The Arkansas advocate., 1831-02-09
lIISCELI4ANY.
THE SCHOOL MASTER.

There IS nothing like being school-master- and country school-master, too!-lt gives one consequence among his fellows which he could acquire by no other method. It renders him for the time being the most influential person in the village, (the minister always and with rev erence, being excepted;) he is the favored cham plon of quilting parties and sleigh-rides--the envy ot every young farmer and mechanic tiie oD)ect Of admiration with all the unmarried iadics; and the most welcome guest at the din- ner table or fire side, whenthe patriarchs of the village grow garrulous over their cider: and re- late for the thousandth time, the exploits of their youth, and the achievements of their man. hood.
 There are indeed, some disagreeablc matters III a school masters life-some serious trials of il,i,narl patience 10 be wrested with. The school master. not unfrequently. finds himself under the necessity of furnishing brains to the ignorant, as well as books to the neggent and poverty-smltten. He must hearken to the ad Vice of all the old ladies in the neighborhood and hear without 8 murmer the complains of their husbands. Rain or shine, wet or cold. he must seek his place of authority with the regu- iarlty of clock work. In the keen mornings of winter, when the very air is frost. uuiverino and sparkling, but not melting in the cold sun- light, lie must hurry off at the hour appointed. although his route happens to be in the very face and eyes of q norih-wester And then. too. his place of office Is often comfortless as the open airitself--smoky, and old dilapilated. with cracks yawning fearful welcome to the visit ing winds, which, in consequence, sweep freely across the broken and crazy benches of the in- terior, powdering with snow the uncombed locks oi the shivering urchins; and scattering in every direction, their blurred and ragged spe- cimens of chirography.
 We would talk eloquently upon this subiect. good hour longer by the town clock, but just now an old story, somewhat apropos, has been called to mind; and. lest in attempting to round oil another paragraph, we should totally loose slghtsofsit, We will present 1t to our readers without further ceremony.
 Jeremiah Paul, was a short, round personaoe. Wlln qulck, had almost said a spitefu lit tie grey eye-a bald head in front, and a short stili queue behind, striking out horizontally, and parallel With his Sunday beaver He was a wonderful man to look at, and his history was nc less remarkable than his person. Al one period of II he was the village sciool-master- a rare pcdagogue and learned--being. if is said, not only familiar with Dilworths Spelling Book and Psalter, butsalso with such mathe. Ap'-S'-A fioSiS''o tto iC seoilpfeilctlQCG Tn the elementary principles of Pikes Arithmetic. Ii may De readily supposed that such ripe and rare scholarwould notbe suffered to remain lono in obscurity. His talents were not of an order to "blush unseen;" and, accordingly, in his. for tieth year, he was honored with the office. and enriched With the emoluments pertaining to no less adignity than Justice. Of tii ttiii,. Peace.
 But we are getting head of our story; and with the readers permission, we will go back a lew years, and introduce them to the wife of Master Paul. She too, was an uncommon char acter--a great, good natured and handsome leatured romp, who used to attend school, on purpose, ouse her ownphrase, ssto plague Mas ter Jerry. And verify she was a plague to hiIn. Sae used bouncein and out. whenever she biased; she pinehed the boys--inked inc faces of the girls; and finally, to such pitch did her aadacity arrive, that she even presnm. cd to lay violent hands on the nicely powdered queue of the Doninie himself. ~s' '