Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-03-25
THE VAMPIRE.

Many changes have taken place in edu'
cation as we'll as in other departments
perhaps l should say more particu larly in
education, since it was my lot to be usher
in n Grammar School, . position that
the reader will not BE- disposed A>question
when l state that some twenty years have
elapsed since the time al'ude to.
l visited n last summer, and Of
course renewed at once my acquaintance
with the old Grammar School. There it
was, as we'll l remembered it of old, rear
ing its weather beaten front on high street
and as l sat 10 the coffee room Of the
White Heart, Immediately opposite, its
external features seemed to recall to me
the various events that had taken place
during my sojourn there. There was the
old gateway and the massive oaken door,
through which the boys trooped daily at
the summons Of the shrjIl but not unme-
lodious bell above. Hark, it is going now
After all these, what thrill Of memory
that once familiar sound awakens in me
That heavy mnll;oned window to the right
is, or was, the doctors study, and the
black patch in the center of the window,
when viewed from within, resolves itself
into the arm orial bearings OF the Grammar
School-a shield argent, charged with a
cross vert, the crest Of an eagle preying,
and for motto, ''En plein jour-"
For the life Of me cannot recall the
founders name-memory is treacherous
jade; but if you feel any curiosity on the
subject, l have no doubt that by for ward.
ing the above particulars to the College Of
Herald', you may satisfy it. There were
few Of the boys who had not cause RENE m.
Der the device in question, though l doubt
If many could have described in it heraldic
language, for the study was the scene Of
the doctors private bircbings, public 'exe.
cutio1s being reserved for greater of1en.
ses. The large window to the left belongs
TO the school room, and through corres>
ponding one at the opposite end catch
glimpse Of the playground, and tall fir
trees peopled by aourishing colony of
rocks, the climbing of which was inter
dicted under severe penalties. Well do l
remember them They recall moonlight
summers night, and a young boy rising
from his bed, nciseless.y slipping OH his
trousers and socks, and as noiselessly
creeping down the oak staircase, and
emerging through window l believe into
the playground. l see hin, now crossing
the lawn and commencing his perlous
ascent up the very highest of the forbidden
trees. Now be is hidden in the deep shade
now be comes out again into the deep
moonlight, and each time higher and
higher his white figure shows against the
dark foliage, till he seems to be poised on
the very summit, and then grasping some.
thing in bis right hand, he slowly and
cautiously descends.
l don't know to this day if did right
but masters are human, after all, and LA.
BILE to err. l kept the boys secret; be
never knew that an eye but those of bis
dormitory companions saw him. He won
bis wseer and the applause of lis fellows,
but be paid the penalty. Some small foot.
prints beneath the sacred tree, q very
soiled pair of socks, and a night shirt de.
cidedly more green than such habili.
ments are wont to be, told tale Of cause
and effect only too plain. The boy was
birched, aud laid up with violent cold as
we'll. ........ ....-... ...
Poor Tom Burke! Idon', know whether
ne showed most bravery in his midnight
expedition or in the Gor,iiude with which
he bore its consequences. We argued a
bright future Cor him in his chosen calling,
but Providence ordained otherwise. Tom
was one Of the earliest victims Of the In.
dian mu,iny. Peace to his memory!
The low wing connecting the school
room with the chapel had, too, its remiu
iscences. The upper story Is low pitched
room, called the washing gallery" from
being the scene Of the boys ablu,ions.-
There is y trap door in the centre leading
from the raflers. aid easily reached by the
judieious piling Of two or three boxes
We had ih ny time an idle, eccentric boy
whom will call Arthur Williams. He
always seemed to live in an ideal world of
his own. from the regions Of which it was
impossible to dislodge him, and he was
consequently very frequently in trouble
He once concocted q scheme with boon
companion, in whose face mischief reicn-
ed supreme, to pay q stolen visit one half:
holiday to the washing gallery and sx-
plore the rafters. They pu. THAR plan in
operation, lighted candle, and started on
their journey. All went we'll for . time,