Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1883 — That Awful Mulkittle Boy. [ARTICLE]

That Awful Mulkittle Boy.

Young Mulkittle {went to school for the first time the other day. He had been carried through a “course of sprouts” at home to prepare him for» the heavier duties of school life, and his examination had been so satisfactory that Mrs. Mulkittle congratulated herself on her skill as a teacher. It was decided that he should attend a private school, taught by a pious maiden lady with angular shape and a blue wart on. the. side of her nose. “Now, Miss Ray,” said Mrs. Mulkittle, when she presented the boy to the teaoher, “I want yon to make him mind you. I don’t think that you will find him self-willed. He is/easily governed by kind treatment, and I think that he will become very much attached to you, and I feel that you will learn to love him." “Oh, lam quite sura,” replied Miss Ray, who had been ranch more sucessful in her lore affairs with ohildren than with men. “All of my scholars lore me. Don’t throw paper wads, Tommy Peters. They all soon learn that though I am gentle I will be obeyed. Johnny Ames, don’t rake the wall with that nail." <••• “ Well, I will leave him with you, Miss Ray. Willie, be a good fetur.” “Yessum.” “Don’t let me hear any bad reports of you.” “Nome.” “Come here, my littie man, and let me see how far you are advanced," said Miss Ray, when Mrs. Mulkittle had gone. “I’m way past Baker, a*’ Shady, an* Lady,” said the boy, when Miss Ray opened a spelling book. “I can read and write easy werds,” and looking np he caught sight of the blue wart, Now. any other kind of a wart might have been overlooked or excused without investigation, but a blue wart was something new to the boy and could not be dismissed. “ What’s that on your nose ?" “You can read some, can yon?” asked Miss Ray, pretending not to have heard the boy’s question. “Yes, some. What’s that on your nose?” A titter went around the room, and Miss Ray turning to Mulkittle said rather sharply: “It’s a wart. Now pay attention to, me.” “It’s a mighty funny wart. What kind of a wart is it ?” “I don’t know. Now pay attention to me.” - “You know it’s blue, don’t von?” “Yes.” - . “Thought you didn’t know.” “Hush now, and lot me see how far yon have gone.” “Does it hurt?” “No.” “Why don’t you pick it ?” “Hush, now. Children, keep quiet. You are enough to drivs a body wild.” “Don’t you wish it wasn’t there T “No. Now look here.” “I’m lookin’ there. Why don’t you pull that hair out of it. No, it ain’t a hair. I thought it was.” The lady became embarrassed and then angry under the boy’s scrutiny. “If you don’t stop asking so many foolish questions, I’ll send you home.” “But I want to know what I want to know just as much as I want to know what you want me to know.” “Well, now, what do you want to know ? I’ll satisfy you if it is in my power.” “How long has the wart been there ?” “Ever since I can replied Miss Ray, settling herself back witlTcalm consideration^ “Has it been blue all the time ?” “Yes.” “Will it always be blue?” “I think so.” “Did you ever try to take it off?” “No.” “Why haven’t you?” “Because I haven’t.” “Why because vou haven’t.” “I don’t know.” “Why?” “You are enough to run a person crazy.” “It keeps you from getting married, don’t it? ’Cause nobody would want You „lftaye here, this minute, von good-for-nothing little rascal. Go on, and don’t you come back here again,”— ArTc. Traveler. As.