Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-08-10
4 Select Tule.
THE sCIIOOL MISTREs
BY MRS. L. NJ. SEYMOUR.

"The school ma'am's coming, the school
ma'am's coming" shouted dozen voices,
at the close of halt hours faithful watch
to catch glimpse Of our teacher. Every
eye was turned toward her with the most
scrutinizing glance-tor the children as
well as others always form an opinion OF
person, particularly of their teacher, at first
sight.
"How tall she is !" exclaimed one
ooh, don't she look sweet 2" cried another.
"Ho, 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 % eyes, and will, too, if she goes
to touch me-" "Husb, )" cried one of the girls,
s'She will hear YOU" By this time she had
nearly reached the door, round which we
were clustered, and every, and every eye
was fixed upon her face with an eager, yet
halt bashiul gaze, uncertain, as yet, what
verdict to pass upon her.
''Good morning, children" she said, in
the kindest voice in the world, while her
face was lighted with the sweetest smile
Imaginable. ''Ths is beautiful morning
TO commence school, it is not 2"
81 know l shall love her." whispered a
little pet in my ear.
We all followed her into the school
room, but Tom Jones and his ally, who
waited until the rest were seated, and then
came in with a staggering, noisy gait, and
a sort of daredevil saucy look, as much as
TO say, 'swho cares for you 2"
Miss Westcott looked at them kindly, but
appeared not to entice them further after
short prayer and reading a chapter in the
Bible, she passed round the room, and made
some inquiry of each one in regard to
themselves and their studies.
s'And what is your name 2" she asked,
laying her hand upon Toms head, while
he set with his hands in his pockets, swing
my his feet backwards and forwards.
'Tom JONES'" shouted he at the top OF
his voice.
"How old are you, Thomas l'' she asked.
"JuSt as old agin as halt," answered Tom,
with saucy laugh.
"What do you study, Thomas'"
"Nothing."
"What books have you"
"None."
Without appearing TO be at all disturbed
by his replies, Miss Westcott said, 81 am
glad / 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 after school this afternoon, we will
talk over little plan have formed.
This was a mystery to all, and particu-
larly to Tom, who could not comprehend
how he could be useful to any one, and fol
the first time in his life he felt that he wa:
of some importance in the world. He had
no home training; no one ever told hin
that he could be of any use or do any good
in the world. No one loved him and o.
course he loved no one, but was one o
those who believed that he had got to bully
his way through the world. He had al
ways been called the "bad boy" at school
and he took sort Of pride and pleasure il
being feared by the children and dreaded
by the teacher.
Miss Westcott at once comprehendet
his whole character, and began to shape
her plans accordingly. She maintainet
that boy, who at ~ years old made him
self feared among his school-fellows, wa
capable of being made something Of
Heretofore all influence had conspired t.
make him bad, and perhaps desperat
character; she was determined to transform
his character by bringing opposite infuen
ces to work upon him, and to effect this
she must first gain his confidence, whicl
could not be done in better way tha
making him feel that she placed con6denc
in him.
, When school was out more than half th
scholars fingered about the door, wonder
ing what Miss Westeott could be going