The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-02
TEN GREAT GALS.

LIN UNLtA1 UAllSs ,
At the age Of sixteen, before we shed
our ''roundabout," we contracted to ''keep
SCHOOL, in District No. for $12 per
month and "boarding 'round." We
knew very we'll the little red school
house, standing at the exact centre of the
district, on the borders of a mighty
swamp, the tarm-houses scattered about
the hills. And we also knew the chronic
nuisance Of that particular school; a squad
Of half-a-dozen rough fellows who had
emerged into "tall coats" and would hard
ly relish the discipline Of boy peda-
gogue in roundabout. After the first
flash of citation of our election, the chill
ing reflection came back, like a return
wave OF ice-water, that, in all human
probability, ere our seventeenth birthday,
should dawn, we should be seen vanish
ing head foremost, out of the school-house
window into big snow drift, propelled
by class No. of big boys.
In our anxiety we applied to Aunt An
ma, the general oracle of the household.
Aunt Anna was stalwart maiden of six
ty summers, gigantic in proportions, but
every inch lady in her dear old heart.
She had nursed half the children in town
through the measels, mumps, and chick
n-pox, and was the main stay in all fam
lily emergencies. There were sly rumors
that the occasional attack of ''fdgets,"
which overcame the good old lady at
night, had some relation to mysterious
black bottle which she always carried in
her work-bag; but Aunt Ann, plus "the
fdgets," was worth a regiment of ordina-
ry fcminines for all the homemade uses
of country life.
''Well, now, you are really going to
keep school in District No. 81 said Aunt
Anna, smoothing down her big-chec>ed
apron, and raising her spectacles for a
good long look at the incipient peda-
gogue, seated at the opposite corner Of
the fireplace. YEA, Aunt Anna, I have
promised to keep that school; but be-
tween you and me, am dreadfully
afraid to tackle that crowd of boys. You
know what rough set they
are, and one of them has already
given out that there will be no more
board wanted in district No. 5 after the
first week. That's serious matter; now
let's see if we can't think of something to
help you. Now you see I don't know
anything about book-larnin'. No doubt
you can cipher that back seat of boys in
to the middle of next week. But they
can fling you over the roof of the school
house in a jitfy, if they have mind to.
I know every family in that district. I've
nussed in every house, and taken the
measure of every youngster that will
come to that school. There's one thing
in your favor, there'll be ten great gals in
that school, and most of 'em are good
gals, too. Now, some of them gals are a
head taller than you, and two or three of
them are right handsome, too. They can
twist that crowd Of great bashful bows
round their little finger if they want to.
Now, mind what tell you; do you 90
right to work and gain the affections of
them ten great gals, and they'll manage
the great boys, while you keep the school.
That sounded we'll; and armed with
this panacea against rebellion, we opened
school the Monday after Thanksg Giving.
1t was a rough-looking set up on the
high seats--that row Of villainous-look
ing fellows, either Of them big enough to
throw us over into the big swamp with
one hand! Happily, our first boarding
place was the home of two Of the "great
gals Never did we clay ourselves out
to gain the good graces of the lovely sex
as during the first week of that boarding
round. We rode on the front of the sled
with the tallest girl-played checkers
with the second, got all snarled up in a
leafs cradle" with the pretty visiting
cousin, and put in a word Of explanation
for the ''hard sums" of all, in the long
evening at home.
The first crisis came at the beginning
of the second week, when big lout
"sauced" the new school-master Some
how, it crushed us, and for minute the
school room swan round, and the idea of
Selling our fur cap and making for home
fitted across our vision. Just then the
patter Of light footstep was heard down
the long slope Of the narrow aisle leading
up to the seat of the "ten great gals
The tallest glided down, ostensibly to
ask the explanation Of a hard sum but,
as we leaned over the slate with dim
ness in the eyes, we heard low whisper
in our ear: "Don't be cast down; we girls
will shame that seat Of boys into good
manners before another week" A light
broke IN; we were gaining the "atfections
of ten great gals
So things drifted for ten weeks, when
dawned the judgment day. We had
gone to board with good, motherly
woman, who loved us as her own son
A big fire in the parlor greeted our ar
rival, and a supper fit for the parson him
self. After tea our hostess appeared in
her best black silk, in her hand mighty
oak ''ruler," and sat down before us with
the air of Minerva. ''Now, matters are
coming to a point in your school; you
have been trying to govern that crowd Of
rascally boys by love, but that has come
to an end. Tomorrow they'll try to put
you out. Take this ruler, and don't come