[Sidenote: Laughing]
It was the thirtieth of October. Ralph Davis brought a mask to school
and slipped it into his desk. During school he put down his head, put on
the ugly mask, and, peering ’round behind him, frightened John Lane into
a decided jump.
Mary Jones saw the whole performance. She was a nervous child and burst
out laughing. Miss Wallace, her teacher, said sternly,
“What are you laughing about, Mary?”
Mary was usually an obedient girl, but now she felt as if her
explanation would compromise her friends, so she made no reply. The
teacher repeated,
“Mary, what are you laughing at?” Again no response. Said Miss Wallace,
“Mary, are you going to tell me what you are laughing at?” Mary sat
perfectly quiet for a moment, and then decidedly shook her head. Miss
Wallace said, “Come and stand here.”
For the rest of that session Mary stood by the teacher’s desk. After
school closed Mary was informed that she could not go home until she
told what she was laughing at. After about ten minutes of endurance she
told Miss Wallace why she laughed and was excused. Mary knew injustice
had been done her, but her teacher apparently thought nothing about it.