Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-05
dQurtester DAILY Spp.
THE HARD SCHOOL.
GConeluded.


easy. He seemed to be fearing that was
compromising him in advance of his will
However, appeared not to notice him.
Every well, said ], with grateful smile,
81 thank you for your assurance. And now
am going to place the government of this
school at your disposal. You are all voters
and | wish you to exercise the privilege.
Shall we have, during the coming three
months, an orderly, model school All in
favor of that will hold up their right hands"
The girls commenced first Come" /
urged, 81 want you all to vote one way or the
other. shall think that all who do not vote
on this side mean to vote on the other All
upp By this time every right hand was up,
save Putney's and divers The latter had
got his hand half up, when l saw Putney
catch it by the elbow and pull it back.
down." said. "Now are there any of the
opposite mind 90
John Putney hesitated, but I saw that he
was anxious to raise his hand.
off there are any who do not wish an order
ly school ! should be pleased to know it,"
resumed, "for l am determined not to have
scholars here who need to be forced into ODE
dience. am not fond of furnishing"
Putney's hand came up with nervous jerk,
and l saw him try to push divers up but
had caught the atter's eye, and he gave up
to the influence of an imploring glance.
what is your namep' l asked
"My name is John Putney, the world
over?' he replied, in coarse, impudent tone
but yet there was an effort in it.
"And do you not desire good, orderly
school 2" | resumed.
oval don't care much one way nor 10th
err" he answered, in the same tone, but with
increasing effort, and could see, too that he
was trembling his strength away fast.
Very well, / said in firm, yet kind tone.
eff such is your opinion, then your presence
here will not only be useless to yourself, but
of great detrment to the rest of the school
So you can retire before we proceed any fur
Their. But should you at any time make up
your mind to come in with a determination
to be orderly and gentlemanly, you can re-
turn"
As spoke, l stepped down and opened the
door.
"You can leave" said
"Spozin' I'd rather stay here 2" he replied,
turning pale.
'But you can't stay herep / resumed, in a
tone, and with look, that made him start
awe cannot have you here. For the good of
the school alone, you must leave. cannot
wait but a moment longer"
The fellow was determined to try my
strength. But he might, as well have thrught
of facing lightning bolt. | was nerved up
to my most powerful mode. l felt inmy arms
and hands, that were | then where Sampson
once was, could have pulled down the pillars
of the temple roof.
walked slowly up to the mans seat flor he
was man in age and stature, coming one-and-
twenty within month, and placed my hand
upon his coar.-He grasped the edge of the
desk before him and held on. With one mighty
effort | took the fellow from his seat, and
raised him above my head / strobe to the
outer entry, and when ! had gained the door
stone, cast him down upon the snow. He
scrambled to his feet, and rushed towards me-
l struck him between the eyes and knocked
him down. | went and lifted him up, and
told him to go home. He cast one look into
my face from out of his already swelling eyes,
and then, with mutterings Of vengeance, he
walked away.
| returned to the school-room and, of course,
found the scholars all at the windows, or, rath-
er, rushing back to their seats.
"Now" said |, with a kindly smile "sup-
pose we try that vote over again, for, really, /
feel deep, earnest desire to have the whole
school with me. All who are DESTROYS of hav-
ing an orderly, model school, and who are re-
solved to labor to that end, will raise the right
hand"
Every hand went up in moment
And so commenced my school. ! went to
Stephen Oliver, and asked him how far he
had gone with his studies. He told me- and /
then informed him that when he wished for as
sistance, which might not be able to render
during school hours, | should be happy to
grant it, he would call upon me at my room.
He was as grateful as ever | saw person.
made the scholars understand that should
have no whispering going on If any one
should not behave he must leave the school, /
had come to teach various branches OF common
English education, and those who have not
yet learned to behave properly were not far
enough advanced to be admitted to that school
where the scholars themselves had determined
to have good order.
l never had better school, / have at
times found it necessary to punish children,
but l knew that school had had altogether too
much oft, and l resolved at the outset not to
strike blow, save in selfdefence, and to turn
from the school every child that would not
obey. Oliver was OF great assistance to me.
When l wished to leave the room for q short
time, / felt confident of order in leaving him in
charge He studied hard, and ere long he be-
came really athirst for knowledge. He spent
many evenings with me, and they were profit
able to both.
had kept the school three weeks. On the
Sabbath evening following the third Saturday,
as | sat with Mr.. Bonney and family, some one
swered the summons, and returned, followed
by John,9 utney. He said he wanted to speak
to me- Fled the way to my room, where a
good fire was burning
babe the man good evening, and told him
he had taken a stormy season for walk.
eyes, sir, he returned, in a halfchoking
tone, ''it does storm hard-very hard but, sir,
don't mind that-Pm used to it. l wanted
TO see you, sir II"
He stopped and gazed down upon the floor.
Don't be afraid to speak plainly, john"
said, "for assure you that you are speaking
to one who would be your friend under all cir
cumstances."
81 want to come to SCHOOL," burst from his
lips, spasmodically.
81 thank you, John l thank youp cried,
extending my hand, which he took at once.
"Snce | came to this place, nothing has oc-
Cured to afford me more pleasure than this.
Come tomorrow morning, and you will find
one of the best schools in the country. We
won't speak of the past-well only try for i'm
provement in the future"
The stout hardy youth, cried like child.
Mr.. Bonney said sit beat all"
"Why," said he, "here's school that's been
going to rack and ruin for years, because they
couldn't find master strong enough to con-
quer the big boys, and now they are all con-
quered without even so much as a blow. And
yet" he added, after rejecting while, "tain't
the natur' of a man to be very good under
blows, and s'pose children have all the feel
lngs OF men. The lash may keep 'em under
while it's over 'em, but il don't produce an eff
feet that you can depend uponJ
"That's it, replied dThe obedience pro-
duced by the lash is only obedience to the lash
1t can never beget one iota of rcspect for the
one who Yields it. am not prepared to say
IL Al. IL. =.