Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-09

the window"
"Was she 2" said Marshall Perkins, who
was devouring a plump quarter Of a mince.
pie he had just produced from his capacious
dinner-basket III never thought she was
going TO feel so about it. All the other
teachers have got mad and scolded, and it
was such fun to hear 'em putter.
III think we've treated her plaguy mean"
said Charley Wells, who was dividing a big
red apple with Julia Goodrich, land l for
one am ashamed Of myself"
"Aud she's just as patient as q lamb, too"
said Walter Willard as he was making away
with q large slice Of bread and butter "if
she wasn't patient, she couldn't have ever
made me see through Long Division as she
has"
another saw a lady at Trenton the other
day" said Julia, "who knew all about Miss
Bardwell. She said that she W as the best
girl that ever lived. Her father and mother
are both dead, and she has educated herself,
and now takes care of a lame brother, who
is now way down at DR.. Sweets in Q onnecti-
cut to be treated"
"And he makes pictures Of birds and
animals" spoke up Winthrop Goodrich,
and Miss Bardwell wants to educate him so
he can be a painter and support himself that
way"
This lady," went on Julia, "said that
Miss Bardwell was a-a-let me see-what
was the word-oh, a conscientious teacher
that she chose teaching for a living, be-
cause she thought she could do ever so much
good in this way and she is very fond Of
children"
"And they say she's got a 'plendid educa-
tion," said Julia's little sister, Minnie, with
her mouth full Of gingerbread.
'She's ALFRED good company, anyhow"
said Tom Snow, who was the oldest scholar
IN the school. III was over to her boarding.
place last evening, and she sung ballads aud
played new games, and was Just as nice as n
bouquet Of May flowers in March. l felt as
mean as an old boy the minute l dropped
my slate a purpose this forenoon, and set
you all a going. | move that we all agree
to behave better the rest of the term. We
need somebody to tone US down a little, aud
take off the sharp edges. l know the schol-
ars in tho Piue-Tree District are a rough
set, as everybody says, and for one am will
ing to be improved"
"Aud l." "and l." ''and l." responded
several eager voices.
81 tell you what" suffered George
Bangs, l mo-move we or.organize a society
for the improvement of our manners, and put
in Tom Snow pr-pr-president."
"All right" said Tom, with a laugh 1--WE
won't spend time talking about it, and [ mo-
ton that we set to work at once, and clear
up the school.room and put things iu order"
splendid !" cried Sarah Townc. 81 will
sweep, while the boys pick up the wood.
Sister Mary, you run home and get our
stove.brush and backing, and the rest of
you 60 the woods and bring some pine
boughs and bittersweet berries, to put over
the windows and the door and the black.
board"
"And l will 60 homo and get my new
illuminated motto, Order is Heavens first
Law and hang it ovor the desk where we
can all see it," said Janet Wilbur.
The result was that thirty willing pairs
Of hands had transferred the uatidy, plain
r little school-room into a bower Of beauty
before the return Of the teacher at one
o'clock. She came in with a weary and
) discouraged look, her eyes red from weep.
ing, and a large plaster Of brown paper on
, her forehead, where one Of George Burrows's
] chestnuts had struck her that morning.
When she opened the school-room door
; and found the floor, which was usually
! Uttered up with fragments of lunches, apple
cores, and chestnut and walnut shells, neatly
. swept-the large ~cast-iron stove polished n.
j black as the coats of the crows that kept W
such a crowd on the ~neighboring pines--tht
bare walls decorated with green boughs ant
. . red berries, and a little bouquet of scarlet
. gcranium on the teachers desk-her look o
: pleased surprise was touching enough t.
= = move the most prosaic Of her pupils. In
i corner near the desk stood a slim tough wal
nut "withe," which surely would never bee
placed there, had not the boys made up thei
minds that there should be no necessity 0
! its use. The WATERFALL was filed with ires
% water, and the tin drinking cups hung on
> newly-driven nail above it.
y The scholars, who had by their disorder
: habits for the previous two weeks nearl
q driven their patient teacher to destruction
n were now quietly in their seats, and at tn
first touch of the bell took out their books
6 piled all but the one each was to use a
first neatly on one side of their desks, an
W fell to studying with a will.
The almost fearful smile which brigh
le ened up the little teachers face, as she too
in everything from the motto that was hang
d ing over her desk to the individual domeanC
of her pupils who seemed to be carrying OF
re its sentiments, would have completely ups,
le the newly.actuated dignity Of the mol
,e thoughtless ones, had not Tom Shows shar
le eyes seen everything, and a warning shake
his curly head set them in order.
be Miss Bardwe Il said nothing about tn
OF most pleasing Oh ange in the department
her pupils but tho grateful effect penetrate
ed her like a pleasant odor, and the old-tin
restful yet cheerful expression gradual
e. stole over and shone from her sweet fac
It's She complimented, however, the good tas
that had prompted and carried out Il
er adornment Of the school-room. As the r.
r. naming days of the term sped on, she d
wv everything in her power to show her appr
til citation Of the good conduct Of her scholar
ed Never a school before made such rapid pr
re gress in study as well as most happy imProv
n ment in manners. and there never had bee
ch such a delightful winter spent in that o.
Pine-Tree District school-house.
'et 1t was years after, when Miss Bardw,
ne was Mrs. Thomas Snow, and she was hous
ie- keeping in the old homestead, aud her lar
ne brother, who had become a celebrat
ed painter, was spending a weeks vacation wi
~, his sister, that this little story was read
r the weekly meeting of the "Pino.Trco Lite
airy Club" held at her house, and she heaI
for the first time to that society for the pl
motion of good manners which was organic
lbs in that little school-house on that trying di
. to her, and of which her husband was pre-