Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-10-09
III Z S q . u u a n s. O
OUR soHooLMAsrER,
AND HOW HE CAME TO BE MARRIED

AND HOW HE CAME TO BE MARRIED,
Every body knows the position of coun-
try schoolmaster in New England, and that i,
is but second to the minister, while at the
same time he is considered d more mark etabls
and comeaable commodity. The minister Is,
almost ever, married man and if he is not
he has Jailed iii setting the most essential ex-
ample before the rising generation Of his con-
gregatlon. But married schoolmaster is
proof positive that the "committee," have
consulted their own taste, instead Of the grown
up girls of the district.
But our schoolmaster was not married
man, and whether the fact that the head com
mittee-man had three manageable daughters.
not pledged to VOW consistency to any swain,
had anything to do with the selection, is a
question which has never been solved for pub.
lie benefit. The schoolmaster had not been
long among us before the old schoolhouse
was filled to overlooking. And it is a re-
markaole fact, that winter there were more
large girls in school than there had ever been
before or have been since. The importance
OF education seemed particularly appreciated
by all who had hopes, or even wishes of be-
coming wives. And Uncle Bill, who was
something of wag, seriously declared that
"grandma'm Wbiie," who was the oldest in
habliant, wanted 10 go to school too, if she
could only get place to board near the
school house. In truth the scboolmaster was
proper nice young man," and somehow
all the girls found out the same fact. Not a
quitting, or party, was perfect without his pre-
sence and the samples Of good cooking
which came under his inspection, would have
won the heart Of any man, IL, as some Of the
ancients supposed, that article had any imme-
date connexion with the paate-pies, pud-
dings, cakes and tarts, Of all which the pre-
Paration was ascribed to Sally, Polly, Betsy,
or Margaret, whichsoever The favorite daupl,-
ter might be, who had the best chance to
please The schoolmaster's taste. If the blind
god, like flies, was to be trapped with sweets
and molasses, he would have been caught in
every house but one in the district.
The schoolmasler remained impregnable to
the assaults, both upon his heart and siom-
ach. He never expected the mines which
were preparing to explode in every direction.
The girls began TO think that he was engaged
and that is almost as bad as being married
man. But they were mistaken. His heart
was free and unieuered. And what they lack
ed was quick diseernmenl Of his weak side
| Every person is assallabie, and the whole tact
oil the affair is to discover and humor their
weak points of peculiar within. But the girls
were all at iault-!hey smiled and pouted in
vain their mamas made cookies and sweet
meats Tor their credit, without advancing their
interests IN the least ; and the schoolmaster's
eccehtriciIy was so closely connected with
MS scholastic duties, that il was not mistrust-
eo' but his mind was The abstract of a math.
emat1cal problem. There was not puzzle
nonas' Almanac, but he could deciphei
-anu ne was never happy or satisfied with
ou' 'rac"onai anxiety. But the girls were SC
ANXIOUS about The dividend OF his affections