[Sidenote: Money]
When Miss Langly began to teach in the seventh grade in the foreign
district of a large city, she found out that Leonardo Coppetelli, a
twelve-year-old boy in her room, had the reputation among his
schoolmates of being a thief. She was bent on blotting out this stain in
his character, and knowing that if it were not destroyed he would
probably go through life with this stigma ever upon him, she decided to
win his confidence.
She had not been in the neighborhood many days when she heard that
Leonardo had stolen five dollars from a corner grocery. Immediately she
called upon the proprietor, who was an American, and said:
“How do you do, Mr. Johnson. I am a teacher in the Douglas School. I
have heard that Leonardo Coppetelli stole five dollars from you last
night. I have come to ask that you will not cause his arrest. I believe
if you will allow me to forward the money Leonardo stole from you, I can
help the boy so that he will not want to steal any more.”
Mr. Johnson and Miss Langly talked for some time, when Miss Langly
finally gained her point.
The next day she took pains to have a long talk with Leonardo, the trend
of which was as follows:
“Leonardo, I heard you talking to the boys yesterday about spending
money. Would you like a chance to earn some? I have an uncle in business
near here who is looking for an errand boy.”
“I have been talking with Mr. Johnson, Leonardo. He is not going to
arrest you this time for taking his money from him. I have made him
promise to say nothing more about it. I told him I believed you would be
willing to earn the money if you had a chance and would pay him back.”
“Do you think you could get me a job?”
“Come with me now. Tell your mother Miss Langly wants you to go on an
errand with her. We shall call on my uncle and see what he has for you.”
The result was that Leonardo went to work every afternoon, was thus kept
out of mischief and learned so to respect Miss Langly’s opinion that she
became an influential factor in his life.