The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-08
GRANDPA's BoYHooD.


1t n windy day in March. and the children
We're playing in the house. Grandfather, dear sill
very-halred old man, was making US a visit. He
sat IN an easy CHAIR before the fire talking with
mamma. The children were IN the midst of
noisy game, when mamma said: " Don't make so
much noise llttie ones grandpa IS not used to 1t,
enjoy life while they can, for trials and troubles
come soon enough" said grandpa, patting the
curly head Of little Arthur. 'sAh! how used 10
love TO run and jump when was little boy"
Little Arthur looked up. aStonished the idea that
grandpa was ever little boy novel one to him.
'tOhl grandpa, cried Ray, springing up from the
low stool which he occupied and coming 20 his
knee, tell US bout yourself when You were boy"
oh, yes, grandpa, do they cried eagerly. gath
ering around him. Tell nth bout dom to thtool -
spoke up little Artie, who had been promised that
pleasure for the very next summer ~ Tell you
about going to school, ehi" said grandfather look
ing up at mamma and smiling " am afraid the
schooi-house of those times would look curious 10
you. The one which / used TO go to was old and
built Of logs, chinked and daubed and rooted with
clap-boards The floor WAS made of puncheons
hewed on the upper side. The benches We're
pupcheons with rough legs and many silver did
get In niy bare feet off those legs The fireplace
was at one end and nearly the width of the room.
a window was q log cut out from end to end. The
teachers were very strict then, and their authority
was almost absolute, in which they had the hearty
co-opeTation OF the parents If scholars carried
complaints to their parents they were generally
punished and sent back. The rod and ferule were
faYorite modes Of punishment, and were freely
used. There were also other forms Of punish
ment-such-as the ounces cap and stools-Rhieh
were often more humiliating than the ferule
When we entered the door in the morning the
girls were required to courtesy, and the boys
to bow with uncovered heads. And at night
ali were required TO go directly home and
not loiter by the way. On the way to and from
school, when scholars were met by grown people,
they were required to make their oleisance, and
must never speak unless spoken to. But, in spite
Of our dsagreeable rules and school-roon, we used
TO have Jolly times as you say now. The play
time hour at noon was mostly spent by the larger
boys in games of ball. but there were other sports
such as running, jumping. wrestling and pitching
quoits Ia all of which the master (s teachers were
called them would frequently join with hearty
zest. The signal for taking up school again was
two or three taps with the ferule on the house
Speling-schools were another source of amuse-
ment. They were generally held in the evening
and every one came. Spelling was highly es-
teemed in those days. There were pupils who
could spell every word in the spelling-booz
Schools would often meet and have a spelling
match What quaint, honcly scenes those were
The fireplace, assisted by few candies threw out
faint, Pickering light The rough benches filed
with sturdy farmers and their wives and the long
rows of boys and girls each trying TO spell better
thar the rest All those were good old times but
they are gone, and shall soon go too. And grand
father shook his head sadly as he thought OF how
near his race run, and how long and far he
had travelled. PRIMROSE