Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-04-13
From Balloa's DOLLAR Monthly.
THE DOCTOR AND HIS SON. 4
BY ANNIE N. LOWERING.

THE DOCTOR AND HIS SON.
BY ANNIE N. LOWERING.
Now for shool-teaching was no better fit
ted than for the ministry mean as far as
patience was concerned-yet it came into
my head very suddenly one morning, as l
sat in the old kitchen of my fathers house,
with my little brothers and sisters about m
(and, indeed, there was goolly array OF
them), that it was about time for me to bc
doing something in the world som thing
outside of the monotonous round of house
hold duties which performed day after day ;
something, perhaps, to relieve my fathcr, in a
small way of the burden that rast.d upon
his shoulders. By this do not mean that
he was in debt, or that his goolly farm fill
ed to give his family a comfort ,ble, happy
support. Not at all. But Let the qu ,stion
go without further discussion, and suffi .,-it
by saying that for very good reasons of my
own, resolved, as the old peopla say, :" to
make a start in the world"
And so started. How that was brought
about, it would be tedious enough TO relate ;
but this much will say, that because of til
idea born to me SO suddenly ON that spring
morning, was chosen--of the numerous
applicants-teacher of some forty scholars at
a distance of twenty miles from Cranston.-
| need not add that this was source of or sat
qualification to me, and that because of it |
entered into vast numb-r of vagu,, happy
speculations as to how the summer would
glide away-how the days, the long SUNNI II
days, would seem as short as the shortest OF
the winter onas--how would teach the lit
fIn ohI 1rar fC lnxv Il. hat
find a reader way Of interesting them in their
books. Dear me! it would fill good-sized
volume to write out all that | imagined and
dreamed OF the summer which Twas to spend
in the little village of Lester
But change came Ger the spirit of my
dreams;" not before left home, because in
such case might never had found courage
to have left it; but just before l arrived at
the scene Of action.
You are to teach in Lester village this
summer, if / understand you rightly z" said
the most gentlemanly of gentlemen before |
left the cars at Lester.
The question was not an impertinent one
after our brief, morning acquaintance, and
so answered it in all good faith, little
pompously, perhaps, for l was greatly i'm
pressed with the importance Of my calling.
Yes, sir, and anticipate very pleasant
time of it, ] said.
You do?"
He spoke in quizzical tone, while the
wisest and most ineXplicable fsmiles cross
ed his face.
Yes, sir, and why not ~ ask ID, forget
ting that my question was abrupt, and my
manner somewhat disturbed
Nothing only to realize your pleasant an
ticipations you must meet a different fate
than your predecessors for years back"
" And why, STRIP questioned, my face
getting redder and redder every moment
Because Of all the children under tn sun
those of Lester village are the most unman-
ageable. In the course of a summer they
usually succeed in dethroning two or three
teachers
He was very handsome gentleman. as
said before, and as he said this in laughing,
pleasant way, displaying a set OF perfec.
teeth, he grew handson,ur than ever. But
did not think much of that, only of the thread
Of exquisite cxultation that thought l de-
tected running through his remark grow
piqued in moment, and answered him with
a show Of spirit which must have been quite
amusing.
!" "Ihsy n y, will not dsthrons msl''
He was, indeed, much amused, for he look.
ed in my face for 4 full moment, as If to gath
er from it food for his merrimnnt. At that
grew queerly, or at least what thought to
be so, and drew myself up as though there
was question Of honor to settle. Just then
the cars came to afull stop. and the conduc-
tor gave his call Lcster' so that / did not
have chance to answer--not his words, for
they were simple enough in thems lves-but
his manner.
:" wish you much success" h. said, as
left the cars.
Thank you; your wish shall prove q
prophecy
That was the first that I heard of my Les
ter school, and need not add that my sp;r
its were somewhat dampenad. But that I
should conquer The unruiy set Of masters and
misses did not doubt for moment.
They'd do well enough if it warn't for
the doctors boy" my good-natured board
ing mistress said when questioned her con-
cerning my pupils. He is the ringleadcr
of 'cm, and always has BEEN"
That was enough for me to know. I
would make friends with the doctors son at
the beginning. But that was easier said
than done, may as well confess at once
There was mischief enough in him to have
stocked = little million Of commonly roguish
boys. Gain an advantage over him in on.
way, and he was doubly sure to gain one oy II
me in another. If I attempted to reason with
him, his answers would set the whole school
in hubbub, and Il threatened to punish
him, look Of sheer defiance settled upon.
his bright face. He troubled me SO deeply
that 1 could not rest night or day, in school
or out. That grew pale and thin is not to
be wondered at
When my trial was at its height, chanc-
ed to meet my acquaintance and prophet Of