The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-12-18
PROFITABLE TEACHING.
MISS DEXTER'S PUPIL
by ANNIE T.. PRESTON.

piazza of a popular seaside hotel last
Summer.
That is true, replied his companion.
land SO is the WORK of IA superintend-
ing school committee. The dealing with
ignorant and conceited parents who want
to dictate what their children shall study,
who often have some petty spite against
the teacher or committee to crafty, and
who would not Stop to break up a school
even, could they carry out their mser-
able schemes, is utterly disagreeablc.
No, my friend, there is not money enough
to tempt me to have any thing more to
DO with the management of the schools
in our good town of Mashton;" and the
two men descended the piazza steps and
walked toward the beach,
lady near me, with whom | hao
formed pleasant little acquantanca
looked up and smiled. 1.-THE conscieu
tious teacher, who loves her work" 81
said, docs not always look for immedi
ate fruition Of all her works and hopes.
She is sowing good seed, knowing not
just when OF how the harvest will sue
coed. | taught school for many years,
and am far from declaring it thank
less calling l meet my old scholars
every where, and the thanks I have re-
ceived from them. orally and by letter,
are the pleasantest spots in my life's ca
perience.
just then the owner and proprietor of
the great hotel, Landlord Strong, passed
by the bluff below us, glanced up ard
smiled and raised his hat. Although he
was a very shrewd business man, with
great executive capacity, he was at the
same time large hearted, gentlemanly,
and courteous to every one, and 4 uni
versal favorite. knew that this charm
ing woman, who had been known in her
teaching days as Miss Dexter. had the
best rooms in the hotel, was waited upon
with extra attention. had the most sty!-
ish horses and carriages at her bidding,
and that the landlord never passed her
without raising his hat and bowirg rs if
to queen.
The gentle little woman by my side
returned the bow and smile, and then
turning to me again, said: Eyes, you are
| gathering facts all the time: let me tell
you story for your note book. to be
used at some future time-not here, of
course" l thanked her and she went
| on:
| 81 began to teach when | was fifteen,
with great many enthusiastic ideas in
my little head in regard to my high and
noble calling, which l have kept with M
till the present hour. After teaching
number Of terms, was employed here il
this town to teach the village school il
that very same little building around
the corner yonder, now repaired and USED
for the primary scholars. | boarded al
this hotel, a very small establishment
then, but well kept by the widow Rugs.
The committee had hired me entirely
from my reputation as teacher in the
adjoining town, and when they came to
meet me face to face. and noticed my
youthful appearance, they evidently had
some misgivings as to my ability to NAH
age the largest pupils Of the school, whom
they designated "A hard set Now there
is Tom Strong, said they, we may as
well tell you at the start, that you had
better let him alone; get along with him
the best way you can. When you can-
not stand him any longer, let us know
| and we will send him home. The boy
cannot be taught any thing. We have
had conscientious, painstaking teachers,
who declared that it was impossible t.
teach him to write, spell. or write ilis
| own name even.
found this lad to be tall and thin, Bis.
| and pinched, with hardly life enough l.,
do any thing in school but make gre
tesque faces for the amusement of the
children. | put an end to that at once,
by making a rule that any scholar who
laughed at Tom Strong's faces, should
sit with the dirty, ragged, unkempt boy.
and take lessons from him as facial con
tortionist. while the rest of the scluo!
looked on.
1t did seem as if the poor fellow could
not be made to remember anything; but
| said to myself ''he is not an idiot. and
he shall be taught to read and spell short
and easy words at first, and to write his
name.' He had been laundering alou.
in an advanced reader. with class OF
live, bright boys of his own age and size.
Not wishing to humiliate the lad by put
ting him into the infant class, where ho
really belonged. | had him read by him
self from my pretty red morocco-bound
Bible beginning with the Sermon on the
Mount. and taking up the parallels in
good time.
| set him easy copies il writing. His
indolent and rebellious conduct over this
part of my labors with him attracted the
attention of one Of the older girls, who
said to me one day at recess, 9 | don't
suppose Tom Strong has strength enough
to learn to write or to apply himself 10
anything. His folks are very poor and
shiftless, and they never have any meat
to eat. nor any good. nutritious food
He never brings any dinner or lunch to
eat at noon and never runs and PLAYS
with the boys. He is not strong enough
teacher
That gave me Il clue to the secret OF
the strange, wistful. longing, hungry
look in the poor boys eyes. lay awake
and thought about it all that night. anu
III the morning resolved TO act. After
breakfast | went down to the kitchen
and Mrs. Rugg gave me two or three.
generous slices of roast beef and bread,
some doughnuts and cheese, wrapped up
i'll paper.
Going early to the school house, | found
Tom there, as usual, the first scholar to
be on hand always, although he lived the
farthest off Calling him to me and Civ
ing him the lunch. | said. :" If you will
try to do as well as you can this term.
and be a good, studious boy, | will bring
you nice lunch every day.
lie looked at me wonderingly. at the
same time involuntarily reaching out his
long. skinny hands for the coveted pack
age.
81 be awful hungry, schoolmarm,' Ec
said, land seem there haint none cr the