Book Excerpt: obedience."These foothill imps will kill her," said Ajax.Within a week we knew that the big boys were becoming unmanageable,but no such information leaked from Alethea-Belle's lips. Each eveningat supper we asked how she had fared during the day. Always shereplied primly: "I thank you; I'm getting along nicely, better than Iexpected."Mrs. Spafford, a peeper through doors and keyholes, explained theschoolmarm's methods."I jest happened to be passin' by," she told me, "and I peeked inthrough--through the winder. That great big hoodlum of a George Spraggwas a-sassin' Miss Buchanan an' makin' faces at her. The crowd was a-whoopin' him up. In the middle o' the uproar she kneels down. 'OLord,' says she, 'I pray Thee to soften the heart of pore GeorgeSpragg, and give me, a weak woman, the strength to prevail against hiseverlastin' ignorance and foolishness!' George got the colour of abeet, but he quit his foolin'. Yes sir, she prays for 'em, and shecoaxes 'em, an' she never knows when sRead More