The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-01-27
THE New Boy"


ing him by licking three boys and riding
the gate off its hinges He went in with
the crowd when the bell rang, and, finding
no empty seat, he perched himself on the
wOod-box. When the children repeated
the Lords Prayer" in concert the new
boy "kept time" with his heel, and when
they came to sing he argued that variety
was the spice of song, and attempted to sing
one of his own-one about a gentleman
named Daniel Tucker, who dreamed that
he was dead, and so forth The teacher
warned him to keep still, and he replied he
wouldn't come to that school if his musical
qualifications were to be overlooked When
school finally opened the teacher secured
his name and began asking him questions
graded.
''Can you spell p she asked
"What kind Of spelling ?" he cautiously
replied.
spell house, if you please"
"Frame or brick house ?" he asked.
ANY kind of a house"
"Wlth a mortgage on it ?"
"You may spell man if you will" she
said, giving him severe look.
"Man ?"
"Yes."
II don't care much about spelling man
this morning, but I will this afternoon
I've spelled it with my eyes shut"
"Do you know your alphabet p she
asked, changing the subject.
"Never had anyr was the prompt re-
ply.
DO you know anything about reading?"
II read like lightning 2" he answered
She handed him reader and said:
''Let me hear you read"
Read right out loud ?"
''Yes."
I'm afraid it would disturb the child
ren, he whispered.
''Go on and let me hear you read"
He looked carefully at the page, scowled
his brow, and read
''If | was lame boy and didn't get any
peanuts in my stocking Christmas, dunn my
eyes but I'd make things jump around
that house next morning p
He handed the book back, and the teach
er then asked
Richard, how many are three and
three p
''Three and three what p he inquired
''Anything"
''Its good deal according to what i.
is" he replied, as he settled back Il
know that three and three cats don't make
dog ?"
did you ever study geography, Rich
ard ?'
''Yes, man,"
'What is geography 2"
''Its book"
SIS this world round or fat ?"
"Hills and hollers ~ he replied.
Richard, can you write ?"
"Write what -
'Can you write your name p
Il could, [ suppose but I've got my
name without writing it.
"Can you write letter p
"Who to ?"
"To any one"
"Yes, | could, if 1 had any money to pay
the postage
"Well, Richard" she said, in despair,
you'll have to 90 into the lower room if
you want to come to school here"
81 druther stay here"
"But you can't
"I'll bet you this knife agin ten cents l
can"
She took him by the arm to remove him,
but he laid his hand on her shoulder and
said III a warning voice
Don't get me mad, now, or I'll let my
self loose
She called the principal down, and as he
approach the boy he commanded
''Boy, what are you doing here p
Getting educashun J" replied Richard.
"You 90 right down stairs now T. con-
tinued the principal.
''Well, dowr't sass me, for | was never
here before ~ replied Richard, slowly mov-
ing his legs as if he meant to get down.
The principal took him by the collar and
jerked him around, got kicked on the shin
and bitten in the wrist, and finally landed
the young student on the walk.
''Now you go home ?" he shouted as he
tried to recover his breath.
cam [ educated p inquired Richard.
"You seem to be.
"Gimme a diplomy, then
'You clear out or LII have you arrested. )"
"Haint | scholar in this school no
more p
"No, sir"
"Who owns this school house ~ de-
manded the boy
"No matter-you clear out"
"Will you come out in the yard hers