The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-10
THE DAILY STAR
tFrom the Youths Compartment
CATCHING THE SCHOOLMASTER.


"Why, of course, He is too young 10 be
married."
SThen let's see who'll catch him."
laughed the pert girl of the village.
@fou won't" said pretty Jessie Warner
sand why not wonder'"
"Because II don't think he is the kind
70 be caught that way"
"Oh, you are going to try the coy and
retiring young woman, are you'" said
Frank. Her name was Frances.
al am not going to try anything He has
only been here few days"
"We'll see," said Frank, tossing her
black curls "They say he is studying law
and l mean to marry lawyer if can.
The catching had hitherto been done
by the wiry, nervous schoolmasters, made
tyrants by the idleness and insolence of
the larger scholars. They had caught boys
by the collar; caught the older girls read
ing novels; caught them writing love-let
tiers, instead Of compositions, and held
them up to the ridicule of the school.
This regime had passed away. A young
md handsome man had met the scholars
rs a gentleman meets young ladies and
gentlemen, and now some of the girls de-
clared, as no girl with self-respect would
declare, that he was to be caught himself.
But, strangely enough, the master
seemed determined not to be "caught." In
vain, invitations poured in upon him to
parties; in vain the nets were spread in
his sight; in vain some of the young la
dies dressed for him, and smiled at him.
He could be seen only at school, in the
street, or at church.
ale is just poke" said Frank pouting
"and do hate poke, young or old!"
One pleasant evening, several of the
girls met together in the sitting-room of
Dea. Tufts. Now the deacon was a Grip
pie, and as he had been chosen postmaster
and could not go out to the office, the
office came to him.
As was often the case in these informal
little meetings, the master was the subject
under discussion.
"Have you caught him YETI" asked
one of the girls of Frank, slyly.
"Oh, Jessie, here, seems to be the favor
ite," said Frank. "He has eyes only for
her. Hope she appreciates the attention"
"Of course appreciate his Kindness"
said Jessie, with laugh. "Why, only
think! he's going to teach me French"
"Indeed the district doesn't paw him for
giving you private lessons though" said
Frank, almost angrily.
"Certainly not" replied Jessie, "but his
time is his own out Of school hours. OF
course try to return his kindness"
"You have the coast clear before you,
haven't your"
"Well if you mean he boards at our
aouse, and must be treated kindly, yes.
The night you were all at the dance he
took mother and me to ride"
"So that's the reason he didn't come to
my party" cried Frank, her eyes red as
well as her cheeks.
"Partly, and partly because he hates
dancing,--he told me So"
allow well you are matched! "retorted
Frank. "You don't dance and he don't
Nike it. If you keep on you will catch
him, never fear!"
"Oh, but l neither wish nor intend to
-atch him."
"Maybe he is engaged to somebody al
ready, he acts like it" was the suggestion
Of Franks cousin.
ale has plenty of letters addressed in a
Rdy's handwriting, said the deacon, hold
ing one up for them to see,and he turned
away with a queer smile, "but am pretty
sure none OF them are from sweetheart. "
"Maybe he has got sister,.
ale has and a mother too. His sister
q married, and the mother is with her"
"Oh, but then what does he want to hire
4he brown cottage fori" queried quiet
little girl "Father has it to let, you know,
and it seems to me heard him say the
,<hoolmaster wanted it for his family"
"Absurd" exclaimed Frank
At this the postmaster laughed aloud.
"If he is engaged he's mean enough!'
Aaid Frank, with warmth. 1.-THE idea of
him coming here under false pretencesp
"Did he ever tell anybody he was not
engaged" asked the deacon.
al don't know as he did, and Pm sure
don't care if he is engaged to dozen girls!
If he is conceited enough to think do,
I'll soon undeceive him."
"Hush, Frank, there is Mr.. Evans I
hope he didn't hear u.s. said Jessie, as the
lall figure of the clergyman entered.
"Who cares' If you suppose l am
afraid of the minister, you are Mistaken
she added, and boldly walked up to him,
heated with temper and cnagrin.
"Mr. Evans, you are one of the school
committee" she "a 18th the assurance
a~r . L,,;,ae. ~, atroy, of forty ttWill Won