The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-10-14
For the Journal.
Kate Laurnl, my "schooi Ma'am.''
ny LILLY LARKspuR.

~ was pedCeiui, SuHuy pltCet lHoN hltlc VIZ
lagc of Gleuville, where spent my childhood.
| I had kind, indulgeut parents, and happy
home, which shared with loving brother and
sister. | was the youngest, and consequently
the pet of all. love 10 recall those gay, happy
hours, when I was free to roam through the
live long day, or TO sit down in quietude as best
suited my fancy. That was dear, pleasant
little place, where the sun always shone brighter,
where the twilight always seemed to linger
longer before the darkness came on, whore the
moon always arose sooner, and shone in deeper
| and more tranquil luStre, than have ever known
them to elsewhere. Where the flowers boomcd
with fresher sweet ness. where the song of the
wild bird was filed with a more thrilling glad
ness, and where hearts were truer than have
| found in later wears. was wild. fearless,
| rompng girl. | do not remember that one sim
gle pang of sorrow ever touched my JOYOUS
heart, or one dark cloud of grief ever shaded
my pathway. All day long wore light,
glad heart, tripping over the village green in
some childish sport with my plsymates, roam
ing in the neighboring woods in search of
wild flowers, or merrily fitting about the house
singin snat ches Of songs. But hidden under all
this gayety. was a warm, tender heart; heart
that felt deeply when others suffered and was
ever ready to sympsthze with those in distress.
| In the most conspicuous part of our quiet
village, stood the little white school house. 1t
was neat, pretty little edifce. with green
blinds. and green lawn spread out in front. -
We were kept in the winter under the control
of q strict schoolmaster's rule, but in Summer as
the "bg boys" were always Obliged to remain
at home TO help about the work, they then al
ways found school ma'am to answer every
purpose in instructng our young ideas. l was
only three years of age when | first began to
tread the little path that led to our little white
school house, and every summer since then
new face had appeared before us to watch over
us; sometimes belonging to blooming country
lass, sometimes to pretty young city miss, and
sometimes to cross. uncouth old maid all
having their peculiar methods of managing us
ch ldren, and all having their peculiar ialngs
But never had truly loved % teacher, until my
seventh "schoo ma am Miss Kate Lau,al,
came to hold dominion over us. Miss Kate
seemed much like a piece of perfection, as
we sat around her at noon, after having eaten
our dinners, and listened to her thrilling tales of
fairy. land, until we would almost forget that
there was such world of stern reality as this,
aud we were its humble subjects Aud then she
| could sing such sweet, touching songs, in such
a thrilling, musical voice, as completely charm
ed away all our uukind feelings. il we ever had
any. Dear Kate Laural! seem to see her
now, just as she looked in those days SO long
agone, as caugh, sight other. with her pink dress
and black silk apron, her little dinner basket
| hanging on her arm, and her sweet, smiling face
peepng out from beneath her giugham sunbon'
net, as she turned the corner by the old oak tree
aud came down the little worn path that led
across the green to the school house. And
can almost feel again the same light, childish
joy in my heart, as sprang from the doorstep,
where | used to watch for her and skipped
across the path to meet her. And as took her
hand, | seemed again to hear her sweet good
morning Lilly" that used to sound so pleasant
y to me. And then she was always so kind
and patient with all our little childish humors,
and always wore such sweet smile on her face,
that we could not help loving her. But there
was something about our "school ma'am" that
always troubled our young imaginatons very
much, aud which we could not account for
Although that sweet smile never left her tea
lures, yet it sometimes wore such sad, sorrow
full expression, as completely puzzled US.
| we'll remember--it was o bright, sunny after
noon, and the hour for dismissal had nearly
come-how once so far lost my self restraint,
as to give vent to one wild burst Of merrment
which my joyful heart could suppress no longer,
in one light ringing laugh She turned to me
and only gave mo one gentle word Of reproof;
and although felt this to ba just, still the
thought that was he first girl that she ever had
occasion to speak to, 50 irritated me, that with
my face partly concealed behind the blue lids of
spelling book, contracted my features into a
very rude, mocking expression, and was sure
that she was watching me the whole time. She
spoke not word but as she turned away, | saw
| her blue eyes slowly filling with tears, and that
sorrowful expression that had sometimes no.
,iced. oerspread her face. Oh how longed
then, TO throw my arms around her neck and
ask her forgiveness. School was sosn dismissed,
and after the last glsd veice had died away, and
the last retreating footstep had left the play
ground, and was sure OF not being seen, turned
TO r.trace my steps to the school room, and make
amends for my misconduct. Ipaused as reached
the door, for there sat Miss Laura, her head
resting on her hands, aud a perfect food Of
| tears streaming from her eyes. Dear school
ma'am, dear Miss Llural" exclaimed, with
voice choked by sobs, springing to her side
while my hat fell back on my shoulders, and
my curls came streaming down over my
face, 81 am so sorry for being so naughty, and
do love you, DEAR dear Miss Laurdl." She
hastily dried her tears at sight of me, as II not
wishing me to ses her weep, and drawing me
l close 10 her side, she said in a sweet voice,