The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-10-09
LOCKE AMSDEN;
Or, The School Master.

This is a tale from the pen Of Daniel p.
Thompson Esq, the we'll known author Of
the Green Mountain BOYS and other interest
ing stories. The schooIm0ster, while it is
all intensely Interesting story, is calculated
to do much good by the happy manner in
which 1t illustrates tho f~IIy 81 SOLICITING :"
competent men for school committees and
the absurdity of employing arrogant block
heads for teachers in our common schools.
The following scene at".HW T'orn Empori-
um," we give as n specimen.
The usual season for beginning winter
schools had nearly arrived In his journeys
to and from college, at the time oi'his7matri-
Culalion, and afterwards on his occasional
brief visits to his family, young Amsden had
passed through thriving little village, which
was generally known by the name of Mill
Town, but which its ambitious inhabitants
had recently thought to dignity, by rechris-
tening ii 10y the more sonorous and clas-
steal appeIIaton of Mill Town Emporium.
The village, numbering perhaps TWO hundred
souls, contained Il store, tavern, a cluster OF
mills, and several very spruce looking dwell
ughousCs, among which the newly painted
two story house of the merchant glared in
conspicuous Wilderness. And, as our hero
was now on his way homCwHrd, and in search
of some good situation in winters school.
which he had neglected TO sccure,-though
many eligible ones had been offered him..
Which he had declined on account oftheir To-
cation,-he concluded to call at this place, in
order to ascertain whether he might not here
obtain n situation, which for him might prove
desirable one, as the village was pleasantly
located on the main road leading to, and
within half days ride from, the residence
OF his family, with whom he wished to keep
up II personal Intercourse. Upon inquiry of
the busting keeper Of the inn where he stop
ped, Locke was told that the village school
had not yet been supplied with n teacher;
and that the managing committee, consisting
of the merchant of the place, the tailor, and
the newspaper editor (tor n political ncwspa-
per, called The Blazing Star, had just been
established in this miniature city, "werc
now on the look out TO engage man ofthosc
splendidcst qualifications which the growing
importance of'the place demanded" Though
somewhat startled at this pompous announce
ment our candidate yet took directions to the
house of the mere liant, who, it was said,
would probably exercise a rather controlling
influence among this able board ofmanagcrs.
A few steps brought him to the snowy white
house before named, as belonging to tho pop
ular personage-ns an only merchant of a
little village generally is-of whom he was
in quest. On applying the knocker, the
door was opened by the merchant himself,
who appeared with pen behind his ear,
and invited the other into his sitting room,
where itappeard he had been posting his
book. He wasa youngerly man, of an affect
eddy brisk and courteous manner. Suppos-
ing his visiter had called for the purposes of
trade, he received him with all the smrks
aud bows of n practiced salesman, and began
to talk rapidly about nothing. e. the state
of the weather, and the condition ofthe roads
for travelling. AS soon, however, as Locke
announced his name and business, he sud
denly became much less profuse of his bows
aud smiles and,assuming a consequential air,
Observed
''Why, sir, we are not over anxious to ell
gage n teacher Just now--though, 10 be sure,
we have SO many applications pressing upon
us, that we shall be compelled to de-
eide soon. But you see, sir we have
Furnishing village here. 1t is thought
we shall have an academy soon, There are
many public spirited and gentec! people in
the places aud they will not he suited with A.
ny thing short ola teacher ofthe most super
fine qualifications
81 trust to be able to answer all reasonable