Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18
THE TEACHERS COURAGE,
What Took it Away and How She Re-
gained 1t.

IF course; this chair has been wait
ing for you ever since | heard the first
halloo from the schoolhouse door that
told me it was four O'clock" and Mrs.
Merryweather pushed large easy
chair a trifie nearer the cheerful wood
FIRE cracking on the hearth of her
pretty sewing room, and smiled in
willingly up at slight figure standing
IN the doorway.
''And grumble all like?"
eyes"
"My dress is full OF chalk-dust and
my hands will mol feel clean. wash them
as many times as | may. / am all out
of Sorts" and aweary, dropping figure
settled down on the low seat in a hope
less and detected manner, quite at
variance with its usual air of cheerful
alertness.
''They do not appear to be very
grimy," said Mrs. Merryweather, glanc-
ing at the small but strengthening
hands as they emerged from a pair of
not very fresh gloves. "Fill them with
this for little while, and perhaps it
will rest you," and she tossed small
balsam cushion into the little school
teachers lap. at is much more likely
to he your brain that islnot fresh rather
than your hands, she said, as she
turned again to her sewing. Cant
you rest awhile here, and let us sweep
it clear before you 90 home, my dear?
I must go on with my mending, but
we can talk IN the meantime"
The spicy odors of the sweet balSam
floated up to the tired head bending
over it; the imprisoned wood-spirit in
the loo on the iire-irOns hummed a
cheerful song; Mrs. Merryweather's
comfortable and comforting face, in
tent upon its hOmely work, was very
restfuI. Presently the little school
teacher laughed softly. Mrs. Merry
weather looked up and smiled respon-
sively.
i am forgetting to be cross" said
the young lady, meeting her glance
Il do not think cross the right term
to use,n replied Mrs Merryweather. Il
should say you were tired and trifie
discouraged. Has it been hard
day?n
Yes, it has; and yet do not re-
member ever to have started out with
better supply of courage and hope
fulness than did this morning.
''And yet there was not enough to
last until tonight" asked Mrs. Merry
weather
mo, and it has all gone for such
mean, petty little things. too. One
does not mind using his ammunition
in n good cause against worthy foe,
and lie glories in u conquest; but my
day has been full of failures, and /
know | have wasted my stores"
''Do not be so sure of that my dear.
Give me some of the particulars of the
campaign"
Il scarcely know where to begir,
but think it was Tommy Bangs who
first weakened my defenccs. He told
me n lie"
only one?" asked Mrs Merry
weather.
The little teacher looked up in sur
prise.
''What do YOU mean?" she asked.
~'Only that should think that very
small allowance for Tommy Bangs,
when YOU remember that his whole
family are addicted to the same habit
and always have been. Instead of feel
ing discouraged YOU should be very
glad at having reduced him To one"
But | have been working steadily
for two Years to brcal, that boy of such
dreadful habit, and thought he was
cured. He had no excuse for lying to
me: at home he is blamed unneceS-
sarily and treated harshly, but
thought he cared enough for me To be
truthful for my sake if not for honor's
sake, though | have tried to teach him
the latter. 1t discouraged me more
than you would imagine; Icannot bear
TO think of that boys future"
"My dear" said Mrs. Merryweather,
solemnly. 1.-The Lord is responsible for
Tommy Bangs and his future. You
have done your work in showing the
boy the right path,-in setting high
ideal before him. Keep up to your own
standard, and hold out helping hand
TO the child just so long as he is near
enough to grasp it, but don't show
your own lack of confidence by getting
disheartened so easily. | dare say now
Tommy was sorry; once he would not
even have known enough to recognize
his own fault. You surely cannot
count him failure; only one lie a day!
What neXt?"
The little teacher shook her head
slowly. 81 am not convinced" she
said
s'You will be when you grow older,'
answered Mrs. Merryweather, s'aud
your two years of helpfulness to Tom.
my Bangs will be one of the pleasant
est things to remember. No really
good work is ever lost, my dear.
have lived long enough to find that
out"
''You are a good comforter, Mrs
Merryweather," said the younger wo-
man. 81 will try and remember that
thought. What next? you asked me-
Let me think. 1t was before the morn
ing session opened, | believe, that Mrs
Sampson came in to see me about some
little matter in regard to her boy. Now
few months ago | took tea at hel
house, and | saw Charlie Che is six OIL
seven years old) raise his hand agair
and again, threatening to strike hi:
mother when she denied him some
little dainty at the table, or asked hin
to do something which he did not like
It was quite shock to me, and Imad,
up my mind to give few lessons t.
my classes in respect to older people
even if fell behind few pages in tn,
spelling book. Since then [ hav,
obliged The boys to speak politely tt
me when met them at home Of