Ellsworth American., 1886-01-14
Miscellaneous.
The Little Red School house.

The Little Red school-house.
Fifteen Years ago stranger passing along
the highway thai leads from Crahtsee's
Corner to Crab,rres Point. on Hancock
Neck, Ne. might have seen in the vic.ni-
'y of ioung's. lil'e red school-hou,e L.
those DAYS such Institutions If learning Wer,
not uncommon s.ghis 10 see IN that part Of
the country. ard to The casual observer Il
would sfem as # New England held
patent right On al. the red painted school
houses IN the land, for they all appeared 10
have been bull, very much after one plan in
architecture. In these latter years things
have changed very much. and believe i1r
the better. notwithstanding what she old
fosles may say TO the contrary. Certainly
there has been a decided Improvement in
district No. ,. South Hancock. for the red
school house on whose hard benches sat
during all nv schooi-davs. has long since
given place to a white-painted building Of
modern style. and furnished with modern
furniture. but not Of the latest. for helped
some twelve wears ago. Mr.. editor, certain
iy YOU might remember that old red school
house. and can't you nov aimu,, feel the
cold winds rushing up through the vide
cracks IN the floor a. every uorlher, aud
can't you feel the Rorth pole at sour feet.
and at the same time the iorrId zone at
NonT head. caused BY the low ceiling Of the
room and the red hot c, ,inder-s shaped stove
with ns pipe running along under and close
10 the oeiing - do, If YOU don't. and
also severely remember some Of the teachers
oi that school, particularly one named j. h
q how that '.elier" used to trounce me.
The fscts of the case are. | was rather mis-
chievous. and cared but little for n, book,
IN the days Of the reign Of the sad j. X
Ny chief business during school hours was
fishing for mice tina, came up through TIE
knot holes and cracks in the floor. hunting
for dinner baskets and stray pieces OF cheese
that migt; le scattered about the room
When tired OF fishing would sometimes
employ my self in drawing ship. or house.
or perhaps sometimes profile on nv slate.
or perchance on somebody's back. Draw
ing Of any kind in those DAYS va. criminal
otiense IN the eye' Of the teacher l.ittle
BY little It has grown in favor until nov il
has become quite indispensable to a finished
education. Well j. X took a grea, liking
he vas attached 10 me about two-.blrds Of
the time. He would attach his hands 10 my
shoulders and bob NE up out cf the seat
then bob me down on the floor with ter
rble BOB Ii used 10 drive the heels Of m,
boots slmost up TO N, knees and send
cold chill ever NY whole body. This he
did very often, sometimes several times dur
ing single hour. 1T is long road that
has no turn. 80 this state of affairs had
turn, and too, il my favor. This il now il
came about | Was very fond of wrestling
J. h. had the habit of turning loose the
smaller classes at Is minutes TO II NJ. This
he did for peace's sake while hearing the
"Jig class" spell. So one day we were dis
missed as usual and went out to play. There
was in the school perfect Ounce in every
thing but play. Hardly had we reached
the open air, when he challenged me for a
tumble so ~e locked horns. and | being
larger and older, and probably stronger
than be, laid him Hat on his back The ex-
ercise was repeated several times TO my sat
lsfaction, when he, being tired of the fun,
started on run down the road and | after
him. Being the faster runner. was about
TO pass him when he threw out his foot and
tripped me up. Down | came on nv
shoulder and snap went the collar bone. |
tell YOU about this time was sick aud dis
gus,ed child. then AID there decided to
quit wrestling and ever after kept nv de-
cision. except in cases of self defense. Nv
brother took me home where my arm was
placed in sling. The bone soon knitted
Three days after the accident | was again at
school, but my arm was in the sling and YOU
bet kept ii there the rest of the term, and
had all the fun | wanted without any fear of
being moIested. | was ahead that time
sure. At the last Of my going to school
changed my tactics somewhat and paid more
attention to my books, and that is certainly
the best way, but We are apt TO find it out
when it is too late. That old school house
turned out some smart men and women,
many of whom have fallen asleep, We: some
of them are still climbing the ladder to for
tune and fame. | well remember the little
boys and girls | left in the school when
bade adieu to its dingy walls. and all within,
fond associates, and struck out to make nv
own way through the world. The journey
thus far has at times been very rough and
wearisome. but not totally void of bright
spots. oases in the great desert. Those lit
tie boys and girls have grown up to men
and women. Some, see by the AMERICAN,
are in the professions, some in one kind of
business, some in another. Most of them
appear to be doing we'll, and am glad to
know it and to hear of them so often.
s.T remember, remember, twas in the
bleak December and other winter months
Ed.