Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-15
THE scHooLMAsTER,s DREAM.
An Irish Tale.

THE scHoOLMAsTER,s DREAM.
An Irish Tale. ~
sY MRS. s. c. HALL.
james O'Leary was schoolmaster of great learn.
crowded of any school within fifty miles OF Kiiguo'
bin--yet he modestly designated it his Smai1 Ool-
lege, and his pupils his triae of boys oLeary
never. considered "the Vulgarans"-as ne termeo
those who only learned English, writing, and ar.n'
metic-worth counting No boy, IN MS esumatlGh
began naming or notice until he entered Virgil he
entered his school catalogue with the Vargs but
was SO decidedly proud of "the Homarians," that
he often regretted he had no opportunity OF taking
the shine out of them ignorant chaps up at Dublin
College" by display Of his Gracians"-hve or
six clear headed, intelligent boys whose brogues
were on their tongue; whose clothes hung upon
them by a mystery and yet poor fellows! were as
proud of their Greek, and as fond of Gaping Latin
verses, as their master himself
James O'Leary deserved his reputation to a Ger.
tain extent, as all do who achieve one. In his boy
hood he had been himself poor scholar, and trav-
rs the best hedge school in the kingdom of Kerry,
and at one time had an idea of entering Maynooth
but fortunately unfortunately, it might be. he
lost his vocation by falling in love and marrying Ma.
ry Byrne, to whom, despite certain quantity OF
hardness and pedantry, he always made kind nus
band although Mary, docile and intelligent IN every
other respect, never could achieve her A. b. C. M!s
he was fond of instancing as proof Of the ineri.
orty of the fair sex. James looked with the great.
est contempt at the system adopted by the National
schools, declaring that Latin was the foundation up
which all intellectual education should be raised,
and that the man who had no Latin was not worthy
of being considered man at all
Donnybeg, the parish in which he resided, was q
very remote, silent distrct-an isolated place, be-
longing chiefly to apoplectic old gentleman, whose
father having granted long leases on renuneratng
terms, left him certain income sufficient for him.
self, and not distressing to others. The simple far
mers had so long considered Master OLeary mi
racle, and he confirmed this opinion so frequently,
by saying in various languages what they had not
understood if spoken in the vernacu!ar, that when
national school proposed in the parish by some
ocous person. they offered to send up their school,
master, attended by his Latin and Greek scholars
tail fashion-to "bother the boord." This threw
James into state of such excitement that he could
hardly restrain himself; and indeed has never been
fright" since.
The old landlord was as decided an enemy to the
national school system as James himself; and the
matter dropped without O'LeaIy having an oppor-
tunity of flooring the boord," which he bitterly
regrets. James, for many years after his establish
ment of Donnybeg. was exceedingly kind to the
itnerant class of scholars, of whose merits he was
so bright an example. For long time his college
was the refuge of every scholar who received grau-
itous instruction from " the Master" and the atten-
ton and tenderness of mother from " the Mis-
tress." This generosity on the part of James o.
Leary increased his reputation and won him great
to him from distant parts of the kingdom-not only
the itinerant scholar but the of snug farmers,
who boarded in his neighborhood and paid largely
for the classics and all accomplishments. This James
found very profitable; in due time he slated his
house, placing round stone as " fnnacle' on
either gable, representing, the one the terrestrial,
the other the celestial globe; he paved the little
courtyard with the mutplicaton.table in black and
white stones; and constructed summer-h house, to
use his own phrase, on "gcometrical principles"
whose interior was decorated with maps and TRAN
giles, and every species of information. If pupils
came before, they trained on him" after his " Tus-
cuum" was finished; and he had its name printed
on Gothic arch above the gate. But somehow,
though James fortunes improved, there was some.
thing about his heart that was not right; he began
to consider learning only as means of wealth he
became civil to rich ounces; and continually snub
bed first-rate Gracian" who was it is true, only
poor scholar. This feeling like all Others at first
merely tolerated, gained ground by degrees, until
Master O'Leary began to put the question to him
self-"Why he should do good, and bother himself
SO much about those who did no good to him ?"-
He had ventured to say this out aloud to any
one. but he had at last whispered it often to him
SELF that one evening, seeing Mary busily occupied
in turning round some preparation in little iron
pot reserved for delicate stirabout cruel, or "a sup
Of br0tH'-whch he knew on that particular occa.
sion was intended for the "Gracian who had been
unwell for days after knocking the ashes out
of his pipe, and closing and caspng his well-humb.
ed Homer, he said Mary, can't ye sit still at the
wheel, now that the days Almost done, and nature
becomes soporific? which signifies inclination to
repose."
"In a minute dear, DEAR it's for poor Aby-he's
entlreV he
place where he lodges has conveyance for drop
Of whey-and if it had they've nothing to turn it
with, and nothing to make it of-so I'll sit down at
once"
"Then why don't you sit down at once? Why
do you st-wasting your time-to say nothing of
the sweet milk-and the"-he was going to say "the
sour" but was ashamed and so added, "other things
for one who does no good to US ?"
"No good to us!" repeated Mary, as she poured
of the whey, keeping the curd carefully back with
. horn spoon. mo good to US, dear ?-why, it's
for Ably -the-what is It you called him-Aby Ora
dus ?-No; Ably the Gracian-your top boy-as
used to be-he that his old grandmother God help
us!-he had no other kith or kim walked ten miles
just to him stand at the head of his class that
she might die with an easy heart-it's for him it
is"
"Well," replied the master, Il know that; 1
know it's for him-and I'll tell you what Mary,
we're growing-not to say old-but advancing to
the region Of middle life -past its meridian, indeed
and we can't afford to be throwing away our sub
stance on the like of Aby-"
james !" exclaimed Mary.
All, indeed, Mary we must come to period
. full STOP mean-and'-he drew deep breath.
then added" and take no more poor scAolars !"
"Oh, James, don't say the likes O. that" said the
gentlehearted woman don't-a poor scholar
never came into the house that didn't feel as if he
brought fresh air from heaven with him--I never
miss the bit give tbem-my heart warns to the
soft homely sound of their bare feet on the floor and
the door most opens of itself to let them in"
"Still we must take care of ourselves, woman
dear" replied James with dogged look. Why the
look should be called logged" do not know, for