The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-12-17


every advantage to do what is required
by the school board?'
The Inspector looked at this daring
teacher much as one regards an impu-
dent mental who has the effrontery to
dictate to a superior.
The cases are not parallel" he
said icilv, and then proceeded to his
work of examination. This he con-
Quoted in a manner one would have
expected from him. Going the most
roundabout way to ask the simplest
question, and thereby puzzling the lit
tie brains needlessly, was Mr.. Chill
blud' S notion of discovering how much
the children really knew. But, to do
him justice, he could, as a rule, in
spite of his supreme egotism, form a
tOlerabIy correct idea of how they had
been taught and disciplined, although
he had never yet met with a teacher
who fully satisfied his requirements
God be thanked.
School over, Miss Burton hastily
donned her walking attire, and hurried
round to a dismal, dirty street not a
stones throw from the school. Quick
ening her steps, she picked her way
through groups of lOud-vOiced, gossip
ing women, and miserable, squalid
children playing amid the dirty bones
and garbage of all sorts that filled the
gutter, until she reached the house
there little Annie Blake lived. Find
ing the child's tale was perfectly true,
she left with her mother what money
she could spare, and went on her way
again. But a sudden thought striking
her as she neared the top of the wretch
ed alley, she retraced her steps, and
knocked at the door of a house about
halfway down. 1t was opened bv a
thin, pale woman with a baby in her
arms.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Collier; I just
called to ask why Bobby has not been
to school to-day?"
Il am very sorry, miss, but I could
not get him to come"
''Why?"
He would not 90 without his boots,
and they won't hang on any longer s"
us your husband still out of work ?'
eyes, miss" said the woman sadly;
''its just over three months since he
earned a penny"
But you get help from the parish?'
mot farthing-they say we must
go into the House; they will not give
outdoor relief; and Jim, he's set
against that. He can't bear the idea
of breaking up the home, poor as it is;
besides, we dom want to make paupers
of our children
There was quite a flush of pride in
the poor wOman's white, hungry face,
as she spoke.
"But you can not 90 on like this!"
said Miss Burton, gently.
''Jim's got hopes of a job in a week
or twO-he has been half promised, and
it may lead to something constant. l
90 out washing and charing four DAYS
a week, so if we can only hold out a
little longer things may get a bit
brighter soon. If it WASH for the lit
tie ones 1 should not mind, but it s
hard to see them hungry and the cup
board empty" The mute suffering in
the woman s face was far more painful
to witness than demOnstrative grief.
Miss Burton laid her hand on her arm
and said: Try and bear up, Mrs.
Collier; you have at least the cOnsOla-
ton of knowing you do your best. As
to Bobby, tell him that he is to come
to school tomorrow. l will arrange
about some new boots. l mean we
will see to it among us.
Not waiting to hear the woman 5
thanks, the teacher hurried away.
=
Dinner was over in PrOpriety square.
The children, who always came down
to desert, had been captured and car
ried off by their nurse. Mr. and Mrs.
Chilblud had INDUCED in a quiet con-
versation about the arrangements for
Ethel's departure; for Mrs. Chilblud
had managed to see the doctor, who
highly approved of the country plan.
Consequently. it was to be put into eX-
ecutiOn without loss of time.
eve shall miss her dreadfully" said
Mrs. Chilblud, with tears in her eyes.
''Of course we SHALL" assented her
husband. "but it is a case in which we
must make our feelings subservient to
the child's benefit" and with what
sounded like a sigh he took out his tab
lets to look over some memoranda pen
cilled on them.
Mrs. Chilblud bent over her work,
and there was silence save for the
cracking of the fire and the subdued
ticking of the timepiecc.
1t was a cold, dull evening, and the
room looked very comfortable with its
handsome furniture, rich, soft carpet
and heavy plush curtains, on all of
which the freight threw a thousand
dancing CLEANS.
Joseph, " said Mrs. Chilblud, sud-
denly looking from her work, Il want
to ask you something"
Il am all attention" replied her lord
and master.
Il was reading in the paper this
pressure. Is it true? Do they really
make them work so hard in these board
schoolsP" Mrs. ChilbIud's eyes were
full of plying wonder, which her hus-
bands cold orbs quickly quenched.
MY dear, pray do not you indulge
in the absurd, mock sentimentality at
is so much in vogue at the present
time. These peOple-the parents,
whose children can for a nominal sum
receive an excellent education-hate to
be dragged from their wretchedness
and ignorance. Born in vice and dark
ness themselves, they would rear their
offspring the same way-theY put for
ward every obstacle to prevent the
children's attendance at school, and
when forced to send them, they make
complaints about the amount of work
These cases of which you speak are
rank impositions to work on the feel
ings of the public"
But there was letter the other dav,
signed, "A Teacher, stating that far
too much is expected from young chill
dren. Did you see it?"
Il can not say did; but know the
style of thing. l came across a young
woman only this morning who is, 1
should imagine, just the one to air her
foolish notions in that way; but prob
ably she will have leisure for reflection
presently, for l doubt if she will be re-
tanned on the staff after / send in my
report. am determined fully de-
termined-to do all can to crush out
this abominable spirit of resistance to
the advance of education and the up
holding Of discipline
asYns .InSnnh sid Mrs Chifhl1d