In a shrill, piping voice, full of business, and very much in earnest,
she addressed the Judge: “I say, Mister Judge, they sent my brudder
Billy away from school, they did. He’s six, goin’ on seven, and I want
that teacher ’rested and brought here so you can tell her to let Billy
go to school. Here is our Family Bible—you can see for yourself how
old Billy is!”

The Judge adjusted his glasses, stared, and exclaimed, “God bless my
soul!”

Then he called a big, blue-coated officer over and said: “Mike, you go
with this little girl and her brother, and tell that teacher, if
possible, to allow the boy to go to school; that I say he is old
enough. You understand! If you do not succeed, come back and tell me
why.”

The officer smiled and saluted.

The big policeman took the little boy in his arms. The girl carried
the sled, and I followed with the Family Bible.

The officer looked at me—“Newspaper man, I s’pose?”

“Yes,” I said.

“What paper?”

“The American.”