Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-03-19
Charlie Henton's First School.

lie was eighteen years old, made from
Natures Own vitality, and developed by
the gymnastics of farm life-a clear.
blue-cyed young fellow, with broad
white brow, aud fun working around his
honest lips. He was pitching of corn.
stalks from hay rigging IN his fathers
barn-yard, when TIHSieu Bancroft came
along, and leaning over the barn-yard
gate, shouted staunchly:
Charlie, what do you sayf We
want you 10 teach our school this win
ter %
ooh, yes, III teach iie SCHOOL, came
the careless response, as be kept pitching
off fodder for the COW.
" How much will you teach for 2" ask
the trustee, beginning TO cut notches
with his knife Oh the top of the gate.
self"
"Oh, yOn cant mean that, Charlie 7"
said the trustee, with assurance. We've
never paid much over half of that. We
ought 10 get you icr less. You're a be-
g'hner you know
at this, Charlie Benton turned about.
and looked at the man he had been talk.
ng with, lie took off his hat, and
throwing back his brown curls in a sum.
mersault over the back Of his head. he
said, pointedly:
" You can't mean, Mr.. Bancroft, that
you are in earnest in this talk %
p" Am nost certainly. Why not %
"Fll tell you why. I've been to school
all my life with these boys and girls, and
we've beta children together Moreover,
Pye arranged TO go to D. Academy
next week, for the uinter.n
"Well, that can he dispensed with,
you know. We've been talkin The m 1t.
ter over, and thought we'd like to have
you teach Tor US. How much will you
take :"
| just what said> Mr.. Bancroft. I'll
teach, must be paid iE it," There was
40 half way III the boys dispositions a
sad face would send tear down in his
heart, sad Il niggardly insult would feel
the tonic of has fist
Mr.. Bancroft whitfield away at the
notch awhile, and thcn said:
You'll give until tomorrow to de-
eide, | suppose -
"lll give you until sundown." Aud
a. sundowE Charlie Berton WAS hired To
teach the winter school, in wlIicl. he had
been part and parcel, and waS laaaotls
for it's adva"crd scholarship, AS well a.
tor having ore OF the worst boys in the
! world to deal with. That was Harvey
Raymond, the Deacon's son. lie had
been expelled from the school the past
four or tive successive winters, and was Il
conceded leprobate.
The Deacon was an old fellow; enough
OF Purltanic iptions ~ his head To spoil
dozen ingenious children, and foster II
race OF spr tless bock-hea that did
20 pos, IS energy or genius enougI, to
storm Il snow castle. Seeing Cl aries
pass, u day or two later, lie hallooed to
| him:
"Iou expect TO teach our school this
winter, Charle?"
Yes, sir, expect to-" was the reply,
swell, what are yoa gong to do win
Harvey2" growled the Deacon.
DO WIN Harvey? Why lrand l
have always been good tiiends."l
eyes, know that. But he always
dislurbs the school. What are you go
ing to do with him ?"
You think Harvey Il bad boy, don't
you, Dcacon:"
+" Ba d of course | do. lie is one OF
the worst boys ever saw, aud he'll ne
yer know anything. Hen make YOU
troublr," And the Deacon shook his
head ominously.
"Deacon, don't think Harvey q bad
boy. He's the smartest and biggest
hearted boy you've got, aud am gong
to treat him accordingly, and advise you
to do the same. don't think you do
right by Harvey Deacon;" and Charlie
Benton turned his blue eyes straight Oh
the Deacon, who might have thought the
lad conceled young adviser, it he had
not known him from his childhood.
Molday morning came, and school
opened with halt hundred pupils
There were half dozen young women
Charlie had f,irt,d with, and twice rs
many boys about Charities age, and some
older ones. Ard before he had been
their playielluw and companion. 1t was
altogether a trying time to the young
teacher and his face might have been
paer when he made his opening speech.
He stood up quietly for moment, and,
alter sending look straight into each i'll
dividual face, said
/" Scholars You and | have been
playmates aud pupils together. You
know all about me, and know all about
you, The trustees have hired me to
teach the school this winter and have
pledged themselves To sustain me IN
whatever undertake, right or acrO"g.-
intend to help you all can, and want
you to help me. Morei il there is sn-
gle scholar here whv does not come With
the intention and desire to learn, | want
him to leave at once; but | hope none
will leave. In school, am MIR. Benton.
| We are to be scholars together in school,
for | expect to learn as much as you. Out
of school, shall be Charlie, il you like,
and your playtellow, as heretofore"
He had been such a jolly young fellow
that the girls, with whom he had Always
been tavorite, "cackled" over the iun
they would have IN school aud the boys
had crowed in similar manner.
The morning session passed off order
y and quietly. In the afternoon, one OF
the girls Charlie had iiirted with, aud
been on intimate terms OF acquaintance,