The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-25
THE NEW SCHuOLVF,g

The schoolma'am' sc,mins-,E..-.,,.. =,
ma'am 5 coming. shout.5a -, ',-, 7eli.',''
a. the close OF half hours faitbfi,
watch 10 catch a glimpse of our men
teacher Every eye was turned tow ~
ner with the most scrutiniziur Glance
ior the children as well As Others ajwov.
FORM an opinion of a person. rarricn.
iariy OF their teacher, at first sitthr
How tall she is :" exclaimed one
Ho, l amt afraid OF her. nor \ dozen
IKE her, cried the big boy of the
Nor l either cried the big bows 1T.
Tie ally, Il could lick her easy enough
couldn't yon, Tom"
touch me- ' o'oS ~
-, Hush" cried one of the girls, "she
will hear you"
by this time she had nearly reached
the door, round which We clustered. and
every eye was fixed upon her face
Win an eager yet bashful gaze, uncer.
her. y pass 'Po"
Good morning, children" she said
IN the klndest voice in the world while
her lace was lighted by the sweetest
smile imaginable. This is beauti-
tuI morning to commence school. is il
notP' =
Il know | shall love her" whispered a
little pet in my ear.
We all followed her into the school
room except Tom Jones and his ally
who watched until the rest were seated,
and then came in with staggering, noisy
gait, and 4 sort of daredevil saucy look
as much as to say, "Who cares for YOU p
Miss Nestcott looked at them kindly
but appeared not to notice them further
After short prayer. and reading a chap
ter IN the Bible, she passed round tie
room and made some inquiry Of each
one in regard to themselves and their
studies
And what is your name?" she asked
laying her hand upon Toms head. while
he sat with his hands in his pockets,
swinging his body forwards and back
wards
tom JONES'" shouted he at the top of
his voice.
Glow old are you, Thomas% she
asked.
Just as old agin as half answered
Tom, with a saucy laugh.
What do you study, Thomas"
what books have your
"None."
Withoutappearing to be tall disturbed
by his replies, Miss Westcott said, 81 am
glad that | am to have one or two large
boys in my school; you can be of great
assistance to me. Thomas, if you will
stop few moments after school this
afternoon, we will talk over little plan
| have formed"
This was mystery to all, and partic-
ularly to Tom, who could not compre-
bend how he could be useful to any
body, and for the first time in his life he
felt as il he was Of some Importance in
the world. He had always been called
the bad boy at school, and he took
sort of pride in being feared by the chill
dren, and dreaded by the teacher.
Miss Westcott at'once comprehended his
whole character, and began to shape her
plans accordingly She maintained that
boy, who at twelve years Of age made
himself feared among his school fellows,
was capable of being made something of.
Heretofore all influence had conspired to
make him bad, and perhaps a desperate
character; she was determined to trans
form his character by bringing an oppo-
site influence to work upon him; and to
effect this, she must first gain his conf
dence, which could not be done in bet
ter way than by letting him feel that she
placed confidence in him.
When school was out, more than half
the scholars fingered about the door,
wondering what Miss Westcott had to
say to Tom Jones. lie had often been
hidden TO remain after school, but it was
always to receive punishment or 4 sey ere
lecture, and nine times out of ten he
would jump out of the window before
half the school were out of the room
but it was evidently for different pur-
pose that he was to remain now, and no
one wondered what it could be more than
Tom Jones.
Don't you think, Thomas, that our
school-room would be a great deal pleas
anter if we had some cyergreens to hang
around it.; something to make it cheer
full? inquired Miss Westcott
"Yes'm, and | know where / can get
plenty of them"
"Well, Thomas, if you will have some
here by eight o'clock tomorrow morn
ing, | will be here to help you put them
up, and we will give the children Il
pleasant surprise. Here are some books
| will give you, Thomas you may put
them in your drawer; they are what l
want you to study"
"But | can't study geography and his
tory" exclaimed Tom, confused, 81
never did"
"That is the reason why you think
you cannot" replied Miss Westcott. II
am sure you can, and you will love them
l know"
"Nobody ever cared whether learned
anything or not before" said Tom, with
some emotion.
"Well, care, said Miss Westcott, with
earnestness; you are capable of becom-
ing a great and good man; you are now
forming your character for life, and it
depends upon yourself what you become.
The poorest boy in the country has an
equal chance with the wealthiest, and
his circumstances are more favorable for