The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-04-21
INTERESTING STORY.
THE SCHOOL-MA,AM.

Ntlhh 1oiioW Always " laid themselves out, :"
in the gastronomic line, during the q school.
maam's week. For in this antiuuated cor
ner of the State of Connecticut the school
teacher g boarded around" from house to
house, thereby enabling the trustees to save
several dollars month to the educational
fund. And there had gone rumor through
the scrubby pine woods that Miss Price, the
new teacher, had once lived in the suburbs
of Hartford, and carried clean pocket
handkerchief every day. And although the
Mink Hollowites disapproved, on principle,
of mad extravaganza and wasteful pride.
there was certain novelty about Miss Price
that commended her to the public estima-
ton.
Crimps her hair an wears high-heele d
boots Milo Dexter, the biggest boy, had
reported.
Keeps bottle o. cologne in her desk, /"
whispered Mary Barry, mysteriously.
Style is all very well in its place." said
old Mr.. Furbush, +" but dunno's we pay
the teacher for bein' fine LADY, How is
she in Tare and Tret and the rules of Eng
lish Grammar That's what I'd admire to
know" ft N&E
And SO, spurred on by the breath of these
vague rumors, Mrs. Rixton had washed her
calico bedquilt, beaten the tattered breadths
of her rag carpet and killed chicken. in
order to have chicken pot-pie for supper the
first day.
I" won't be beat by nobody, at house.
keepin', said Mrs. Rixton, as she sliced up
early green apples to make turnover, !"
and sent Billy, her youngest hope, to the
grocery store for New Orleans molasses to
sweeten the same
When Dolly Price arrived, however, Mrs.
Rixton could scarcely conceal her disap-
pointment. # tE
Why" said Mrs. Rixton, she's Just
like any other gal Here, Benjamin, set
this ere turnover out on the celler shelf to
cool. Pears to Inc rs If slim thing like
her couldn't be noways fit to teach school,"
No more she amt !" said Benjamin,
licking the ends of his fingers where the
New Orleans molasses had exuded from the
rim of the turnover. And she won't teach
long, may bet your head on that !"
Coin to he married, eli :" said Mrs.
Rixton.
"The big boys an gals Is goin' to be too
much for her." said Benjamin, winking at
his mother. You see if We amt We
amt forgot the day she wouldn't give us a
half-holiday when 'Bijah Lambton found
the big bee-tree on Frost Mountain! Ef she'd
been anyways accommodatin we wouldn't
hev cared. But bee-tree Amt come across
every day, an she needn't a. been SO hate
full"
81 Get out |" said Mrs. Rixton, but in her
secret heart she admired the pluck and spirit
of her eldest son, Benjamin.
In the School Board opinions were divid-
ed. Old Deacon Burr didn't approve Of
women-teachers no how. They hadn't
authority enough. 1t took q man to collar
the young fellers in Mink Holler!
Mr.. Ashley did not suppose that the Mink
Hollow district school was like reformatory
or lunatic asylum. If the young people OF
Mink Hollow could not behave themselves
like ladies and gentlemen, they had no bust
ness TO cross the Threshold ~ The SCHOOL.
house. He, for one, was for backing up
Miss pr;ce,s o,,ho,;tv ~, o-arv ,,o;nt
Deacon Burr shook his shining bald head.
" Young folks would be young folks" he
said. i" And what the Mink Hollerites need.
ed was n GOOD souare- sbor,dered fe,lar l;ka
Lemue, Bucknor. that knowed how 10 mt
'em down and keen ,sm therein
Miss Price had come to the district armed
with testimonials innumerable, flushed with
youth and hope, prepared to conquer all
diincuites. But week.at Mink Hollow sur
heed to change the aspect OF things And
On the very second day OF her soJourn NJ
MRS. hlxton's yellow farmhouse AFFAIRS cui-
low fatty refused obedience. Billy Necker
flung his slate through the window. Joab
Dart let loose his dog among the smaller
scholars. and lively cannonade of "spit-
balls ensued.
.sTeacher. Betsy Bliss ia pokin' me in the
ribs ~ bawled Keturah Rixton.
Teacher, maynt John Hoyey leave on
whistlin' In my years y whined Sally Top
lin.
There amt no woman here big enough
to sass me u said Master Hovey, scrambiing
into the window-sill, where he straightway
began to execute double shuttle after the
most approved style OF negro minstrelsy.
And Miss Price, terrified out OF her wits,
the reach of Leo's teeth, and began to cry.
OF course this ended matters. The boots
and howlings became terrific, the scholars
burst into uproarious rebellion. Tom Pike
pincbed Leo,s tail and Hezekiab Hall fred
of rusty carbine in the woods at the rear
Of the school-house. and poor little Miss
fairly ran away from the scene of revolt.
Mr.. Ashley was sitting AZ his desk in the
little library at Ashley Cottage. when his sis
ter Mira put her head into the door.
" Are You busy, Frank ~ said she.