Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-04-28
The Hedge Schoolnaster.


"Arrah now young misther Phim,
and aint ye always late y said Andy
McCarr, the village schoolmaster, ad-
dressing the last of his ragged scholars
that came slowly and reluctantly along.
"An' ye ANT more lively, yen soon get
reward O. merit as yen feel all over"
90, misther Andy McCarr," said The
young tatterdemalion, pulling with one
hand at bis uncombed, elfish locks, can
didn't | have to stay at home to feed the
pig, now? An sure how can we pay the
rint without the pig ? Sposin' he should
die, misther Andy McCarr, wher'd ye
git yer pay for the schoolin, o me
Answer that will ye ?"
This last argument seeming TO be un-
answerable, young Phim escaped the
whipping he deserved. Mr.. Andy Nc
Carr made no further reply than $50 to
your seat, ye lazy spalpeen, there'll no
good ever come out o ye."
Andy McCarr, the schoolmaster thus
brought abruptly before US, had for many
year led the children of his native ham
let, in Ireland, along the paths of knowl-
edge in his peculiar way. They were
not very howery paths, however, and
stopped far short of the great temple Of
learning. Perhaps this fact arose from
the deficiency of the Pedagogue h;mielf,
perhaps it was due to the want of edu-
cational advantages enjoyed by his pupils.
Andy was now somewhat old, and very
slovenly in his dress, but with twinkle
humor in bis keen, gray eye, which made
up for many personal demerits. He
played well on The fiddle O. nights and
greatly enjoyed pipe. When seated on
his rickety chair, be generally bad a small
Jug at his side, which unfortunately, often
held something stronger than 'eold tay"
which be declared TO be so necessary for
his internal comfort. No one could COM
plain that his school-house was not large
enough, for it was all out doors, his daily
sessions being held under a hedge just
outside the village. "ii's nate an con-
vayneent," said Andy to himself, "an' the
rinl's aisy to raise, aa' isn't the ventilation
jst the thing? There'll none of 'em
catch cold from the winders they lave
open, and they won't git faver from the
hate o the CRATE"
"An' have ye got yer lisson in the
catechism, Barney p said the sehool-mas-
ter, addressing bright, black eyed boy,
who composed h S first class in that
branch Of learning.
Being a favorite with the master,
Barney showed no disposition to come
forward in a hurry.
Barney p shouted the angry peda-
gogue, ''sure, an yell come to grief, ifye
don't mind bether."
can isn't there grassbopper got
down my back, Mislher Andy McCarr,
now, an how can recite dacently about
the holy prophets in such company as
that?"
After considerable wriggling and many
contortions, during which Barney rolled
over on the ground at least half dozen
times, the insect was finally disposed of
by being thrown into the hair OF another
pupil.
"Who was. Jonah 2" said the master,
when at length Barney stood up before
him, grinning from ear to ear.
"a holy prophet o the Lord and a
saint o mother church."
"Right," said Andy, taking siPfrom
bis jug of cold tay."
"Where did the Lord send him ?"
"To Targum."
"An' don't yer know better than that !?
Sure an if the holy Jonah had started
for that place, where do ye think he'd
have brought up 2"
Here one of the schoolmates, seeing
Barney at fault, and having looked in the
book, crept behind him and whispered
Tarshish.
"Tarshish," said the delinquent, tri-
umphantly.
VERY WE'LL" said Andy, and the reci,
tation went on.
As might be expected from the peculiar
style of teaching, and the natural Irish
wit of both teacher and scholars, the
answers were at times entertaining.
"Why was holy Jonah cast out of the
whales mouth ?" at length said Andy.
Barney scratched his head for a moment
and was evidently lost. Not being able
to think of the right answer, he at length
ventured one of his own: "Sure an
wasn't it because be disagrayed with him,
to be sure p
His eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he
was answered by broad grin from his
master, instead of the reproof of which
he deserved for making fun of the Scrip
lures.
"Faith. an he's more than half right"
,,,,,,araJ tha ,oaster % himself and he