The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-13

it became necessary for boy to have
an interview with me in my room, be
rarely forgot the circumstances.
always taught school on somewhat
free and easy manner. l allowed ample
opportunity for free speech and en-
couraged it, and Inever laid any claims
to that infallibility which many teachers
surround themselves with. BOYS are
quick to detect humbug, and a teacher
never loses prestige with them by ad-
mitting that he doesn't know every
thing. Although the incident l have
allnded to consumed the greater part
of a valuable forenoon. L never thraShed
another boy there, and when | asked
the pupils afterward who did any par,
ticular thing, some one instantly sprang
to his feet and said:
'tI did, sir
A PALPABLE HIT.
| Although boys have many noble
Iqualities if they are rightly brought
out, yet regret to say that my expert
ence of them cOnvinces me that most
boys are cruel and tyrannical. Nothing
delights scholar-a big boy-so much
as to bully teacher. 1t is the height of
a boys ambition. Haven't done it
hundreds of times myself? Next to
that, the domineering over small boys
is source of deep and lasting delight.
One January took my place in a
new school, aud | was panied to notice
that the smaller boys were mercilessly
snow-balled by the big lubberS who
lOrded it over both schoOl-rOom and
|
tyrannical rule that | found the poor
little beggars were afraid TO answer my
questions about the matter even when
privately put. Consequently, although
l like to encourage manly sports, l was
forced to forbid Snow-balling entirely.
As it was early in the session. and as
the big boys had been in the habit OF
assisting in the government of the
school, and as their ideas on the subject
of snow-balling were not in accord with
mine, and as it had not yet been settled
who was to run the school that year, |
need hardly state that the order was
not obeyed. Next noon | went into the
yard as soon as school was dismissed
and found a large pile of snow-balls
| heaped up like cannon-ballS at a fort.
They were most cruel missiles, having
been dipped in water at the forenoon
intermission and allowed to harden in
the interim. Ipicked one up, intend
ing to bring it in with me and show the
utter barbarity of fiinging such balls.
"Who made these snow-balls?" i
asked a small boy.
Casting frightened look around him
he answered under his breath:
Jim Higgins, sir"
Jim was the biggest and worst boy in
school, and thought that if it came to
a tussel between us, as | felt it inevita-
bly, would. there was every chance that
Jim would get the best of me. l make
no bones of the fact that was afraid of
him and I had endeavored quite unsuc-
cessfully to propitiate him during the
week that school had been going on
At this moment Jim entered the yard,
squeezing a SNOWFALL with his hands
between his knees after the manner OF
boys who want to make a hard one.
He was making for his pile when he
noticed me standing by it, when he
stopped, Strengthened up and looked at
me moment as if he hesitated whether
to drop the SNOWFALL or brazen it out.
The silence and the eyes of the whole
school on him braced him up and he
cried:
''Master, gimme leave?"
Certainly"
With a movement like lightning he
flung the SNOWFALL directly at nv
head. 1 ducked like a flash, but the
ball took the rim off my hat and plas-
@o,.ol - la
l had been no slouch of snow-balleI
myself in my youthful days. but l never
flung ball with such vengeance as
that. Isprang erect and said:
''Now it's your turn" and sent nv
ice bolt at him as if it had come from 3
cannon. He ducked, of course, but
had calculated on that, and the ball hit
him square on the ear with a thud that
made my heart stand still He flung
his arms over his head and fell back
against the gate by which he had just
entered. His face was pale and he
gasped for breath. Although with SET
teeth and tears in his eyes, he smiled
ghastly smile.
o, masterT' he half sobbed, "yonr
arms a heavy one. y
"You see, Jim," [ said, with light
ness l did not feel, 'snow-balls like
chickens, come home to roost"
'They do that" gasped Jim. as he
poked the crushed ice out of his ear
with his foreinger, land they roost
mighty solid, you bet"
He was grit clear through and never
whimpered.
When school was assembled said:
''Boys, the trustees hired me 10
teach the young idea how to shoot
have given Jim, there, a lesson on
shooting that, ifit didn't, as is too otter |
the case, go IN at one ear and out n:
the other, came very near doing so
In some years at the teaching busines. |
1 have got into the habit of having my |
own way. You seem 10 have got into |
the same pernicious habit. | am get. |
ting old and it's hard for me to acquire |
new habits. You are young and it's |
easy. Now if / don't have my own |
way there will be trouble. If I do,
there will be peace. The decision rests
with YOU. What do you say, Jim?"
Jim was still pale and little shaky |
on his pins, and | noticed with sorrow
that his ear was cut.
"Well," he drawled out, s'I'm fol- |
peace, for the rest of the day, at least.
I'm in favor of giving the master a fair
show for the winter-I guess if we don't
he'll take it, anyhow. don't want to
be hit with the side of the school house
again."
"Jim," said i, as he sat down, '.rm
afraid you've been snow-balling again.
1 won't say anything about it this time,
but it had better stop. Some one will