Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-04
YANKEE SCHOOLMAsTER AND A
NYALLAH DOG,

Centre created a much more lively sensation
fhsn had attended that of either of his prede-
csssors. Looks go good ways all the world
c9er and though there were several good look
ius people in the place, and Major Bush was
mat the natives of the town called 'hand-
s,me man." that is, big, fat, and red, yet the
SIGHT of really elegant young fellow with the
natural air which grows up with carefully bred
Young persons, was novelty. The Brahmin
blood which came from his grandfather as we'll
n. from his mother, a direct descendant of the
cid Fiynt fsmily, well known by the famous
'utor, Henry Flint (see Cat. Harv. Ammo 1885,
Rad been enlivened and enriched by that Of
the Wentworths, which had had good deal of
ripe old Madeira and other generous elements
mingled with it. so that it ran to gout some
times in the old folks, and to high spirit
warm compile xion and curly hair in some Of
the younger ones. The soft curling hair of Mr..
Bernard had inherited something, perhaps, Of
the high spirit: but that we shall have a chance
Of finding out by AMI by. But the long sermons
and the frugal board of his Brahmin ancestry,
with his own habits of study, had told upon his
color, which was subdued to something more Of
delicacy than one would care to see in a young
fellow with rough work before him This how
ever, made him look more interesting, or, as the
young ladies at Maj. Bush's said, 'interestin'.'
When Mr.. Bernard showed himself at meet
ing, on the first Sunday after his arrival, it
may be supposed that good many eyes were
something heroic in his coming forward so
readily to take place which called for a strong
hand, and a prompt, steady will to guide it.
in fact, his position was that Of military
chieftain on the eve of battle Everybody
knew everything in Pigwacket Centre; and it
was an understood thing that the young rebels
meant to put down the new master, if they
could. 1t was natural that the two prettiest
girls in the village, called in the local dialect,
as nearly our limited alphabet will repre-
sent it, AlmiDy Cutterr, and Arvilly BraOwne,
should feel and express an interest in the good
looking stranger, and that when their fatter-
ing comments were repeated in the hearing of
their indigenous admirers. among whom were
some of the older ''bOys" of the school, it
should not add to the amiable dispositions of
the turbulent youth.
Monday came. and the new sohoolmaster was
IN his chair at the upper end of the school
house, on the raised platform. The rustics
looked at his handsome face, thoughtful, peace
iu!, pleasant, cheerful, but sharply cut round
the lips and proudly lighted about the eyes
The ringleader of the mischief-makers, the
young butcher, who has before figured in this
narrative, looked at him stealthily, whenever
he got 4 chance to study him unObscryed: for
the truth was. he felt uncomfortable whenever
be found the large, dark eyes fixed on his own
little, sharp, deep-set, gray ones. But he
found means to study him pretty well-irst
MS face, then his neck and shoulders, the set
"f his arms, the narrowing at the lOins, the
make of his legs, and the way he moved In
-hort, he examined him as he would have ex-
anined steer, to see what he could do and
how he could cut him up. If he could only
have gone to him and felt of his muscles, he
would have been entirely satisfied He was
not very wise youth, but he did know well
enough that, though big arms and legs are
very good things, there is something besides
size that goes to make a man; and he had
heard stories of fighting g-man, called "The
Spider, from his attenuated proportions who
was yet terrible hitter in the ring and had
whipped many big limbed fellow in and out
"f the roped arena.
Nothing could be smoother than the way in
which everything went on for the first day or
two. The new master was so kind and cour-
teous, he seemed to take everything in such a
nitural, easy way, that there was no chance to
pick quarrel with him. He in the meantime
thought it best to watch the boys and Young
men Tor day or two with as little show of
authority a5 possible. 1t was easy enough to
-ee that he would have occasion for il before
long.
The school house was a grim. old red one
story building, perched On a bare rock at the
top of a hill-partiy because this was con-
spicuOus site for the teUple of learning, and
partly because land Is cheap where there il no
chance even for rye or buckwheat, and the
very sheep ind nothing to nibblc. About the
little porch were carved initials and dates at
various nights. from the stature of nine TO that
ii eighteen. Inside were old unpainted desks
Imprinted, but Drowned with the lumber of
human contsct-and hacked by innumerable
i+ck knives. II was long since the walls had
been whitewashed, as might be coniectured by
;he various traces left upon them, wherever
'ile hands or sleepy heads could reach them
curious appearance was noticeable on va
'iOus higher parts of the wall, namely, q wart-
re eruption, as one would be tempted to call
haYr
before mentioned which, adhering in consider
a0le numbers, and hardening after the usual
fashion OF pap,e- nache, formed at last perma
nant ornaments Of the edifce
Ihe young master quick eye soon noticed
mat particular part of the wall was most
favored with these ornamental appendages
Jhelr position pointed sufficiently clearly tn
the part of the room they came from. In fact
there was nest of young muiineers lust there
which must be broken up by a CORN d'etat
This was easily effected by redistributine the
seats and arranging the scholars according to
Glasses, SO that mischievous fellow, CHARGED
full OF the rebellious imponderale, should find
himself between two nOn-conductors in the
shape of small boys of studIous habits Itwas
msnsged quietly enough, in such q plausible
sort of way that its motive was not thought of
But its effects were soon felt; ard then began a
system of correspondence by signs and the
throwing of little scrawls done up in pellets
and announced by preliminary aims, to call
the attention of the distant youth addressed
n1me of these were incendiary documents, ga
= stuck up dandy" as "a - purse proud
arlstocrat," as "a = sight too big for his.
etc and holding him up in a variety of
equally forcible phrases to the indignation of
,he youthful community of School District No
i, ,Pgwacket Centre
PRESENTLY the drsughtsman of the school set
esricature in circulation, labelled, to prevent
mistakes, with the schoomaster's name. An
immense bell-crowned hat, and long pointed.
sNSliow-taiied coat, showed that the artist had
IN MS mind the conventional dandy a shown
IN prints Of thirty forty years ago, rather
.nah any actual human aspect of the time. But
IL NTss passed round among the boys and made
1s laugh helping of course to undermine the
master authority, as Punch or the Chariyari
takes the dignity out Of an obnoxious minister
one morning, on going to the school-room.
Master Langdon found an enlarged copy of this
sketch. with its label, pinned on the door He
took il down, smiled a little, put il into his
pocket, and entered the school-room. An in
sidious silence prevailed, which looked ms if
some plot were brewing The boys were ripe
for mischief, but afraid. They had really no
fault to find with the master, except that he