The Portland daily press., 1864-01-29

assurance. And now | am going to place the
government of the school at your disposal.
You are all voters, and want you to exercise
the privilege. Shall we have during the COM
ing three months an orderly, model school?
All IN favor of that, will hold up their right
hand.r
The girls commencedl6rst.
"Come," urged" 81 want you all to vote
one way or the other. | shall think all who
! do not vote on this side mean to vote on the
| other. All up?"
| BY this time every hand was up save Put
! ney's and divers. The latter had got his
halfup, when saw Putney catch him by the
arm and pull it down again.
Down. / said. Now, are there any of
the opposite mind"
| John Putney hesitated, but | saw that he
was anxious to raise his hand.
| "If there are any who do not wish an order
| ly school, should be pleased to know it" L
resumed, "for 1 am determined not to have
scholars here who need to be forced into ODE
| dience. am not fond ofpunishing."
Putney's hand came up with jerk, and
saw him try to push divers up; but had
caught the latter's eye, and he gave up to the
influence OF an imploring glance.
"What is your name 2" | asked.
My name is John Putney, the world over"
he replied in coarse impudent tone; but yet
| there was an effort in it.
| sand do you not desire good, orderly
school ?' resumed.
"Wal, don't care much, one way or the
other" he replied, in the same tone, and l
could see, too, that he was trembling his
strength away fast
"Very well,r | said in firm yet kind tone.
III such is your opinion, then your presence
here will not only be useless to yourself but
of great detriment 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, stepped down and opened the
door.
"s'posin I'd ruther stay here?" he returned
turning pale.
"But you can't stay here" / replied, in
tone and with look that made him start.
"We>cannot have you here For the good
of the school, and for the good of the school
alone you must leave, i can wait but a mo-
ment longer" The fellow was determined to
try my strength. But he might as well have
thought of facing thunderbolt. Twas nerved
up to my most powerful mood. l felt in my
arms and hands that were l then where SAM
son once was, / could have pulled down the
pillars Of the temple.
walked up to the mans seat flor he was a
man image and size, coming one and twenty
within monthly and placed my hand upon
his collar. while he grasped the edge of the
low desk before him and held on. With one
mighty efort-an effort that surprised myself
i tore the fellow from his seat and raised
him above my head. | strobe on to the outer
entry, and when had reached the door-stone,
| cast him upon the snow. He scrambled to
his feet, and, with an oath, rushed towards
me. / struck him between the eyes and
knocked him down. / went and lifted him up,
and then told him to go home. He cast one
glance into my face from out his already swell
ling eyes, and then, with mutterings Of VEN
geance, he walked away"
returned to the schoolroom, aud OF course
found the scholars at the windows or rather,
rushing back to their seats.
"Now," said / with kindly smile, Suppose
we try that vote over again, for really, feel
a deep, earnest desire to have the whole school
with me. All who are DESTROYS Of having an
orderly. model school, and who are resolved
TO labor to that end, will raise the right hand"
Every hand went up In a moment.
And so | commenced my school. i went TO
Stephen Oliver, and asked him how far he had
gone with his studies. He told me- and then
informed him that any evening when he
wished for assistance, which ! might not be
able to render during school hours, l should
be happy to grant ii, If he would call upon me
at my room. He was as grateful as ever 1
saw person.
had made the scholars understand that |
should have no whipping going on. If any
one would not behave, he must leave the
school, | had come to teach the vsrious
branches Of common English education. and
those who had not yet learned to behave prop
erly were not Far enough advanced to be ad-
mitted to that school where the scholars them
selves had determined TO have good order
| never had better school. / have at
times found it necessary to punish children,
bnt knew that the school had had altogether
too much of it, and | resolved at the outset
not to strike blow, save in self defence. and
IN turn from the school every child that
would,not obey Oliver was of great assist
auce to me. When / wished to leave the
room fora short time, felt perfectly conf
dent of order in leaving him in charge. He
studied hard. and ere long he became athirst
for knowledge. He spent many evenings
with me, and they were profitable TO BOTH.
/ kept the school three weeks On the
Sabbath following the third Saturday, as /
sat with Mr.. Bonney and family, some one
knocked at the door. One of the children
answered the summons, and returned, followed
by John Putney. He said that he wanted to
speak to me. l led the way to my room,
where good fire was burning.
| babe the young man good evening, and
told him he had taken a stormy season for
walk.
"Yes. SIR he returned. in halfchoking
tone. at does storm hard, very hard. But,
sir, don't mind that. I'm used to it. / want
ed TO see you. sir, II"
He stopped and gazed upon the floor.
Don't he afraid TO speak plainly, john"
said. "for | assure you that you are speaking
10 one who will be your friend under all cir
cumstances.
II want to come to school, sir,n burst from
his lips, spasmodically.
81 thank you. John--I thank you'll cried,
extending my hand which he took at once.
"Since came 10 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 think of the past-we'll only try for inn
provement in the future"
The stout youth cried like a child. Mr..
Bonney said at beats all'
"Why," said he, here's a school that's been
going on TO rack and ruin for years, because
they could not find master strong enough to
conquer the big bows, and now they are all
conquered without even so much as blow.
And vet" he added. after rejecting a WHILE
"tain't the nature Of man to be very good
under blows. and | s'pose children have all
the feelings of men. The lash may keep 'um
under while it's over Them but it don't pro-
duce anv effect that YOU can depend upon"
"That's it," replied. "The obedience pro-
duced ny the lash is only obedience to the
lash. IL can never 'beget one iota of respect
for the one who wields ii. / am not prepared
to say that the lash is never under any crcum-
stances. necessary: society is in a terribly
warped and unchristiau state; but there is
Ui1 Ena