The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-04-20
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS STORY,
BY J. MAURICE THOMSON.

You ask me why am opposed to fog>
glng children at school. will tell you
1t makes them hate their teacher when
they ought TO love him Children are
little grown folks, if you will accept the
expression, and like big grown folks, they
always remember, even if they forgive
blow. When | was boy | happened to
get soundly thrashed at school pretty
often, and do most frankly acknew ledge
that dislike TO this day every teacher
that ever whipped me. But 1 have a
story TO tell from which you may draw
your own moral.
| taught school once myself. 1t was
down IN rural district OF Pennsylvania
The school was a small one, and the
scholars were mostly under twelve years
of age. One, however, was thirteen, "A
pretty, brown~eyed girl, just as smart and
clever as she could be and withal mis-
chevous as mouse. Her name was
well, they called her Joe-Joe Milroy.
Her parents were poor but highly respect
| able, living on a little forty acre farm.
| Joe was one of the most unruly girIs |
ever saw. You couldn't keep her out of
mischief hated to whip her, she was
getting so much like a woman in size,
and didn't like to expeI her from school,
| tor she always knew her lessons by heart
| y, she had the quickest mind | ever saw
| But, cir, she kept the whole school un-
ruiy. A hiile boy would throw paper
wads across the floor, and of course I'd
whip him
Joe Milroy throws 'em and ye don't
lam her fUr II, the urchin would be sure
! 10 say. f-..
Joe Milroy made such funny picter
on her slate -
What was to do Matters got worse
and worse Finally [ went to AIr. Mil
roy, and kindly but frankly told him all
about the way things were going on, and
asked him what course l had better pur-
sue.
"Whip her, sir" said he emphatical!y,
"whip her good Make her mind you
just the same as the other children =
That's what | say. / want my child
controlled at school, do
Well, went back to my school fully
determined On bringing Joe Milroy to the
mark An opportunity was not long
wanting. | kept a sharp look out and
presently l saw Joe make a great funny
| picture, and throw the bit of paper on
which it was drawn, clear across the
room to some little boys. The urchns
began giggling and tittering forthwith.
took my whip firmly in my hand, fixed
my eyes sternly on Joe, and walked up to
her. She saw | meant something, aud
her pretty, roguish face grow pallid in a
second. did not cay word, bat raised
my whip and gave her about ten severe
lashes
''Oh, sir, oh :" she cried at first, then,
closing her lips until they pressed into
each other, she looked me almost ferceIy
in the eyes till my blows ceased.
After that | had no more trouble in my
school, All went on we'll to the eEd
Joe knew all her lessons, but was quiet
and reserved. The last day came, aud
gave the children Great of candy and
raisins. When Joe's share was given her
she pushed it aside and would not taste
it. | knew by this that she was brooding
| over her late chastisement. l wanted to
part friendly with all my pupils SO went
and sat down by Joe and said
whats the matter, Joe 90
She iooLed "P With s-oat calm eyes
started in spite of myself. Those were
no longer the eyes of a little girl. They
were the eyes of woman.
81 will never forget your ungentlemanly
cruelty, never, never - she said steInly
as man might have spoken.
| l tried to reason with her. telling her |
had done it for her own good, but she
only shook her head and compressed her
| lips.
Well, | went away from that neigh5or-
! hood never to return. Fortune favored
me and l became wealthy. Ten years
bad made me wiser man as well as
richer one. Nor was L unknown to fame
In certain city whittier L had gone to
deliver course of lectures to young
mems society, | got acquainted with a
young woman, Josephine Milroy by name,
whose father was millionaire. With
this young lady fell desperately in love.
Oh, sir, she was finely, superbIy, really
| beautiful. She was we'll educated, grace~
ful, and the finest singer l have heard in
private. Her conversational powers were
charming, and with all this she Was ten
der and womaniy.
i pressed my suit, never dreaming Of
the little girl had whipped in the country
school. She gave me her heart and all
the wealth of woman's affection it con-
tanned, and IL gave her my very SOUL
How happy L was only a true lover,
who feels the glorious Influence of gifted
womans power, can know
One evening my affianced bride and l
took stroll together in the park of the
city. We sat down on the grassy brink
of miniature lake, in the centre of which
a great sea monster In bronze threw up
strong jets of flashing water, while all
around him lay green, fowery islets bask-
ing the rich glories of an early June day.
We talked of our love and our coming