Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-17
HE BROKE UP THE SCHOOL.

~ the road, lncloSed IN rather dIlaplda-
ted fence.
Yes, that's where you'll hold forth"
remarked Uncle zeke WOODBURY. " but Pm
Altered you won't hold out long, fur we've
got the toughest set Of boys in the State, ("
and Uncle Zeke gave kind of cackling
little laugh as he thought OF the timid, de-
n:ure little damsel at his side controlling
the boys Of Bear Creek school.
But don't the Directors expel them
when they are beyond the control of the
teacher" asked Alice, her heart beginning
20 sink AT the prospect before her.
Expel 'em no, we never expel nobody;
Il teacher can't boss the school we lust
let it boss him; it amt your fight, and the
school here generally bosses the teacher,
and thar's been some pretty good men
licked in that school-houSe by the boys"
q / did not know the school was 50 I'M
ruly," said poor Alice, wishing heartily
that she had hired out as a washerwoman
instead of trying to teach the savages OF
Bear Creek.
"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 twenty-one in a
month, and you'il get rid of him hut thar
the Bradley boys, theer mighty nigh as
bad"
Poor Alice listened with sinking heart.
The cold, hard duties before her were
drcary enough at best but to go alone and
unknown into strange neighborhood to
teach her first school, and to he met at the
outset by such dark prophecies made her
feel homeless indeed. She was naturally
Il timid, shrinking little thing, and if she
had possessed anywhere on the whole earth
4 roof to shelter her she would have turned
back from Bear Greek School even then
her mother had died when she was but
fourteen, and she had kept house for her
father two years, then he died, leaving her
al alone Before he died he advised her
10 cxpend the little sum he would Ice able
To leave her in fitting herself for 3 teacher,
.s.d Alice had fulfilled his directions so
literally that when she had completed her
course of study at the normal school she
had hardly SO left, and when she paid
Uncle Leke for hauling her and her little
trunk from the nearest railroad town to the
district where she was to teach, she had but
3 left.
On Monday morning as she started for
che school-house she felt as if she was 60
ing 10 the scaiIold Her course Of petla-
rogics in the normal institute had included
no such problem as this school promised
70 be, and if it were not for very shame she
wouId 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
mad attended school.
when she arrived at the school-house
about twenty or thirty pupils were grouped
around talking, but spell of silence fell
nron them as she walked up and saluted
them with good morning" which was
more Ike The chirp Of a frightened bird
than anything else. As she unlocked the
door aud entered what she had already
begun 10 regard "a q chamber Of torture
two or three slowly followed her into the
room and depositn2 their books upon the
whitfield desks took seats and fixed their
ewes uron her with a stare that did not
help TO strengthen her nerves.
All the 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 help
le,sness She tried to think of some cheer
ful remark, but her brain refused to form
She thought and her tongue Glove TO the
roof Of her mouth. She could not see the
faces Of her pupils most OF whom were now
in the school-room, that they were aware
of her fright and enjoyed it thoroughly.
BY strong effort she partially recovered
herself and bravely resisted the temptation
10 lean her head on the desk and have g
good cry, She felt that she must do some
,hing or faint, so she rang the bell, though
!. lacked fifteen minutes to nine. She be-
gan taking down the names and ages Of her
pupils and by the time this was completed
she began to feel more at ease. She then
began examining the pupils in the differ
ent branches, in order to assign them to
.heir proper classes She had finished the
examination in ali the branches except the
advanced reading class, which was pIinci-
paliy 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 it was now the turn of Moses
3radley, q huge, heayy-set fellow, with
small malicious eyes and general air OF
rufianism. When he was called upen To
read he did not rise from his seat, bat be-
Eau to read IN a thick, lndlstnct voice
from e look hidden in his lap.
Mr.. Bradley, viii you please stand W
aaaa You read 2" asked Alice.
Il can read Just as well settin' down,
rcr,iea the fellow with logged air.
But it Is one of the rules in reading
class to stand up TO read sad Alice, he
heart eual,ing with fear rs she forsaw thu
r...;....-gt re.rlt hon.
reckon You viii have 20 make new
rule ior me then" impudently answered
Mos. alaneiug sideways at his comPanion
with grin Of triumph
If YOU do not obey me ] shall b
OBLIGED TO punish YOU, said Alice hravel]
.boTeh She could scarcely stand NJ
ii Guess all the punishment You coul
da wouldn't break any of my bones IT
piled the ruilan, leeTing at her impu
IDENTIFY.
'I.u. l can break your bone Cor you i
balf minute, and III do il il You don