The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-03-10
Recollections ofSchool Teach.
ing.

wicked ancestor, reserved throug
seven generations to be wreaked o
my innocent head.
IF all the funny and ludicrou
things Of teachers life, togethe
with other experiences not SO funny
were recorded, we would have
volume a trihe larger than Webster
Royal Quarto; but at present, fev
words may be interesting about tn
literature of rural schools. Thei
social and mental status, perhaps
can be easily seen after we shal
have given few specimens Of thci
bellies iettres, all real, the originals 0
which are in the writer's possession
it being his fortune-more properly
| misfortunc-to have his lot cast fol
four months past, among the "hairy
nation" inhabiting the classic shade.
| of-and hence he knows whereof ht
speaks.
Truly, jewels lie hidden beneath
the dust we tread. Why may not
genius be growing-rank and ram.
pant-as we'll in the historic regions
of-"as it ever did in the Valley OF the
Vancluse q ''Village Hampdcns, "
''mute inglorious Millions in rich
profusion, may be there, in any
numbers, awaiting some lucky chance
to string their harps, or pluck up
some "rod of empire
The little ''lambs'' of my school,
inwardly ravening wolves) manifes-
ted great penchant for writing
owe letters, and it was astonishing to
see the degree to whicE they cultiva-
ted the affections.
One of the most amorous in my
school was gay youth OF fourteen.
His talents went in that. direction al
together for truth to tell he shone
in nothing else. Nature had been
either blind or unkind in her dealings
with him; had given him two small
green eyes, as loving as hornets,
q head tapering as a pyramid, Il
mouth into which an ordinary squash
could be thrust, and but Que ear.
Here are few of his cooin gs, fac
siosites are given:
"Dear ella. seat myself to let you
no ime we'll, and why didn't you
speke to Me this morning. han't
mad at you. love you more than
anything ever sean. gud by, from
NJ. p"
Of course he must have had his
ups and downs in love affairs like
most other people.
Again he writes:
"Dear ellen, seat my self to let
you no thar is q Partie over on sope
crick to-morry mite, and want you
to so. i will cum after you with
slay as staying is gud. must cum to
close. trum Martcn p
We never learned whether or not
he carried out his sanguinary inten-
tions. The course of true love, after
all his efforts, did not seem to run
very smooth, for subsequently, he
says; always seating himself first)
"Dear ella, i seat myself to let you
no that am we'll and i hope when
thes fue lines Gums to end will find
YOU well, and ii You are mad at me
why say SO, and if you hant why say
so, for can't look over TO you but
what you curl up your nose like You
was mad at me. | will cum to 4 close
for this time. marten p to ella"
From another smittcn swain OF
fifteen:
Dear Ellen, i Seat my seat To let
you now that am we'll at present
and hoap when thes flew lines
comes to hand to it will find you are
well.
don't feel lil ritten eny more atole
this time, SO will cum to u close for
this time. david t. to ella ---'
From hopeful Miss Of nine to a
venerable youth OF seven:
"Dear tomis love you lots.
Short and sweet she III cant to be.
From precocious young lady Of
six to a young gentleman ofthe same
age
Dear tom, love you and you love
me. good By
Here is one whose author bubbled
over with rhyme:
'.Long is the ring that has no end
and SO is my 1--we for you my friend,
right soon."
One more Of the same pattern.
"My pen is pour, my ink is pail,
and my love for you is MS long as u
rail-"
An entry in u copy book, evident
ly not for my inspection, read thusly:
"Just after geography lesson.
Contound you what makes
you so cross? You are crosser than
the devil, SO you are You dang
fool OF a goose. never saw such a
cross follow"
But We pass from eplstolatory,.
The wallis OF my school room We're
adorned with various inscriptions
and hieroglyphics Of which select
one, written up near the ceiling the
writer evidently having excelsior"
in her mind, good by TO this old
School House, after Safer Day, l Hav
finished my edication and we are awl
going Home
One more specimen, an eShaus
tive essay on "Hopc, and out ofpity
| IN rsaIer and y,ripiar WA ara apnn