Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-27
4fltstrllaucol;s.
TEE SCHOOL MISTRESS.
ny MRS. L. NJ. SEYMOUR.

"The school ma'am's coming-thc school
ma'am'S coming''-shouted a dozen voices.
at the close Of half an hours faithful watch
ing to catch glimpse of our teacher. Eve
ny eve was turned towards her with the most
scruinizimg glance, fer the children as well
as Others always form an opinion of per-
son, particularly Of their teachers, at first
sight
" How tall she is !" exclaimed one" Oh.
don't she look SWEET" cried. another clio,
| amt afraid Of her, nor dozen like her."
cried the big boy of the school. "Nor
either cried the big boys ally 81 could
lick her easy enough, couldn't you, Tom %
Yes, and will, too if she goes to touch
me " " llushW cried one of the Girls
"she wll hear YOU" By this time she had
nearly reached the door, round which we
were clustered, and every eye was fixed up
on her face with an eager yet hal-bashful
gaze, uncertain, as yet, what verdict to pro-
nounce upon her.
Good morning, children" she said in
the klndest voice IN the world, while her
face was lighted with the sweetest smile
imaginable, " this is beautiful morning to
commence school, is it not 2"
:" ! know shall love her." whispered
little pet III my ear. b.
We all followed her into the school room.
except Tom Jones and his ally, who waited
until the rest were seated, and then came
IN with a staggering, noisy gait, and sort
ofdare-devi, saucy look, as much as to say,
Who cares for youW
Miss Wescott looked at them kindly. but
appeared not to notice them farther. After
short prayer and reading chapter in the
Bible, she passed round the room, and made
some luqnlry OF each one in regard to them
selves and their studies
" And what is your name?" she asked.
laying her hand upon Toms head, while he
sat with his hand in his pocket, swinging
his feet backwards and forwards.
"Tom JONES'" shouted he at the top of
his voice.
How old are you, Thomas 2" she ask
ed. Just us old again as half" answered
Tom with a saucy laugh
What do you study, Thomas :"
Nothing"
What books have YOU %
None"
Without appearing to be at all disturbed
by his replies, Miss Wescotl said 81 am
glad am TO have one or two large BOYS in
my school; you can be Of great assistance
to me, Thomas, and if you will stop few
minutes alter school, this afternoon, we will
talk over a little plan have formed"
Inns was very mysterious to all, and par
ticularly to Tom, who could not compre-
bend how he could be useful to anv onc
and for the first time in his life he felt thai
he was OF some Importance ia the world
lie had had no home training; no one had
ever told him he could be OF any use or do
any good in the world. No one loved him
and OF course he loved 20 one, but was one
who believed he had got to bully his way
through the world. lie had always been
called the bad boy" at school and he tool,
a sort OF pride aud pleasure in being feared
by the children and dreaded by the teacher.
MISS Wescott at once comprehended his
whole character, and began to shape her
plans accordingly. She maintained that
boy who at twelve years old made himself
feared among his school fellows, was capa-
bic OF beng made something Of Hereto
fore all influence had conspIsred 20 make
han bad, aud perhaps desperate character
she was determined to transform his char
acter by bringing opposite influences to work
upon HIM, aud to effect this, she must gain
his confidence, which could be done i'm no
better way than by making him feel that
she placed confidence in him. When school
was out more than halfthe scholars fingered
ABOUT the door wondering what Miss Wes-
colt could be saying to Tom Jones. lie