Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-12-17

afraid my call is rather inopportune.
May I ask. do the children often dis
port themselves in this manner?"
Miss Burton colored at the sarcas-
tic tone, but replied quietly:
1T is very unusual. had occasion
to take q child awap who felt i'll, and
/ am sorry to see that the others have
behaved badly dnring my absence
"Hum! Perhaps it would have been
better it you had sent a monitor, in
stead of leaving the room yourself.
Kindly place the children; I wish to
examine them. That is right. Now,
children, attention. Waitl Do SEQ
a boy asleep" !.
Miss Burton once moreroused Tom
my Carter, at the same time endeav-
oring to explain soto voce to the In
spector the reason OF the little fellows
fatigue.
Eyes. yes" he said in his lofty but
polite voice; lone hears so many OF
these kinds OF stories-generally ex-
cuses for idleness, you know"
But. believe, I am almost posi-
tive, this boys story is correct, for
his parents are both"
"Pardon me, but should never get
through my duties if l stayed to listen
to all the stories the children bring.
The way to do the work in q place OF
this kind is to 60 straight on, regard
less Of obstacles, and, above every
thing, to discountenance chatter"
But we are bound, in fairness, to
listen to any reasons the children may
have to account Tor their absence, late
arrival, etc. objected the teacher,
with a shade OF warmth, "otherwise
should have punished little girl just
now for crying because she had had no
food since yesterday"
Il am really afraid, Miss Burton"
said Lr. Chilblua, impressively, 'tthat
you are a little too sensitive for your
post. Think Of the cause in which
you are enrolled as one ofthe workers,
the education of the masses-a truly
noble work. Do not I pray you,
sharpen your feelings on the woes,
real or imaginary, OF Individual cas-
es."
"But," said the teacher, bravely.
''It is with individual cases one must
deal. How con compel child to
work whose eyes are heavy and limbs
weary for want of rest and pro-
per nourishment? What can one ex-
pect from the exhausted systems of
these habits?"
MADAM, you know the schedule. 1t
was arranged with g. proper knowledge
OF what can be and is done by chill
dren under T."
Eyes. but it is right to expect so
much from these ill-fed, ill-clothed,
and in many cases, diseased children?
Many of them bring their dinners to
school. You should see what is pro-
vided for them. I would venture to
assert that in this room there are
pretty well twenty children with the
same fare to-day-a thick slice of
bread, with disgusting. looking COM
pound they call dripping, but which
more resembles cart-grease. I have
frequently seen the dtlicate ones turn
| almost with loathing from this-their
customary midday meal"
Very sad, of course; but because a
child has not proper food is no argu.
ment why it should also remain ignor-
| ant"
"Will you allow me to ask Won one
! question, Mr.. Chilblud? Would you
force your own children, who have ev-
! cry 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
icily, and then proceeded to his work
| Of examination. This he conducted
IN a manner one would have expected
from him. Going the most round
about way to ask the simplest ques-
ton, and thereby puzzling the little
| brain needless, was Mr.. Chilbluq's
notion OF discovering how much the
children really knew. But, to do him
justice, he could, as rule, in spite of
his supreme egotism, form q toierably
correct idea of how they had been
taught disciplined, although he had
| never yet met with q teacher who fully
satisfied his reQuirenents-God be
thanked.
School over, Miss Burton hastily
donned her walking attire, and hur-
ried round to dismal, dirty street
! not stones throw from the school.
Quickening her way through groups of
loud-voiced, gossiping women and
miserable, squalid children playing
| amid the dirty bones and garbage of
all sorts that filled the gutter, Until
she reached the house where little
Annie Blake lived. Finding the child's
tale was perfectly true, she left with
her mother what money she could
spare, and went on hea way again.
But a sudden thought striking her as
she was nearing the top of the wretch
ed alley, she retraced her steps and
knocked at the door of a house about
hallway down. 1t was opened by q
thin, pale women with baby in her
arms.
"Good faternoon, Mrs. Collier; /
just called to AJAX why Bobby has not
been to school to day.:
II am very sorry, miss, but I could
not get him to co."
"Why" @>.:
"Re would not go without his boots,
and they won't hang on any lon GER"
"Is your husband still out of work? >
''Yes, MISS" said tho women, sadly:
@s'it's just over three months now since
he earned penney"
"But you get help from the parish!"
"Not 3 farthing-they say we must
go into the House; they will not give
out relief; and Jim, he's set
against taat. He can't bear the idea
of breaking up the home, poor as it is;
besides, we don't want to make pau
pers of our children" -.
There was quite a flash of pride in
the poor noman's white, hungry face
as she spoke. ~.