Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-30
Gales aud Sketfhes.
THE YOUNG SCHOOL TEACHER AND HER
ECCENTRIC PATRON.

The YOUNG SCHOOL TEACHER AND HEE
ECCENTRIC PATRON.
How cold it is growing" said Miss
Wait, the teacher of the common school
in the then brisk little manufacturing vii
lage of Shattuckville. Franklin County.
Mass, as she tied on her soft blue hood,
buttoned her warm flannel cloak, looked
at the window fastenings of the not over
commodious or attractive but snug school
room. locked her desk and carefully shut
the damper of the air-tight wood stove.
preparatory to quitting her domain of labor
for the night.
As she picked up her rubber overshoes
and stopped to draw them over her shape.
ly kid boot. she cogitated:
"Oh. dear! Tommy 'Howe's red toes
sticking SO pathetically through those old
gaping shoes fairly haunt me. wonder if,
in all this prosperous, busy village, there
is no way of getting that poor child de-
Gently clad. must think it over and see
what can do about it,
Twenty. four hours later the leading
man of the village. and the owner of the
little factory there. who. years before,
when poor boy had stranded down from
Vermont to this little hamlet. eccentric and
brusque, but kind-heated. keen-eyed. and
observant OF all that was going on his do
main. was walking along the street andmet
bright-eyed and sprightly lad of ten
speeding ahead with that amusing, un-
conscious. consequential air that boy
carries with his first bran new pair of
boots.
"Old Sam" Whittier, as this gentleman
was Familiarity called. not by reason of
advanced age by any means, but because
of his supremacy as the mill-owner and
employer of all the help in the hamlet.
took in the situation at glance, and called
out to the absorbed child:
"Hullo, youngstel where dye get them
fellers ?''
Teacher gave them to me. SIR" and
the lads tattered cap came quickly off,
and he stood with it in his hand.
"Does she buy boots tor all the boys in
the school ?" was growled out.
"Guess not but she bought Joe Briggs
a speller and Jane Case an arithmetic land
she gives away stacks of slate pencils and
paper and ink and such things"
''What made her 60 and buy them nice
boots Tor you?"
said had no money to pay her for them
she said she'd rather be paid in perfect
lessons; and will try my best to pay for
them IN that way, you may be sure. sir"
Pretty good sort of teacher, is she,
bub?"
sob, yes indeed! guess she must be
the best teacher that ever lived, sir-she
tell us about so many things that we
never knew before; and she wants us
to be good and honest and not tell lies,
and she says we will be men and women
by-and-by, and she wants us boys to know
something so we can own factories our
own selves sometime. The other teachers
we've had only heard our lessons and let
us 60. but she's so diferent!'
well, we'll, bub. shall have to think
this busiress over a little. Now run
along, and go to scratching over them
perfect lessons don't suppose You'll
find person in Shattuckville better
Judge of perfect lessons. or how much
thev are worth, both to the teacher and to
the scholar than old Sam Whittier So
bub, look after your ways, and l shall
look after you"
The next morning little note written
in coarse business hand was dispatched
to the teacher by the hand of one of the
children. 1t ran as follows:
"MIss WATT have heard of some
rather uncommon proceedings on your
part as teacher toward your scholars.
would like to inquire of you personally
as to particulars. viii you do me the
favor to run over to my house directly
after the close of your school this after
noon?
SAMUEL WHITTIER"
What can | have done?" thought the
little teacher in such perturbed state of
mind that she corrected Johnny Shows
mistake in his multiplication by telling
him that seven times nine are fifty -four
Indeed, she let the mistake 90 so long
that every little hand belonging to the
second primary class was stretched up in
a frenzy of excitement. LET me see
what is it have done the past week? |
switched Bobbe Baker pretty smartly. to
be sure-and kept Sam Woodruff after
school-and kept Marion Fisk in from
recess for Whispering; but must keep
order. Well. dear me. have tried to do
my duty, and | won't worry" and Miss
Wait resolutely went back to .seven times
nine" and so proceeded in the usual
routine.
But she ate no dinner that noon, and
had decided headache as she crossed the
big bridge over the hillto the mill owner s
residence.
81 shall not back down in anything
where my clear duty and self-respect are
involved, thought she. 81 have set up
a certain ideal of what teacher of these
little common schools ought to be, and |
will. God and my mind, good courage and
health not forsaking me, bring myself as
near to it as possible. Moreover, will
not consider in the premises whether the
scholars are children of the rich and
learned, or of the poor and ignorant. For
the time being God has placed in my care
ragged. dirty little wretches of factory
village, as well as clean. well dressed at
tractive children"
"Good-evening. good-evening. ma am, "
said "Old Sam" Whittier, in his gruff
way, meeting the teacher at the door. -
AS said in my note to you. heard to-
day of s, me rather uncommon proceed