The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-01-08
THE OLD DAYS AT SCHOOL
BY CARRIE v. SHAW

They couldn't see my pleasing traits, anu tnellS
couldn't see.
had been a weakly child, and lived my childhood
And then wasn't born like them, and less like
them had grown.
ALI that asked or wanted was my BOOKS, away
And Of all contempt feltI held for girls and
So, when we came to the city and I was sent to
school,
think at first counted as slightly above
fool; aJ t
AND you'll believe me when I say, month or
Took all the conceit ever had most fairly and
squarely out. 1@
But with my books my lonely hours had i'm
proved. you see: 1
And it wasn't long before their scorn had turned
to jealousy;
And it with new sorrow, TOR meath dlscip-
lines rule a8 = t8{ 4 FNU. ~
I was wiser and gentler far than when at first
came to school. @t5tt5
began to see that you cannot go on your way
alone,
Successfully, unless you nave small Worlool soat
But so long as you stay this one. where so many
others stay,
they say. f
So tried to win their favor, was sincere about it,
worked their hard examples that they brought
for me to do.
They were glad of the assistance that gave. OUT,
as / live.
believe they thought the harder of me because
had it to give.
OF their weekly compositions would oft compose
As far as genius that way went, they hadn't much
But. trying my best to please them, it all worked
the reverse;
And. in stead of liking me better they seemed to
hate worse. ' .'
And, I'll tel you, while we're talking, something
that perhaps you know:
You can conquer scorn or hatred, if you have no
other foe;
You can even conquer prejudice if there is no real
blame;
But when envy sides against you, you had best
throw up the game.
There is no propitiating WELL it went on just the
same, '' .'- t'' ~
But could not last forever, and one day the Crisis
came.
was accused of cheating but just how cannot
say;
didn't understand it then, and don't quite to this
day.
But. anyhow they had it fastened solid down on
No good of any protest. had better let it be
And the teacher, fairly doubling, but weak friend
at the best
Hesitated for a moment, then went over with the
rest.
If live till every hair is white as silver in my head
If live till all my friends are dreaming of deaths
dreary bed
If live till all the world is changed from what it
used to be,
shall not forget that morning when the whole
school turned on me-
tried to stammer arguments-the teacher stopped
me first. b.- 81
"Of all things she detested, she detested lies the
worst.
Twas bad enough" she moralized, "to think I had
A cheat, withoutmy adding silly falsehood to the
same.'
And then turned from her, and them with eyes of
mute despair, ~ H#. ..tH
Slowly searched each row of faces for CLEAN of
pity there.
Not ray of kindly interest, but covert smile or
Sneer ''
Met my gaze, with all their cruelty and machina-
lions clear
And stood there, shy and awkward in my shame,
before them all,
And in spite of all my pride the tears of helpless
grief would fall:
shah not forget that moment, to the longest day
live.
II will not forget,"I crieo aloud; neither will
forgive.
"And mark my words" cried, with swelling heart
and burning brow,
FIJI be further above you some day than you are
above now"
And rushed then from the room never needing
the order to stay,
But one desire in my whirling BRAIN and that was
to get away.
Out from the room had learned to love- and down
the familiar stairs,
With heart insanely praying in bitter, passionate
prayers,
And lips tnsanely vowing, in wild, uLreasoniug
vows,
To rise as far above them all as world and its fame
allows.
Out in the yellow sunshine, with it's glad light
knocking me,
Past where the birds were singing in the shady
cedar tree;
Out through the great iron gates and past the
church of granite stone,
For the last time" kept saying "t1ll 1 win
fame my own"
Well, the busy years sped onward, and amid scenes
strange and new
Prosperity had met me. and repaid endeavor true:
But amid it all could not Danish quite the old,
For cruel memory would ever come and bring it
back again.
IN my dreams alone at midnight would come back
the haunting past.
And the faces in the school-room, as I had sur
veyed them last,
The cruel haunting glances and the teachers cut
ting words
And without the happy sunlight and the singing of
the birds.
And the maddening sensation that for no blame of
my own
Twas verbally an outcast on the heartless world
alone:
Till, with cry of terror and with hot tears falling
fast,
would wake to find my anguish but the visions
of the past.
And the bitter, insane longing for revenge would
then return,
1dusing on my early wrongs until both heart and
brain would burn;
and so it was, one sunny morning found me back
again,
Amid the old surroundings of my wrongs and of
my pain.
had now fulfilled the promise that I made long
years ago;
had risen to distinction, such as merit can be-
stow.
And the lights hone on the great iron gates as had
them last
And think the very same birds sang their greet
ings as passed.
With a heart grown stern and bitter. with the
memories surging on,
went to find my teacher-a woman old and wan
who greeted me with glad surprise, and said how
pleased she'd been
10 read ahOut tha hat cba oly sow