The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-03-31
THE YANKEE ScH00LMASTER.

On "NIiller'B Hill q farmhouse; q
lowland structure built Of wood; whose |
clap-boarcls, weather-worn and gray, were
falling into slow decay: whose mossy |
wooden lane-troughs swung from rusty |
irons rudely hung; whose curling shin |
giles here and there betrayed the need of
good repair; whose ancient chimney, |
capped with stone, with lichens partly |
overgrown above the sagging roof, looked |
down upon the spires Of Brandon town. |
An old gray barn was built near by,
with heavy girths and scaffolds high,
and solid sills and massive beams, and
through the cracks and open seams the
slanting sunshine used to play in golden
many a shout, the children jumped and
PLAYED about at hide and seek, or looked
with care for hidden nests in corners
there. Where oft at morn they used TO
hear the cackling hen and chanticleer,
where. by the broad floor meath the
mows, we're cribs and stanchions for the
cows, and strong plank stalls where
horses stood to eat their hay from racks
of wood, and, in a corner slowed away, a
fanning-mill and old red sleigh. Where
Jolly farm-boys husked at night the gold
en- corn by candle-light, and hung their
lanterns by the bay on pitchforks thrust
into the hay, where, sheltered from the
autumn rain, with laundering fails they
threshed the grain.
Each year the hum of honey-bees was
heard amid the apple tree, the ilacs
bloomed, the locusts fair with their sweet
fragrance filed the air; the stubble fields
were plowed and sown; the warm rain
fell; the bright sun shone; the robins
sang; the green grass grew; the roses
blossomed in the dew; the tall red holly
hook once more bloomed brightly by
the farmhouse door; the sun-hower bent
it's gaudy head; the cattle in the pasture
fed, the crickets chirped in meadows
near, sounds were waited to the ear DER
waving fields of tasseled corn, of clatter-
ing scythe and dinner horn. The reapers
reaped their golden sheaves; the swallows
left the succeed caves; the apples in the
autumn breeze grew ripe and mellow
on the trees; the leaves were swept about
the air; the fields were brown, the wood
lands bare; the snow-hakes fell; the air
grew chill; the sleigh-bells rangon mil
ler's Hill"
The winter sky was overcast, the snow
and sleet were falling fast. Twas
Christmas eve; the air was cool; the
children hurried home from school, with
laughter loud and outcries shrill they
reached the farmhouse on the hill, they
came across the kitchen floor, nor stopped
TO shut the entry door. all striving first
the news to tell, exclaimed, in concert,
with yell: "The teachers comm here
to stay; he's up the road little way; he
stopped to talk with Susan Stow, an we
ran home to let you know"
The mother stopped her spinning
wheel, and put away her creaking reel,
swept up the dusty hearth with care
rolled down her sleeves and brushed her
hair, smoothed out her rumpled gingham
gown, and in her rocking chair sat down;
then, striving hard to look her best, she
calmly waited for her guest
Her ruddy, round, and heshy face was
bordered by cap of lace; her nose was
nearly hid from view by her plump
cheeks OF healthy hue; her eyes were
bright, her hair was thin, she had
heavy double chin; her husbands arms,
when both embraced, could barely cir
cumscribe her waist
OF all large women nine in ten will
most admire the little men, and little
men-why none may tell-wil love large
women quite as well. They WOO, they
we'd, the man through life is quite Ger
Swallowed by the wife.
Soon, parting from his rustic flame,
the tardy young schoolmaster came. HIS
eyes were blue, his features fair. his chin
o'ergrown with downy hair; behind his
ears his locks of brown were smoothly
brushed and plastered down; his bony
limbs were large and long; his well.
trained muscles firm and strong; the tall
stout boys that years before had thrown
their master through the door his rod
regarded with dismay, and seldom dared
to disobey. The pride and hopeof Hub
bardton was tall Lycurgus Littlejohn,
who had, his -townsmen said: "a
heap O. larnin' in his head" (Thret
terms in Midblebury College had giver
him his cheap" Of knowledge.)
He often used to sit between the fail
Young girls Of sweet sixteen and kindl,
help them "do their sums" The,
brought him fruit and sugar plums; the,
had their girlhood hopes and fears; hi
words were music in their ears; eacl
smile he gave them had q charm; eacl
frown would fill them with alarm
What envious looks at Susan Stow, hi
favorite scholar they would throw.
Her eyes and hair were dark as night
her skin was soft, and smooth, an,
white; q peach-like bloom her cheek
O'tAoPAtoo, hOA hPo hAhO chtihlco,
and red. What wonder he could no
conceal the glad, sweet thrill he use
feel through all his palpitating fran
when TO his desk she coyly came and
looking up with eyes Of love, like som
sly, timid little dove, would softly as
him TO expound some knotty probler
she had found? What being in the worl
below seemed half as sweet as Susa
Stow? Her eyes would fash and, In r,
turn, his face would flush and strangel
bur n, and, when he tried to calculai
some long, hard "sum" upon her slat.
the figures danced before his sight lil
little gobblins, gay and white, and, whe
at night, with cheerful face, he starte
for his boarding place, what wonder tha
he came so slow In walking home wit
Susan Stow?
The woman crossed the kitchen fiot
TO meet Lycurgus at the door, and, wit
scrutinizing star, @ she said: ''walk
an take n chair, an be to home viii
you are here. Come, Busby, take b
things, my dear"
Forth from his corner, by the fire, Il
husband came at her desire. His hei
was bald, save here and there, stray Il
tie tufts Of grizzled hair; his shoulde
stopped, his form was thin, his kne
were bent, his toes turned in; he wore
long blue flannel frock, gray trouser
and satin stock; O cotton collar, Ia
and queer, was rudely rumpled arour
each ear; his face was mild, his smile W
bland, as forth he put his ponderoi
hand, and said: IT think see you we
hope you'll stay leetle spell; We
plain folks here I'd have you know, al
don't go in for pride nor show" The
after stepping on the cat, he took Il
teachers coat and hat; he hung them
srusty nail, and, picking up his milkil