The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-05-20
Catching the School Master

Catching the School, Master
Young and handsome?"
Yes, just as nice as can be-"
"Single?"
Why, of course. He is too youne
to be married"
"Then let's see who'll catch him,
laughed the pert girl of the village.
You WON'T" said pretty Jessie
Warner.
"And why not, 1 wonder2"
Because II don't think he's the
kind to be caught that way
90, you're going 10 try the coy and
retiring young woman, are you p said
Frank. Her name was Frances.
"Tm not going to try anything
was the response. He has only been
here few days"
Well see," said Frank, tossing hel
black curls. f" They say he is studying
law, and mean to marry a lawyer il
cam"
The catching" had hitherto been
done by the wiry, much. enduring
shool-masters, made tyrants by the
idleness and insolence and insubordi.
nation of the larger scholars. They
had caught boys by the collar caught
the older girls reading novels under
coyer of well-thumbed school-books
caught them writing love-letters in
stead of compositions, and held them
up to the ridicule of the school. One
who is always on the watch for mis-
chief is sure to find it.
This regime had passed away. A
young aud handsome man, a very
Chesterfield in manners, had met the
scholars as gentleman meets young
ladies and gentlemen, and now some
vi the girls declared, as no girl with
self-respect would declare, that he was
to be caught himself.
So enthusiastic, SO really imbuded
with his work was he, that he easily
inspired the best spirits in the school,
SO that they Yied with each other in
keeping up in their studies and in gen.
eral good behavior.
Bot, strangely enough, the master
seemed determined not to be caught"
In vain invitations poured upon him
to parties, to all the haywood gayetles !;
in vain the nets were spread in his
sight; in vain some of the young la
dies dressed for him, smiled for him
he was apparently insensible to all
allurements. He could be seen only
at school, or in the street, or at church.
"He is just poke" said Kate,
pouting, "and do hate poke young
or old" lio4
One pleasant evening several of the
girls met together in the sitting-reom
of Deacon Tufts. Now the deacon
was a cripple, and as he had been
chosen postmaster, and could not go
out to the office, the Office came to him.
1t was pleasant room. and gener-
ally quite well filled for applicants for
letters. As was often the case IN the
informal little meetings, the master
was the subject under discussion.
Shave you caught him yet 2" asked
one of the girls of Frank, slyly.
go, Jessie. here, seems to be the IA
vorite," said Frank. He has eyes only
for her. Hope she appreciates the at
tention. He ought to be good to her,
Or maybe his supplies would be cut
off,"
"Of course 1 appreciate his kind.
ness," said Jessie with laugh. "Why,
only thinkI He's going to teach me
French !"
"Indeed! The district doesn't pay
him for giving you private lessons
though T. said Frank, almost angrily.
Certainly not" replied Jessie,
s.but his time is his own out of school
hours. OF course try to return his
kindness"
Il don't doubt it; but pray tell lis
in what way?" asked Frank, ironic-
ally. s -
40. I put flowers in his room TO
make it look cheerful, and on the table,
or l make little bouquet for his Goa,
that is, I did make one, but he didn't
wearit she added.
E'Quite sentimental! You have the
coast clear before you, haven't YOU"
s-7" Well, if you mean he boards at our
house, and must be treated kindly, yes.
The night you were all at the dance he
took mother and me to ride"
r. &c So that's the reason he didn't come
to my partyw cried Frank, her eyes
red as well as her cheeks.
PARTLY, and partly because he hates
dancing he told me So"
How we'll you are matched!' re-
torted Frank. You don't dance
and he dent like 1t. If you keep or
with your flowers and your rides you
will catch him, never fear!'
90, but / neither wish nor Intend
to catch him."
Maybe he is engaged to somebody
already he acts like it," was the sug