The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-07
HE BROKE UP THE SCHOOL.

HE BROKE UP THE SCHOOL.
THAT is the new school-house, is
itp'' inquired Miss Alice Ray, the .'new
teacher" as the farmers plodding lit
tie team passed by little white house
standing endwise to the road, inclosed
in rather dilapidated fence.
Eyes, there's where you'll hold
FORTH" remarked Uncle Zeke Wood
burn. "but I'm afeerd you won't hold
out long. fur we've got the toughest set
of boys In the State" and Uncle Zeke
gave kind Of cracking little laugh as
lie thought of the timid, demure little
damsei at his side controlling the boys
of Bear Creek School.
"But don't the directors cxpel them
when they are beyond the control of
the teachcrp" asked Alice, her heart
beginning to sink at the prospect be-
fore her.
.'Expel 'em! no, We never expel no.
body; II teacher can't boss the school
we just let il boss him; it amt our
fight, an the school here generally
bosses the teacher. and thar's been
some pretty good men licked in that
school-house by the boys.
Il did not know the school was SO
unruly," said poor Alice, wishing
heartily that she had hired out as a
washerwoman instead of trying to
teach the savages of Bear Greek.
..Oh. well. mebbe it won't be so bad
this winter; thar's Jim Turner, he's
one of the toughest of 'em; he'll be q
in month. and you'll get rid of him;
bat thar's the Brinouey boys, they're
mighty nigh rs bad"
Poor Alice listened with sinking
heart. The cold, hard duties before
her were dreary enough at best; but to
no alone and unknown into q strange
neighborhood to teach her first school,
and to be met at the outset by such
dark prophecies, made her feel home
less indeed. She was naturally tim
id, shrinking little thing, and if she
had possessed anywhere on the whole
broad earth roof to shelter her she
would have turned back from Bear
Creek school even then. But she had
no home. Her mother had died when
she was but IA, and she had kept house
for her father two years, when he died,
leaving her all alone. Before he died
he advised her to expend the little sum
he would be able to leave her in fitting
herself for n teacher, and Alice had
fulfilled his directions so literally that
when she had completed her course at
the normal school she had hardly $40
left, and when she paid Uncle Zeke for
hauling her and her little trunk from
the nearest railroad town to the dis
trict where she was to teach she had
but IS left.
On Monday morning when she start
ed for the school-houso she felt as If
she was going to the scaffold. Her
course of pedagogics in the normal in
stitute had included no such problem
as this school promised to be, and If it
were not for the very shame she would
have given her single IS bill to any
one to take her back to the railroad
and pay her fare to L., the town where
she had attended school.
When she arrived at the school house
about twenty or thirty pupils were
grouped around talking. but a spell
of silence fell upon them as she walked
up and saluted them with good
morning" which was more like the
chirp of frightened bird than anything
else. As she unlocked the door and
entered what she had already begun to
regard as q chamber of torture, two or
three slowly followed her into the room,
and depositing their books upon the
whitfield desks, took seats, and fixed
their eyes upon her with stare that
did not help to strengthen her nerves.
All tho rules and regulations of her
: Theory and Practice of Opening
School Upon the First Day" seemed to
vanish and leave her head whirling in
dizzy helplessness. She tried to think
Of some cheerful remark, but her brain
refused TO form the thought and her
tongue Glove to the roof Of her mouth.
She could see in the faces of her pupils,
most of whom were now in the school
room, that they were aware of her
fright and enjoyed 1t thoroughly. BY
strong effort she partly recovered
herself and bravely resisted the temp
tatiOn TO lean her head on the desk
and have good cry. She felt that she
must do something or faint, so she
rang the bell, though it lacked fifteen
minutes to 0. She began taking down
the names and ages Of her pupils, and
by the time this was completed she be-
gan to feel more at ease. She then be-
gan examining the pupils in their diff
fcrcnt branches in order to assign them
to thcir proper classes. She had fin
ished the examination in all the branch
es except the advanced reading class,
which was principally composed of
grown girls and young men, among
whom was the terrible Jim Turner, of
whom she had been warned.
Several of the members of the class
had read, and 1t was now the turn of
Moses Bradley. huge, heavy-set fell
low, with small, malicious eyes and a
general air Of ruffianism. When he
was called upon to read he did not rise
from his seat, but began to read In d
thick, indistinct voice from book hid
den In his lap. AllN ngl n IagW
Mr.. Bradley, win You please stand
up whom you readl" asked Alice. ~
II osn' road Just a. well settin'
down." replied tho fellow with dog
red air.