New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-22
The Schoolnlaster.

p0A90Ae1e90I WAS4A q 90ASA N ASIO e1lulOSG
said aspiteful) q little gray eye, a bald
head in front, and q short, stiff queue
behind. He was wonderful man to
look at, and his history was no
less SO than his person. Atone per-
iod of it he was village schoolmas-
ter-a rare pedagogue and learned be-
ing, it is said. not only familiar with.
Dillworth's spelling book and psalter,
but also with such difficult mathemat-
ical problems as are comprehended in
the elementary principles of Pixies
arithmetic. It may be readily sup
posed that such q ripe and rare schol-
ar would not be suffered to remain
long in obscurity. His talents we're
not Of an order to "blush unseen,"
and accordingly, in his fortieth year,
he was honored with the Office and en-
riched with the emoluments apper-
tanning to no less q dignity than
justice OF the peace.
But we are getting ahead of our
story, and with the readers permits.
sion we will 60 back few years and
introduce him to the wife of Master
Paul. She too was an uncommon
cbaracter-a great, good-natured,
handsome romp, who used to attend
school on purpose, to use her own
phrase, ITO plague Master Jerry"
And verify she was a plague. She
used to bounce in and out whenever
she pleased-she pinched the boys,
linked the faces of the girls, and finally
to such a pitch did her audacity ar
rive that she even presumed to Law
hands on the nicely powdered queue
of the dominic himself.
jeremiah was leaning over his desk
in a musing attitude, engaged in pro-
found mathematical calculation re-
specting the probable value of the
tenant of his landlords pig.stye,
when this outrage took place.
He had already placed the sub.
ject in halt dozen different attitudes
before his minds eye, and was just on
the point of committing his lucubra-
tions to the fragment of slate upon
which his elbow was resting, when a
vigorous jerk at the hairy appendaga
of his pericranium started him bolt
upright in an instant, and drew from
him cry not unlike that Of the very
animal which was the subject OF his
scientific cogitations.
jeremiah did not swear-he was an
exemplary and church, going peda-
| gogue-but his countenance actually
blackened with rage and anguish as he
gazed hnrriedly and sternly around
him; and the Unsurpassed laughter of
Dis disciples added a little to his cha
grin. "Who? who? who? who? [
say!" He could articulate no more.
lie was choked with passion.
| '"Ihat are great ugly girl there, who
| pinches me So" said a little ragged
urchin, with a streaked face.
jeremiah confronted the fair delin-
quent, but it was plain from his man
ner that he had much rather have un.
dertaken the correction OF this whole
school beside than that OF the ;ncor-
rlglble offender in question. His inter.
I rogatlng glance was met by look in
which it wonld have been difficult to
say whether good nature OF impru-
dence predominated.
'Did you meddle with my queue?"
said the dominic; but his voice trem-
bled; his situation was peculiarly awk-
ward.
"I-I-what do you suppose I want
of your queue?' and a queer smile
played along her pretty mouth-for a
pretty mouth she had; and what IS
more, the domino himself thoughtso
Jeremiah saw he was about to lose
! his authority-he hemmed twice
/ shook his head at some Of the rogues
as were laughingimmoderately at their
masters perplexity, and reaching his
hand to his ferule, said "Give me
your hand, miss?" His heart misgave
him as he spoke The fair white hand
was instantly proffered, and as gently,
too, as that OF modern belle at q
cotillion party. Jeremiah took it; it
was a pretty hand, very pretty
hand-and then her face-there was
something in it's expression which sell
dom failed to disarm the pedagogue's
anger. He looked first at her hand,
then at her face, so expressive OF a
roguish confidence; and then at his
ferule-a rude, heavy instrument of
torture, altogether unfit to hold COM
panionship with the soft, fair hand
held in durance before him.
Never, in all the annals of his birch
en- authority, had Jeremiah Paul ex-
perienced such perplexity. He lifted
his right hand two or three several
times, and as often withdrew it.
:You will not strike,' said the girl.
There was an artless confidence in
these words and the tone in which
they were uttered that went to the
very heart of the pedagogue. Like
Mark Anthony before the beautiful
Cleopatra or the fierce leader of the
Voiscu before his own Virginia-the
domonie relented. eff pardon you
for this offence will you conduct your
self more prudently in future?'' Il
hope l SHALL, said the hopeful young
lady, and the master evinced his af-
fectionate solicitude for the welfare of
his pupil by pressing the hand he had
imprisoned, and the fair owner ex-
pressed her gratitude for such con-
descension by returning the pressure.
They were married just six months
afterwords. So much for lenity in
school discipline. Rochester Union.