"TWO SMALL FIGURES PUSHED THEIR WAY INTO THE ROOM"
"Yas'm, he—he likes ter git yere early; doan't yer, Trusty?"
"Yes, I'm sure he does," put in Miss North tactfully. "And now, perhaps he would like to help by getting some of the dust out of these erasers; they aren't very clean this morning."
His eyes brightened. "Yas'm!"
The two came back looking as if they had been temporarily detained in a flour-barrel.
"Why, yes, those are very clean; but you seem to be just a little dusty yourselves, aren't you?"
"Yas'm," agreed Trusty, while Ezekiel brushed him with doubtful success. "Kin ole Sam'el Smiff dus' 'em?"
"Samuel Smith? I don't think Samuel ever did dust them——"
"'Cuz me 'n' 'Zekiel kin dus' 'em good's dat 'mos' any time; cyan't we, 'Zekiel?"
By the time that school was ready to begin that morning, there stood a stately line of "visitors from the North" across Miss North's room, ready for enlightenment on the Negro Problem. And as Miss North began: "We are having a new month to-day, children; who can tell me what the name of the month is?" the line drew itself up, preparatory to getting right down to the heart of the matter.
"What month, class?"
"February!"
"Yes; very good. Is February a short month or a long month?"
There was an unfortunate difference of opinion:
"Short!" "Long!" "Short!" "Long!" "Short!" "Long!"
"Very well," joined in Miss North, ready to agree to anything. "What do you say about it, Archelus?"
"Li'l' teeny bit uv a short month," explained Archelus. "Ain' no longer'n——"
As Archelus was about to illustrate the length of February with his two small hands, Miss North waived any further information on the subject, and went on:
"Yes, a short month. And who can tell me what holiday we have in this month?"
There were two or three who promptly arrived at conclusions. The visitors were smiling wide smiles of appreciation.
"Lemuel?"
"Chris'mas!"
"Oh, no; we have just had Christmas. Samuel?"
"Thanksgivin'!"
"Why, no, indeed, Samuel; you are not thinking. William?"
"Washin'ton's Birthday!"
One of the visitors, a rosy-cheeked gentleman with white hair, gave such a loud grunt of appreciation at this that Miss North glanced his way.
"Can he tell us anything about George Washington?" he questioned smilingly, in response to Miss North's glance.
"Oh, I think so. Who can tell me some one thing about George Washington, children? Hands, please."
"That little boy," smiled the rosy-cheeked gentleman; "he seems to be getting so very much interested!"
Heavens! it was Trusty who was getting interested. Miss North glanced at his face, which radiated with delighted intelligence as he fixed his eyes on the closed coat-closet, and felt a chilling and definite foreboding.
"H-m—yes," she went on evasively, "yes. Ezekiel, can you tell us—something about—" What was the matter? Had Ezekiel forgotten how to talk? To be sure! His eyes, kindling with interest and pride, were fixed on his friend.
"No, no! This one," explained the rosy-cheeked gentleman, his eyes still resting smilingly on Trusty. "Well, what do you know about George Washington, little fellow?"
"Miss No'th got 'im shet up in de coat-closet!"
The rosy-cheeked gentleman stepped back a bit, and there was suddenly a rather startled expression on the part of the visitors from the North. Somewhat furtively they glanced at the coat-closet, apparently expecting to see the immortal George emerge in person at any moment. Miss North coughed slightly, and looked as if she had known happier times.
"You may be seated, Trusty."
"She shet 'im in dere fer imperdence!" explained Trusty.
But just then the door creaked softly, and from the unknown depths of the coat-closet a little figure peered anxiously.
"Mith No'th! Kin I come out now?"
Miss North looked at the small figure, and then at the visitors from the North, whereupon they all looked at her; and then suddenly the rosy-cheeked gentleman burst out into such unchecked, joyous laughter that the others all joined in, and the visitors from the North moved on.
At the same time, there was a thump on the door which opened from the back hall, and a large and ancient colored man advanced into the room.
