The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-02-18

mind that | was destined to render the
name Of Weaver immortal by unusua
success in teaching. l thought nothing
could be easier than to enter the schoo
room at nine O'Clock, and hear the good
children recite their lessons, and whir
the bad ones till it was time to call the
roll at night. Alas, poor deluded Kath
inc How soon / discovered my sad
mistake I! 1t was impossible to convince
Sammy Wright's mother that he was dis
obedient, when she rated me so soundly
for feruling his little chubby hands; and
Mrs. Jones savagely denounced me as q
partial school mistress because / did moi
give her ill-natured Susan AS many tick.
cts for good behavior as the Lindsey
children received. Mrs. Lindsey char
ged me to carry her twelve year old Liz
zie completely through Algebra, wher
she well knew the little gipsey had no
yet learned the multiplication table. My
pupils christened me the cred headed
Weaver" and before the term was finish.
ed l was heartily tired of my employ
ment. l have decided never to teach
again. Memories OF those dry. sun-bak
ed dinners carried to school in my reti
cule those long, dreary summer days
filed up with reading, spelling, writing
humming and confusion those dresses
soiled by the infectious touch Of so many
dirty hands and above all else, the quer.
ulous faut-findiugs of parents determin
ed not to be satisfied, haunt me even
now with tenacity that is very painful
And il there is mortal on earth who
possesses my profound commiseration, il
is the teacher of strict school. 1t is
small consolation TO know that there is a
possibility of future greatness in store
for your pupils. The urchin whose tang.
led locks you pull to make him stand
erect in his class, may be statesman
sometime. but the event is a long way
ahead, and it does not serve to lessen his
mischievous propensities one particle !
have often thought the patience of a
modern Job should be instilled in the
soul of the presiding genius of school
house containing forty-eight wilful imps
of childhood-sweet and cunning to pa.
rents, but saucy and stubborn to teach
ers.
In that dwelling across the way Ihave
met with many trials. There | heard
that Sumter had fallen-there | received
the news of the marriage of an old sweet
heart-there | tore my new undersleeve,
and broke my beloved pen knife-and
last, but not least important, there l re-
ceived the offer of the heart and hand oil
widower, stout, bald headed, and
wealthy. The sun is creeping towards
the west, and sitting here alone, with nc
more congenial employment, | think ]
will transcribe that event of my past life
for my own amusement.
John Hughes was fifty years of age
and widower possessing two children
who were numbered among my pupils
Those Hughes boys were the pest Of my
life. They fastened paper images to my
back, made caricatures of my face on
the black board-sprinkling it very pro-
fusely with freckles-spilled ink on my
register, and persisted in kissing me viii
lips redolent with the rich perfume of on
ions. They deserved some kind of pun
ishment every day, but | was too weak
hearted to bestow it. The eldest hat
such pretty eyes | could never bear /,
see them filled with tears, and So, man,
times | had neglected to notice faults
that should have been severely reproy
ed
But at last, one afternoon my lenien
cy gave way, aud | called the owner o
the black eyes up to the desk and inflct.
ed several blows on his hand with m,
cherry ruler. To my surprise this mo
dus operandi reused fiery temper that
had never dreamed Of, and il was only
by the utmost exertion Of my frmnesl
that | checked it, For two long hour
Master John Hughes, jr., remained will
me after the close OF school that ight
and l sent him home completely sub
dued. But | trembled for the result, ans
remember saying to myself, as sough
my pillow
Now, Katherine Weaver, you hav
done it. Mr. Hughes is one Of the trus
tees, and the most difficult person L
please in the whole district, and .mor
row he'll give you walking ticket"
II was quite early when went to tn
school house the next morning and as
sat behind the desk engaged in writing
some one stapned into the entry and walk