The weekly union record., 1864-05-28
THE SCHOOL MEETING.
A SKETCH

A SKETCH.
| On the doors of the blacksmith shop, the
tavern, the village store, and on the guide,
board down by the cross roads, people for sew
eral days had noticed little handbills calling
| together the taxable inhabitants of -
40 take into consideration the propriety Of
building a new school-house" The village
pastor, on the preceding Sunday, had also
read the notice from the pulpit, adding most
urgent solicitation to all Of his male hearers
to ~eome out" and do what they could to-
wards obtaining the much needed building.
/ 1t was scarce dark, when few persons
/ congregated around the door of the old school.
house at the bottom of the hill, waiting until
| the proper moment to enter. They were
coming from all dlrections-from over the hill,
/ from the four roads that met by the school,
house, and numbers came stalking across the
/ fields.
Soon one Of the trustees appeared, with a
/ couple of tall0w candles, and q large kew.
After inserting the latter in several apertures
(all Of which extended entirely through the
door, he succeeded in unfastening the door,
and the people poured in.
| The little fourteen-by-eighteen room was
speedily filed; the people crowding on the
]
ing upon the benches. Numbers gathered
around the stove, although there was not a
spark of fire within. This position however,
afforded the opportunity of ejecting tobacco
juice against it, and of rolling the exhausted
guilds beneath IT,
The audience was divided into two parties
the one in favor of the new school house,
and the other opposed TO it. 1t was known
that the latter were FIVE or six in the majority,
and that they were very determined in their
opposition. The friends Of education were
resolved to be conciiatory, knowing that they
could not otherwise succeed.
Directly tall man arose and said
"Gentlemen, nominate, as chairman Of
this meeting. Samuel T. Jones, Esq. Is the
motion seconded ?"
\ half dozen shouted aye !" The nom
inee was known as one of the bitterest oppo-
nents of the new schoolhouse. Our friends,
however, voted for him. They knew that MS
election coHld not be prevented, aud that as
mere voter. Besides, they wished to seem
friendly toward their opponents and here was
good opportunity.
Samuel I. Jones, ESD sat in majestic sill
ence. and when the tall spokesman announced
Al
dissenting voice." be sat moment. as if to di-
eest this honor, arose. walked with a calm
dignity TO the table, surveyed the audience and
said:
Fellow citizens, it is necessary that we
should have secretary. Who will you nom
iuaie?
Il nominate Aaron Reed" called out a
weak voice by the stove, from which quarter
+ al, 81 tt,o.
Aaron Reed was a young gentleman of
eighteen, who was reading law, and was regar-
ded as the rising phenomenon of the place.
There had not been gathering of any kind,
of late, at which he had not figured as secreta-
~ or vice president. He had essayed, on one
or two occasions, a political speech, and was
warmly applauded by the admiring adherents
of his own party. He always wore his over,
coat flung over his shoulders, and fas ened by
one button beneath his chin. This he delibe
rately laid aside, walked to the desk sat down
on a chair without a back, pulled out gold
pencil, and calmly awaited for the meeting to
progress.
Now fellow citizens, we are ready for bu-
siness" said the chairman. "Will some one
please state the object of this gathering?"
What farce was this Was there one
present who had not known the object for the
past two weeks?
Now came rause-the lull that precedes
the tempest. Our friends waited for the oppo-
sition 10 take some step but seeing that such
was not their intention. Mr.. Brown. one of the
trustees arose and pleasantly said:
! "Mr. Chairman, the object of this meeting,
as stated in the notices, is to take into cousid-
Grafton the propriety Of erecting new school
house As this is a matter in which every
+ one present is interested. it is not our wish
that anything be done hastily, or without due
deliberaton. Therefore. before any vote be
taken. would ask that there be a free inter
change of views. | am well aware that there
Is considerable opposition bat l trust the most
of it will disappear The objections, as they
have reached me are, first the heavy taxes
that Will necessarily be incurred by building a
school house; and secondly, that We don't need
a school house.
+ To this latter objection I shall briefly refer
+ This building was erected over forty years
ago. when the oldest of US were BOYS We
received our education in it. and have some
veneration for these walls. While it was good
enough for those days, l contend that it is
DO, good enough now. These hacked and
meuded desks, these walls from which the plas-
tering is falling. these little, dirty window
panes. these baekless chairs, these two faded
pictures of the hemispheres, these low ceilings
and tumble down porch-aud most of all. this
/ little room. into which we have 10 squeeze our
children. so that they have scarcely breathing
room-all these have served their day.
Mr.. Brown sat down. His few remarks
were intended as "feeler." and to bring out
the opposition. Near the stove was a cough.
ing. splitting ahemming, and shutting of feet,
as If some person was making ready to rise 4
dozen smiled [among them Mr.. Brown1, for
they knew what this meant. Uncle John,
one Of the opposition, who sent three children
to school, was getting ready TO throw a bomb.
shell among his enemies. A round, red face,
with an illuminated nose. slowly came up like
the rising moon, abode the horizon of the stove
and he shouted in a voice that could have
been heard quarter of a mile away