The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-25

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you not know that 1T is impossible to
study when in bodily discomfort, and
THAT q continuance of such exposure
as this will cause lifelong injury to
the constitution"
"ThaLs fact, echoed his visitors.
swell, gentlemen, what are you
going to do?" =
Messrs. A., B. and c. hcmmed,
looked at each other, at the sky, on
the ground, waiting, probably for an
idea TO arrive gratuitously.
"Could yon meet some day, TO-
morrow if possible, and make the re.
pairs yourselves. A little time and
labor will work wonders, and if each
will contribute his share, the whole
will not be burden, and will certain
y cost less than the physician's fees
you may be called upon to pay if you
disregard the health of your chill
drcn."
Messrs. A. and 3. supposed they
could come, but Mr. C. had to go to
town next day, and, rs it was impos.
sible to accomplish anything without
universal cooperation, the work was
necessarily postponed. With the
parting injunction, "Let us know if
the children need books" the patrons
sauntcrcd off.
Mr.. lothian wrestlcd through the
day endeavoring to class The little mr.
chins, no three Of whom had the same
'eXt books. On the third day he
found several gentlemen at the school
house, sitting around unconcernedly
and oonversing in manner quite sat
isfactorily to themselves, so lie
thought they must have ma ie, consd-
cradle progress with their work, and
made remark to that effect. ~.
awe are waiting for d. to come"
said A. ''lIe promised to come ear
~ and bring some plank"
SO they waited several hours, but
as d. did not come, c. went 10 find
him, and he found him q half mile
distant trying TO lire man whom he
met on the road to labor OH his farm
that year. Ofeourse, he had no plank,
which had to be sent for, and Mr.. Jo-
than rctrcated at mid day leaving
them with nothing accomplished. Ho
suffered severely for week from the
exposure which paste and paper help
ell but little, and had scarcely moral
courage sufficient left 10 encounter
his next discouragement. Which was
the difficulty he experienced in procur-
ing books. Several bought Immediate. |
ly but rs the pupils were classcd, it
was desirable for all to commence ut
the same time, and very few children
arewilling to allowothers the privilege
of handling their new books, being
very ready with the inquiry, "Whv
don't your pa buy hool; like mine
for you" but some never did, and
Mr.. Jotham's horizon closed in
aIOullu Hln Narkly.
After several months public schools
were closed and reports handed in,
but there was no money in the treas
ury, and Mr.. Jotham thought of con-
tinuing it as n private school. There
Tore he sent notes to all the parents,
but spring was advancing, and the
little heads and hands had other
training in store for them.
On the opening morn, many empty
seats confronted him; he glanced
around at the furniture and beheld
several logs split in two for seats,
desk, that is, two boards inserted in
the wall-only these and nothing
more-no blackboard, no teachers
desk, not even friendly chair for
his weary frame, Mr.. Jotham sighed,
and turned to the perusal OF note
handed to him.
"MR. JosoN.-I have received your
n"te-l wants my children to get an
education, but il is hnrd times and
can't Satford to- pay your price for
tcachin'. It is too much-the livin'
arc oil on one side. If you will teach
them for one dollar n month will
sen and will pay you mex fall"
'Too much J" mused this ambitious
young man. "Board at SO per month,
eight scholars Mt Sl.25 cach--inci-
dental expenses. Truly 'thc livin' are
all on one side ="
In this decidedly practical sketch,
some OF you, ut least those who have
taught in the country, will recognize
the discouragcmcnts most commonly
met with by teachers, and which i
have endeavored to illustrate in this
manner. They can be summed up in
few words: The indifference of pa
rents, their shifting of all responsible
lty on the Instructors Of their children,
the insultlciency of wages, the diff