True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-17
EiRAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

WdJ1 o"A Ih"S'hSu Sohn Ny noS iNSA
ings must be something like those Of
John Rogers at the stake. u
The masters clear voice broke the
spell. II find my desk in rather a more
dsorderly state than when / left it. You
played 'Puss in the Corner this noon,
did you not! Some one ran against this
desk and overturned it, II was an acc.
dent, and | freely forgive whoever did it,
with request that you will be more care
full in future" ..
We were thundersruck. The reaction
was overwhelming. forgiveness with
mild reproof, when we expected stern
questionings, and a whipping for the
most guilty one! We had been taught
to look for very different proceedings, by
the experience of former administrations
in the Millwood district. l, was TO much
for poor John Sykes, who was as tall as
the master, and who had always been the
bravado of the school, The kind voice.
and the gentle manner, touched tender
chord in his heart, and he could not STU
dy his algebra lesson in peace, ill he
had been to. Mr.. Gray, told him that he
was the unintentional auther of the mis-
chief, and begged his pardon for his care
lessness. 1t was an astonishing conde-
scension for John Sykes, he was usually
as stubborn as mule, and possessed the
"don't care" spirit to perfection, and we
all looked at him with perfect amazement,
when he went up with such a penitent
expression 10 the masters desk. Mr..
Gray spoke 10 him with such beautiful
smile, that John was his firm friend ever
after. and Mr.. Gray marched triumphant
ly into the affections and confidence of US
all. on the bridge of that simple act. 1t
was the first time in our lives that a
schoolmaster OF Mllwood district had be-
haved in such manner about as serious
matter, accident or not, and children as
we were, il gave us new opinions upon
the system of moral government. After
that, Mr., Gray had the respect and love
of us all, from little Amy Foster, just
learning 10 spell cat, up to John Sykes,
and Dick Mansfield, studying algebra,
and geometry.
There were about thirty scholars in
our district" of all sizes and ages. l
was fourteen that winter, and quite tall
girl for my age. but there were several
girls in school, older than |. Bessie AL
len, Carrie Mansfield, Mary Ellis, and
Cora Linn. Bessie was merry girl of
sixteen. the veriest witch ever saw, the
heroine of merry makings, and the most
ingenious of fun-contrivers. We called
ter our attorney general. 1--WE had a
class in United States government that
winter) Carrie Mansfield was pOstmas.
ter general. because she had been ap.
pointed to transact all business Of weight
and importance connected with the post
. office, and edifce consisting of three
books built up together, and covered over
with pocket, handkerchief. which was
; lifted for the deposition of inch square
letters, postage twenty five cents, paid.
! Mary Ellis, queen Of the spelling contests,
was elected secretary Of State. Cora
Linn, fair haired angel, whom we all
= loved, acted as secretary of the home de-
partment, while | was named secretary
of war, an appointment which stouIly
declined, till found l was reduced to
=. "Hobson's choice, that or none," for Sec
reiary of the navy did not mean anything,
!. !. and ditto of the treasury would have
- been splendid, but unfortunately there
J was no money to be taken care Of.
My office was Irresponsible one car
y tell you. for on me devolved the task oI
!. arranging amicably, ell little squabbles
and of being mediator between contend.
!. ing parties, excepting all cases in which
| was party myself. then, Of course
4 could not act. Was not ours an august
: cabinet, gentle reader! But ! have moi
! told you about the president yet. She
!, was dear. lovely Agnes Foster, the pc
q and delight Of the whole school. Not ;
!. girl that did not trust and look up to her
" nor a boy, but would give up the bes
sliding place, and resign the swiltest slet
~ to her. She was sixteen, fresh and love
q ly as the roses of June. She and her lit
n tie sister Amy were the only children o
d their widowed mother. They were very
}. poor, now, and Agnes was striving tt
! gain an education sufficient to qualify hel
a for the situation Of teacher in some acad
/, emy or select school. To her we wen
IS for sympathy in childish troubles, to he
,e we carried knotty question in grammar
s. or puzzling sum in fractions; the sam
i. kind smile always comforted US, and lie
"a calm mind and patient skill helped u
er speedily to overcome the difficulty. a
d. Agnes was beautiful, though she seem
ed perfectly unconscious of it, and tina
he was the greatest charm Of all. The girl
d; were always prasing her, calling he
IL eyes "blue violets," and her hair ''braide
ok slnbeams," her cheeks "damask roses,
W and her teeth ''pearls set in coral" Bu
re she always laughed, and told us we nee
an not imagine she believed our nonsense
he that we must see her through green spec
to tacles, etc. Mary Ellis said, "sur
yn enough, the glasses are love, and tn