The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-25
Original Uoetry,
District Schools.


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District Schools,
A POEM, read before the Potter County 7|acler
association, al Lecisrille, Jan. %, 1883,
BIZ MISS S. NJ. LYMAN.
Published By Request Of -4ssociation.]
Our poets sing, and sages tell
OF bcanteous lands, in which they dwell
In sweet imagination.
"Auld Scotias" hills, her burns and braes
They sketch, in fancy, for our gaze,
Or for our contemplation.
They tell rs, too, that Switzerland
Has Alps, that still, unriyalled, stand
With snow their cliffs are laden
They say IIalia's skies are fair;
That odorous flowers are blooming there,
Whose beauty, only can compare
var her o@n dark-eyea 1lal3sns
They talk of Truth, Of Love and joy
OF Friendship, pure, without alloy;
And numerous " isnas they recount,
Whose yotaries sip the darkest fount
OF Crime and degradation.
They point us to our native land,
Her varied landscapes, fair and grand,
In color and extension;
Her Science, Arts, Inventions, Laws,
Are themes OF wonder and APPLAUSE
But "DIsTEIcr School" as tbs and ,eas
Claims tess of their attention.
So, while in lotlier fields they roam,
TIl speak of Common Schools, at home
But not in competition;
For, fancy plumed, they soar at will,
While have but loae goose-qutll-
That minus inspiration.
I, therefore, pray You - excuse
The uncouth rhymjus which | use,
For pen and ink have banished ''muse"-
In truth, lucklcss omen.)
Perchance, the many would zurmise
That rhyming thus would scarce suffice;
Yet, minds lmore wandering and less wise. J
Whose thoughts so far bore cloud land rise,
Look down with pity-lbles their eyes y
And say !" twill DO for No.1AN."
The School as twas, we first will view:
l cannot cier mucb that's aslc,
From my c5pertence, /; is true
Or much that's entertaining.
But lest thc theme he lost to sight,
And buried in Oblivion's night,
These lines | venture to indito--
The simple Truth Proclaiming.
The DlsTRICT School as twas, we know,
Had atuch Of Joy--ah more of Woe;
The youthful heart, mysterious thing,
Some sweets from bitterness viii bring;
Though Oft we 6rssazel with painful care,
And feared the dreaded Masters chair,
Nor dmed to move All aching limb,
Bat, statuv-ike, sat straight and prin,
Lest we, infringing some strict rule,
Obtained '.aogging" after school;
Yet, luckless wigh.s, we bore the yoke
Forgot the pain, and more rules broke.
Cur lessons learned, (Which were but few, J
Our faces turned for something new.
Sometimes We pen OF pencil took,
And skctchcd the Muster in our book.
We never Aattered, il is true,
As all our 5ngdera artists do
Though often failed in bringing forth
His real talents and his worth.
In szetching once, our pencil gave
The Pedagogue austere and grave;
lowering brow; small eyes, no, Jine;
And hair quite like porcupine
His no,e was pictured long and slim,
AS all were closely noscd" by him
A birchcn rule, to grace his hand,
Which served as sceptcr, rod and wand
We sketched, the picture to complete,
Great aadrstaadiny-name Jtst
While yet our mind was thus intent,
Those pictured eyes were on us bent;
Too soon he saw twas no ideal,
For pencil once had sketched the redi
With darkencd brow and flashing eye,
He pointed TO " dunce-block" nigh:
"Your ehoice now take-the dreaded stool
Or, pardon crave before the school
We took the seat, for stubborn tongue
Refused to owH the wrong we'd done;
And, while in that conspicuous place
The mark for taunts and rude grimace--
We, kcenly feeling the disgrace,
Resolved our sorrow to ettace,
And still another picture trace.
A harder task for pencil, this,
To faithful trace each varied phiz--
So, hurriedly along we pass,
In haste, to sketch the School sen nnasse."
Three-score young tyros, seated there,
With thoughtful brows and much Of care,
L