and of whispering in particular.
This plan she faithfully carried out, and the little culprit's heart so
melted within him that he climbed up on his teacher's lap, put his arms
around her neck and kissed her, crying he would never be so naughty
again. He was just going to tell her all about Daisy, when in walked a
friend of Miss Linnet's, so he went home instead. The next morning he
started for school with the firm determination to be a good child, and I
really believe he would have been had not that provoking little witch
of a Daisy marched past him in a very independent manner, her saucy nose
away up in the air, and a scornful look in the pretty blue eyes. It was
more than flesh and blood could stand. All Tom's good resolutions flew
sky-high.When twelve o'clock came Miss Linnet's list of delinquents begun in this
wise: WHISPER MARKS. Thomas Brown..... 15
Melinda Jones..... 11There was great excitement among the little people. How dared any one
be so dreadfully bad! Tommy's heart sank, sank, sank, when Miss Linnet
said: "When school begins this afternoon I shall punish Tommy and
Melinda."And she did! She called them both up on the platform, made them clasp
hands and stand with their backs against the blackboard, then wrote just
above their heads: Thomas Brown and Partners in disgrace.
Melinda Jones
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