The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-05-26
IOWA. &C. 1860

answer him, stumbled upon three or fouz
at the same time.
sYour advice is most excellent, Miss Lakin.
hope the unfortunate gentleman viii be
able TO act upon it,"
$50 do l, most sincerely answered,
biushing beneath his strange, questioning
| glance. "For the boys sake, he would do
well TO make the matter one Of Importance
until he succeeds" added, more because
would not allow myself TO be silenced BY his
gaze, than because cared to speak.
"Perhaps you would be willing TO aid TIE
gentleman in question, since yeu were the
FIRST to suggest the idea. Would you:'
81 am no philanthropiss,' answered,
curtlv, believing that he was making an
attempt to quiz me. 81 think too much o:
nv life
! lhesitated. lsaw that was going too far.
i The gentleman smiled. We were close by
| the sehool-house door, and the conversation
could go no further. With "good morn
ing" be turned away, while entered the
| sehool-reom.
'sWho is that gentleman:" ssked of q
child standing by the door.
''Dr. Eldrldge, FRANK Eldridge's father,s
wad the reply.
/ knew that we'll enough before, but hear
! ing it verified by the child's lips sen, nv
blood throbbing and beating loudly a, my
/ heart.
The day that followed that morning was
not pleasant one to me. Not that my
scholars were unusually rude or boisterous
to the contrary they were quieter than
had ever known them before; but somehow
nv conscience troubled me. Thinking of
the motherless boy before me, saw that in
my dealing with him l had put away from
my heart thut blessed charity which suffer-
eth long, and is kind. had called anger
| Justice. and by it dealt with him. had for
gotten how warm human words sink through
| the CONCEALED surface of the heart, touching
and stirring its utmost depths.
Il had blamed the father. And there
was wrong again. Of the world, l, a wo-
man, had the best right to look straight
through his indulgence, to the fatherly ten
derness that could not give birth to repri-
mand or rebuke: to the love that could not,
because of the mother resting in the grave,
| mete out the justice that the child merted,
How the tender hands Of pity brought
those overlooked truths before my eyes,
until, blinded by tears, could not see.
! The next morning | met DR.. Eldridge
| again, and again he kept me company to
the very door Of the schoolroom. His tan
| talizing humor had not left him, and with a
sly look in his clear, gray eyes, he assured
me that the father of my unruly pupil had,
| indeed, taken my sage advice to heart.
Was glad to hear it
go, yes" answered, in q sober, quiet
way.
"Let one fact console you, Miss Lakin,"
| be said, earnestly, "you have succeeded
admirably with your school, and quite TO
the satisfaction of the villagers. There is
| talk Of having the summer term continued
into this fall, since there is stout fund of
school money on hand"
"Dsar heavens" | said, 81 shall 60
crazyp
"No, hope not, unless you will consent,
beforehand, to engage me as medical ad-
viser."
| | did not answer him. was in poor
mood to bear his teasings. Indeed, could
hardly keep back the tears ut the thought
| of the many weeks of torture that they were
planning out for me. For six weeks (half
Of the summer term) had been trying to
keep down the rebellion, and had hoped
to worry through my allotted time without
a serious outbreak. But now, could not
! hope for it. "War was inevitable, it must
! come" Before the thought, my good res
olutions of the day vanished like empty air.
| IL to he mistress of the schoolroom | must
use stick, whip and rule, then would WELD
them. | would WELD them. | would con-
! quer or be conquered. | did not resolve
! this fully until | learned that the school
would be heightened out six weeks into the
autumn, allowing vacation Of one week in
| the meantime. .....
So the days dragged along, not one pass
ing without DR.. Eldridge making his ap-
pearance somewhere in my way. Sometimes
was pleased to see him, perhaps always !:
but he had a strange, mischievous way with
him that worked against my temper con-
stantly. | think he liked my little fits of
passion, however, or he would not have
provoked me continually.
And the school Dear me, what school
it was The trial of it wore me thin as
shadow. But affairs came to a climax one
day. This was the way it was brought
about. While hearing recitation one hot
sultry afternoon, drew my chair into the
middle of the floor, where there was faint
show Of breeze. was directly in front
of one of the aisles, and so seated that
could no. see what was going on behind
me. After dismissing the class, made an
| attempt to rise, when to my horror and
dismay, l found myself or my dress, made
fast to the chair. | tried to be very cool
and collected, as released myself, but my
hands trembled violently, and knew that
my face was white with anger.
Scan any one tell who pinned my dress
to the chair ?" asked.
There was dead silence. repeated the
question. Still no answer. could inter-
pret that easily enough. Not scholar in
school dared to tell tale of Frank Ed
ridge.
"You may walk this way, Frank" said.
As though marching to a military drum,
he came to the middle of the room.
81 shall bear your impudence no longer
I began. either you or | must be at the
head Of this school. II my arm and ruler
are as trusty as think, shall be mistress
here" A..
"You don't dare ferule me; my father"
he began.
..Let your father come here, and I will
ferule him too," | said, interrupting him.
ssI'll tell him of thai,' he cried out.
"Do go, by all means," answered.
And so thrashed Frank Eldridge, sound
ly and smartly, till he begged for mercy
like a three year old baby, and promised,
rs humbIy as | could wish, to do better.
| There was great uproa. in consequence of
it, both in school and ont. But what made
the matter ludicrous in the extreme. was the
fact Of nv threatening to whip DIR. Eldridge
Handsome, idolzed DIR. Eidridge, the awe
Of the whole village. the pride of the whole
/ town. was noised about. At last it reached
the doctors ears, and as had feared, he
came just at the close Of school the next
afternoon, to remind me Of my threat.
81 have come for my whipping" he said,
in low tone, as answered his loud rap q,
the door.