Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-21
For the Wutch
The Old Red SCHOOL, house.

The least said about the inside the better
there were aud alas are, hundreds just like
it, with its rows of uncomfortable seats its
whitfield desks, and walls decorated by no
common artist. we fain would believe. But
was there ever a red school-house so beauti-
full for situation Was there ever school
so blest in its playground (which was the
whole region round about, doubtless much
to the disgust of the owners. Every inch,
seen through the mist of years, seems like
fairy.land. Iu front of it, with the high
way aud brook between, rose hill, high
and steep, where large and luscious berries
grew, and over which roamed the village
cows now far up its side, and again so near
the tinkling of the cow-bell came floating
muscally in to us as we lolled over our
books of drowsy midsummer afternoon.
Back of the house was the cold spring, from
which we craved the privilege of bringing a
a pail OF water and "passing it round in
rusty tin cup, slyly tipping it little, send
ing stream of water down the outside OF
the throat as well as inside. On the hill-
side beyond, under wide spreading trees,
was a swing, the like Of which we never
since have found, and which was the iuno-
cent cause of many a tardy mark at noon.
On the south and west, over mossy stones
and anon narrow and deep, ran the brook,
adown which we sent our ships (of boards
and bark) and quarreled over "right of
way," and in which we-girls and boys
alike-waded, and took impromptu baths,
for which we were scolded, and sent home
for dry garments, where another scolding
was usually thrown in.
We counted that red-etter day in which,
at recess we saw the yellow stage-coach
coming down the dusty road, when we
stationed ourselves in a row and dropped
courtesy as it passed by, catching glimpse
of its gayly-cushioned seats and coveting the
glory of ride thereupon. Once, and only
once, kindly, child-loving old man threw
out handful of pennies, little dreaming OF
the "apple of discord" they proved to he.
Our winters were by no means dull.
Prominent among the pastimes were, OF
course, coasting and skating. For these
amusements the location of our schoolhouse
was every way desirable; little out OF the
village aud only one house in sight Even
those of us who were known as "large
scholars" and read in the Rhetorical
Reader" were not above joining in these
sports. And in winters we had our writing
schools and spelling-schools Chat have since
died and have been revived again) and they
were vastly pleasant gatherings and the
breaking up was really quite exciting. The
girls who wanted escorts (beaus we called
them) walked leisurey out in the usual way,
while those who didn't want them went back
of the stove, and hurried past the knot OF
boys waiting about the door.
Here, too in the old red school-house the
minister sometimes came of a Sunday even
ing to preach, and the whole district, old and
young gathered together, each family carry
ing a talow candle in a golden-Scoured brass
candle-stick. Also a hymn book, from
which A charge to keep have" was in
varably sung. in nasal tones no doubt; but
what mattered that-the true spirit OF wor-
ship was in it; and many have since passed
to the Land o the Leal and have learned the
"new song of Moses and the Lamb"
All well we are all borne along by the
Flood of Years" We could not keep our
sprng-time if we would, and most of us
were eager to go out into the future, fondly
hoping for bright and prosperous days; which
to some were not afar off, while many of MS
have Travelled far into the summer of our
lives and found them not, but in their stead
came a peace and contentment; and God
knows which is the greater good Others
are not because God took them. And still
others there are who have passed wholly
from our knowledge, and almost from mem
ory but It's our joy to know, not one of al
our youthful friends Can drift beyond Iii
love and care"