The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-21

Where untold memories hover,
Eyslids touched with the seal of death,
And the ltfui dream isover. .'- r.
TEACHING SCHOOL. II
BY AN OLD CONTRIBUTOR. 7f9
A broilingJune day. Purple freight
ed lilac blossoms nedding outside the
unpainted school buiIding-big blue
flies buzzing on the unwashed panes
within. The Thermometer at eighty,
and the scholars swinging their heels,
and signing to think of the little brook
that went babbling through the glen
just below the hill. And the clock
hands pointing to eleven. al8i, 9.f,s4.
Mary Milford sat very straight and
determined behind the wooden desk
at the end Of the room-a black eyed
girl of sixteen. with dark chestnut
hair curled around her small head,
perfectly arcbed eyebrows, and deep
dimple just at the point Of her chin.
Mary had only taught school month,
but she had already felt the thorns of
petty daily annOyances that bristled
around the tempting rose of sixteen
dollars a month. And of all the thorns,
| .Inp nj I. l.u oh - y
Joe was lounging in very cavalier
fashion on, a bench by the door-a
great, Overgrown lout of eiyhteen or
so, and tawny hair overhanging his
face like the name Of lion. Joe was
one OF the probiems of the neighbor-
hood-apparently sent into il, just to
torment and aggrevate the peaceable
souls therein. If there was good in
him, nobody had yet found it out.
State prison was the mildest fate
prophesied to him-and his old uncle,
aeapairing of making anything else
out OF him, finally decided to send him
to school. f.. s.
'P'raps,' said old Simeon Markham,
book larnin' III do it. Nothin' else
will, for I've tried it, .agas Ia
So here was Joe, terrible bette n0ir
in the eyes of poor ttleMary Milford,
doing nothing himself, and egging on
the smaller boys to all sorts of insur-
rection and rebellion.
Joe said Miss Milford, looking up
suddenly. what are you doing?' 3v7
Nothing!' insolently respondedJoe.
'You are telling me a falsehood,'
said Miss Milford. You have slate
hidden under the bench, and you are
playing fox and geese 4i b
Il ain't,' said Joe. 9Hr
Bring me that slate SAID Miss Nit
ford. af H t1i .aaa< %
Il won't!' said Joe.
A spot of deep rose mounted to each
of Miss Mitfords cheeks. The test
moment she had so long dreaded and
anticipated had come at last. Joe had
declared open rebellion, and he must
either be conquered or capitulated to.
joe said Miss Milford, 'if you do
not Immediately obey me. 1 shall be
compelled TO punish you.'
your croaked Joe, in his odd,
changing voice. You! Punish me !
There never was woman yet that did
that, and l guess you won't be the
first
And Joe laughed derisive cacLle.
The little school children sat breath
less-a hush fell on the whole room.
Aud Mary Milford knew that what
was to be done must be done quickly,
or the moral effect would be ruined,
Joe,' said she, come here
But Joe sat still, chewing a straw
and whistling insolently. H.."fa5
'Then,' said Miss Milford, 4 shall go
to YOU
Taking the ruler in her hand-Miss
Milford didn't believe in moral suasion
any more than other spirited little
school ma'ams do she walked down
the aisle with cherry red cheeks and
dark glittering eyes. f.''ii'
Hold out your hand said MissMit-
ford. +94 Il
'I'll sec you further first said Joe
a remark which elected u breeze of
spasmoJic giggle all over the school
room.
Mary Milford took him by the arm,
he jerked tho ruler away from her
with a force that made her turn pale.
'Oh,' she cried out, you have sprain-
ed my wrist! Fie, for shame, TO hurt
a womsnr fu
And she sat down trembling. A red
billow Of emotion surged across Joe
Markham = putty colored complexion.
There was something imMiss Mitford's
psllor, in the qniver of her lips, that
strack a hitherto mute chord in his
nature.
Il didn't mean to +! Sure as the world,
didn't mean to, Miss Mitford,' he
blubbered out. q hadn't any idea
gripped you! Here's the ruler you
dropped. Lick me! Give il to me
hard / won't say nothing!
And, humbly offering her the ruler
with one hand, he extended the other
hinge paw for punishment.
0nce-twice-three times, the ruler
came down with no slight force on
JOe's palm. sa-uif
Now do you think yon can behave
yourself?' said Miss Milford.