The eloquent teacher looked to see some immediate tangible effect from this bald statement of the result of Jonah’s disobedience, and during her recital gazed sternly on Pat Bliggins and Pete Stohway as objects the most in need of her oratory.
“When Joner got to Jopper, bein’ an honest man, he paid his fare.”
A hand shot up at this point in the lesson and a thin voice piped, “Please, Mis’ Wopp, I was to the Fair last year.”
Not deigning to notice this irrelevant interruption the teacher proceeded.
“But the Lord hed his eye on Joner an’ put an orful wind on the sea.”
Several hands waved wildly and a chorus of voices eagerly broke in; through the childish babel could be heard a lisping narrative.
“Please, Mith Wopp, the latht windthorm upthet our hen-houth.”
Mrs. Wopp lurched heavily in her endeavor to calm the tumult of excited voices. Quiet was at length restored after several pupils had given thrilling accounts of catastrophes caused by windstorms.
“By this time Joner was snorin’ in the bottom of the boat, an’ the man that was bossin’ the ship comes up to Joner an’ woke him an’ arsked him to pray.”
As the story became more intelligible to childish apprehension, several bright pairs of eyes rested on the teacher. “Then,” continued Mrs. Wopp, “the sailors carst lots to see who should be throwed orf the ship, an’ the lot fell on Joner.”