The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-09-06
Some of My ScOOlmates.
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.

school In the city OF 81. Louis. Inc
building has since been torn down, and l
shall not, therefore, attempt to point it
out to you. Let me say, however, that
the room in which our class Of twenty
members studied and recited was on
the second floor, and that the teacher,
who presided over it, was one of the
most ferocious characters-that is, for a
woman-I have ever known.
On the same seat with me, the desks
being arranged for two, sat boy whose
name was Ned Price. Immediately
across the aisle, on my right, sat an
other boy, named Charles Richardson.
Both of these boys were about my own
age, and full of life, ardor and am
bition.
At the close of the afternoon it was
our wont to recite lesson in geography.
For some reason or other, probably
through forgetfulness, our teacher had
neglected to assign on the preceding
afternoon any regular lesson, and conse-
auently, when we we're once more sum-
moned into line in front of the long plat
form. we closed our books and took up
our position without having made any
preparation.
Our teacher sat at her desk demurely
for while, and then tapped on the bell
as signal for US to assume a soldierly
appearance, with heads up. Presently
she asked the stereotyped question:
"What is the subject of our lesson to-
day."
mot prepared" replied the boy at the
head of the column.
Next"
"You assigned no lesson"
Next"
mot prepared"
Next"
Not prepared
And from the last speaker through the
rest of the class came the same answer,
Not prepared"
/ don't think Miss Brown was aston
ished, as some other persons might have
been under the circumstances. She had
way of her own of getting at the bot
tom of an affair of this sort, and. if never
before, she put it TO practice on this &C.
casion.
Her face was stern and little paler
than usual, but without word by which
to ascertain the cause of the failure of
the class to be prepared in the lesson,
she rose from her seat, opened drawer
and took from il black ruler nearly
two feet in length. Advancing to the
edge of the platform, she began with the
first boy, and only ended with the last,
inflicting as severe feruling as ever
scholar received from an angry teacher
She undoubtedly thought herself justi-
fed for her severity, and if she still lives
has, perhaps, found her reward. Her
pupils went out from the school that
afternoon with painful welts on their
hands; and if these wells still remain on
the hands of every member of that class
as indelibly impressed as they are on
mine, Miss Brown has already raised her
monument!
She assigned us lesson, and in due
time the school was dismissed.
When we reached the school gate we
found that come mischievous scholar had
30 firmly tied the gate with a piece of
clothes line that we could not open it.
Richardson was the Alexander of our
group, and quickly taking out his jack
knife, cut the rope. He was about to
shut the blade when the rush of boys
from behind overcame his footing, and he
fell headlong. Price stumbled over him,
and he, too, fell to the ground.
In q moment, angered by his fall,
Richardson hurled his open blade at his
companion. 1t few by his face, and
imbedded itself about half an inch deep
between the cords of his left hand. The
sight of blood produced the same effect
ON Prices fiery spirit that q lighted
match would have on key of gun
powder.