Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-03
ROW TOM TEAzER WAS CUgED.

10 "Once upon time" on a summer's
day in the afternoon, a village school,
overcome by heat, confinement and the
mischief, had, by various misdemeanors
common TO such little people, exhausted
the good nature Of the teacher. IT was
one Of those afternoons which come some-
times In school life, when meddlesome
Mick" turns books and brains upside
down, and everybody says, That's right
keep on; we'll all help" Even the "best
boy in school," Joel Goodhue, jotcd the
ranks Ga little in the rear). and as for the
worst boy" Tom Teazer. he found his,
match in more than one instance on this
occasion. ~" A-@4"7p
I Black marks, zeroes and checks were
too nsmerons TO mention. Tom Teszer
having received twenty ferrule strokes for.
pulling long gold hair from Daisy Dow's
head sulked and idled. Master Snipp 4
small boy out at the elbows but in for fun, len
stood in the corner blindfolded for touch- 4
ing the tip of his little pug nose to the
inkstand. and then looking about with an
air OF mock innocence at the gigglers, as
much as to say, "Wot yer laughin' Atpsla .
Mary Smallweed pretending to cipher
was detected in designing an outline not O.,
suggested by his drawing manual /; to wit,
bald-headed profile, blink eyed and long
nosed, with the word "teachern UNDER
meath. A little girl who failed. on the
word Feathers" (Which she spelt f e-t- =,
ter s) cried to be let loose and go home :
A little boy cried about nothing In partic- y
ular. except to help the game ont. A large
boy dropped his slate and picked it right
up. SO as to have it already again to drop
at the next favorable opportunity. -
Mischief frolicktd behind the first class
in geography the second class in reading
and third class in arithmetic. down to the &
last youngster that stood at the foot OF the f,
prim' class, trying to place his ragged
toes ''on the line" and read, "Ii-is-a-hot-
day. t--us-go--to--the--w oods--and-- find
| have no doubt that act g.
ing upon the suggestion from the primer
an mpromptu picnic would have been
common delight TO all hands. In the midst
OF snickering, busting, murmuripg, imi-
tative sneezing, browsing and general %
restlessness, little hand, like a white lily
out OF bubblng stream, rose up and
little voice piped Plealh can we sing John
Browth body ?" With the happy thought
OF the child came deeper one TO the
teacher, who seemed TO hope thatthrough
the music the troubled waters might be
as she snilingly consented to the
gentle request. OF course there was
general rush and smash tor singing books
but when each ear could hear the clock
tick. and the song came forth, how the
chorus sweled and burst from every heart
How the young forms sat up in orderly
array. and raised their happy voices. How u
the teacher leaned back in
her chair with folded hands. Little Snip
in tho oornar hlapblv fovpatC,I <,f s.cp,t,
nose and punishment, felt that his heart
and soul could .march on in song and
lead all the rest, which he did successfully.
Even Tom Teazer, who sulked through
the first two verses, hustled out his book
and the place just in time for the third
chorus. The summer wind blew in and
out. carrying the Glory, glory, Hallelu- !.
'ah" across the meadows and cornfields.
where each silk tassel caught the mighty
strain and tossed it to its neighbor. The
honey bees buzzed away, to carry the en- p
notes to the hearts of all the wild
flowers and what with insect voices be-
low and above the grass, and the Joyous
carol of the birds, the sweetest concord
that ever filled the air came echoing back
to the old red schoolhouse. r.,. l ,1
Then the children sang "Love one an
other" 1.-The happy days at school, and
"Jesus, tender shepherd" and somehow.
when lessons were resumed, quiet. earn
est interest seemed to have dropped like
holy spell upon the young assembly.
When the hour OF dismissal came and
the long line one by one passed out on
tiptoe, who WAS The last scholar that look
ed real sorry and tried to tread softly as
best he could with his weather worn, clum-
" cowhjdesp Why. T. T.. Of course. .--s.f
NeW England Journal Of Education. p.