Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-03-01
From the Northern Light.
The SchOOihOuse.
BY ALFRED q. STREET.

In green lane that from the village street
Diverges, stands the schoolhorse; long and low
The frame, and blacken'd with the hues of Time
Around it spreads the green with scatter'd trees
Fencd fields and orchards stretching, either hand,
And fronting. When the strawberry ripe and red
Is nesting at the loot of the deep grass,
And when the autumn sun has deck'd with gold
And crimson the gnarl'd apple bongh, light paths
Stretch from the play ground worn by urchin.feet
To the forbidden treasures; forays sad!
For fGgers siain'd or bulgng pocket off
Betrayed what the faint sobbng voice denied.
A picture of soft beauty is the scene
When painted by the sinking summer sun
In ,ints of light and shade; but winters gloom
Shows nothing but waste, with one broad track
Stamp'd to the humble door step from the lane;
The snow-capp'd wood pile stretching near the
walls;
And the half sever'd log with axe that leans
Within the gaping notch.
The room displays
Long rows of desk and bench; the former stain'd
And streak'd with blots and uickles of dried ink.
Lumberd with maps and States and well -thumb'd
books,
And caIy'd with rude initials; whilst the knife
Has hacked and sliced the latter. In the midst
Stands the dread throne whence breathes supreme
command,
And in a lock'd recess well.known, is laid
The dread regala, gifted with charm
Potent to the rebellious. When the bell
Iinkles the school hour inward sheams the crowd,
And bending heads proclaim the task commenced.
Upon his throne with magsierial brow
The teacher sits, roLnd casting frowning looks
As the low giegle and the shuff1ing foot
Beiray the covert jest, or deness.
on does he call with deep and pompous voice..
The class before him, and shrill chatterng tones
In pert or blundering answers, break the soft
And dreamy hum Of study. heretofore
Like beehive sounds prevailing. Now perchance
Some luckless urchin stands before the throne,
With features swoln scarce to keep the tears,
And shoulders raised, whilst the detected fault
Is forth paraded, and the broken law
J.earnedly dwelt on: then with staring sight,
Face all awry, and chatiering teeth he sees
The scepire taken slowly from its nook,
A whip with thongs: pursues with blinking gaze
It's upward motion, then, with hideous veil
Tells that the whizzing blow is not vain.
Now rising from his Seat the teacher strides
Al!wart the loom; as treads he past, each desk
Starts into industry-whiie figures grow
Upon the slate, black SCATTERING pothooks sprawl,
And eyes are glued upon ihc letters huge
And pictures OF the book: rs swift he wheels
The wandering glance has scarcely time to sink
The queer gnmace, and the replying grin
To vanish; each regaining It's mute sway
AS turns the back upon them But bright noon
Now through the easement streams in quiYerinq
haze
And g1slles on the floor: the word is given,
Aad bursting from the thraldom rush without
The merry throngs, and breaking into groups,
DiTe their loud pastime on the sunny green.
Here flies the ball-there shoots the marble-now
ne racers seek the goal-each sinew now
j Strainibg in the leap-while heartfelt mirth
E':Aoes npon the soft and balmy air:
the clouds that fioat and wreathe upon the breeze
Not more restrainless than those happy hearts.
Fac glee, bright contrast to the sullen looks
And lingering steps with which each urchin seeks
a, The sad summons Of the morning bell