Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-03-14
From the Ohio Farmer
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

the scene; the four brick walls that
inclose so much innocence and hap
piness. What pleasant associations
come floating back to us, when in
reverie, we dwell upon boyhood
sports. No greater depths Of mis-
cry or heights of happiness and
real solid enjoyment do we ever ex-
pect to pass through, than during
our sojourn in the district school
room. The Master, what an object
of remark and curiosity. The boys
wonder show big he is and the
girls whisper Il wonder if he is
handsome" The first day ofschool
comes, and little before nine, in
walks the phenomena, School be-
gins, musty books are brought
forth, and lessons given out, and
then they settle down to tho same
school life as in winters gone by.
In truth it may be said that the
master sis monarch Of all he sur
veys," for the six hours Of the day
he has a little Worldly himself. All
looking to him as the "IIead Cen
ter" and chief justice Of the petty
disagreements and school boy broils
which seem indispensable in the
routine of their school duties
They must look to him for the final
settlement, and at his hands the bel
ligerents must receive a satisfactory
verdict.
What sacred associations cluster
around the teachers desk there
upon we find the school bell, the
daily roll, pen and ink, and a mis-
cellaneous collection of broken
tops, marbles, jack knives, and
strings of all shades and forms,
which in a moment Of indiscretion
were brought forth, and then seized
upon with a relentless grasp,
The master announces "recess
for the boys" then what a scramble
for caps, and taking little heed to
cautionary advice about "too much
noise" they rush out into the glad
some air, and give vent to the long
pent up feelings by a succession of
shouts and upward tendency Of bats
and caps.
Quite an epoch in the district
school life is the spelling school
when the neighboring schools are
challenged to combat for the cham
pionship in combining the twenty
six letters in correct forms, called
words. ..
The evening is at hand, the school
is called to order, and the combat
ants take their places. First comes
long list Of easy words, and by
general consent considered as
merely the prelude to the final
conflict, Presently the words be-
come more lengthy, and here and
there they begin to drop, first on
one side and then on the other, un-
til at last but two remain standing,
one from each of the opposing
schools: and then what q nuttcr
around the room, each one strong
In the belief that their side will win.
Then comes n word harder than the
rest, the speller hesitates, begins,
then another halt, a moment of con
fusion, there, he is down-no--an-
other effort, feebler than the first,
but IL is of no use, and down he
sits, amid a shower Of applause
from the yictors the fortunate one
spells a few more words, and sits
down, the target Of adnlring CLAN
res from the girls, and envious ones
from some of his opponents; then
comes the putting on Of coats,
fur tippets and warm hoods
he pairing of, and the tucklng in
Of robes with glad good night,
party animosity Is thrown aside,
and with horses heads toward home,
each load and group wend their way
homeward.
Shall we meet again 2
What think you, ye gay reyel,
ers =? is this all Of life? does this
meet the aim Of our creation ? No,
verify no, there are higher duties to
perform, nobler achievements to ac-
romplish. Before US lies the beat.
IN path Of life, wholly new TO us,
along, w4ich so many have gone
before, where so many have failed,
and but few triumphed
Take heed, therefore, and in