Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-03-08
An Old-F ashioned School Teacher.

teacher.
Miss Miranda RI had under
taken to govern that school, and here
the story commences:
She was tall, angular, severe-look
ing woman, about forty years of age
She wore a perfectly plain dark
brown dress, reaching to her shoe
tops only, long black silk apron with
velvet ribbon trimmings, and check
ed gingham handkerchief around heI
neck with the ends crossed and fas
tened with an immense old-fashioneG
gold and glass breastpin. with severa
varieties and shades of hair under the
glass.
Her own hair, black, thinly streak
ed with gray, was combed down
smooth and fiat over each ear and ar.
ranged at the back in waterfall" "
She made stiff, jerky little bows,
that threatened destruction to her
waterfall, as the children came in.
peered at them over her spectacles,
and smiled in grim sort Of way on
those who came nearest her desk.
They never hired her for her beau.
ty," said Bryce Sheldon, a mischiev.
Gus boy OF sixteen.
mo; Iguess they hired her to make
such chaps as you toe the mark re-
piled Ben Lewis, and she'll do it.,
| too"
wonder what Gid. Dill say to
herr said third boy
well, / wonder what she'll say to
him?' replied Bryce Sheldon.
Gideon gave Miss R a long,
searching look when he came in. She
returned it with interest. For the
first time a teacher had looked him
out Of countenance. The keen gray
eyes behind the spectacles never left
Gideon's face until he turned away,
and said, in a low tone, to one of his
mates
II am not afraid OF her."
He realized, however, that the per-
son he had to deal with this time was
no common foe, and he resolved to
proceed cautiously at first but from
the moment he saw Miss R he
was determined to cut short her ca
reer as teacher Of that school
When nine o'clock came, Miss R
rang her little bell, and stood, prim
and soldier-like, with arms stiff and
straight at her sides waiting for her
pupils to take their seats.
When she spoke her severe face
frightened up, and her voice was
pleasant surprise, it was so clear and
soft, and even sweet. Some Of the
children thought they might like her,
after all.
They knew they liked her when the
first week came to ali end. They
found her to be just and kind teach
er-stern only when it was necessary
to be so in order to enforce some rule
that ought to have been obeyed with
out question or the use Of force.
A full month passed, and Gideon
D had not yet made what the
other boys called "a bad break and
he had been questioned often as TO
why he had not done so.
He generally replied that he would
do so when he got "A good ready"
He had been nearly ready several
times, but something in those remark
ably piercing eyes of Miss r R--had
held him in check On two or three
occasions he had put out ''feelers," as
he mentally called them That is, he
had disobeyed the rules in trihing
things to see how Miss -- would
take it,
But, having run out" two men
teachers, Gideon did not propose be-
ing conquered and subdued by wo-
man
1t was on Monday morning Of the
fifth week of the school that Gideon
decided to make break"
Miss -- always called the roll as
soon as the school came to order in
the morning. Those present at that
time were to say Present, " and were
to keep their arms folded during the
calling of the roll.
When the teacher called the name
of Gideon he answered with loud
Here
Miss R sat up very straight in
an instant; her keen eyes shone be-
hind her glasses; she looked toward
Gideon. His arms were unfolded and
his hands spread out fat on his desk.
That is not the way to answer, and
you knew it perfectly well, )" said Miss
R in a sharp voice. Fold your
arms instantly, and say present."
I've answered once, and that's
enough, said Gideon, land amt do
ing any harm with my arms unfold
ed"
Miss R sprang to her feet, her
face very red and eyes brighter than
ever.
Gideon" she said, slowly and Jelly,
If you do not have your arms folded
within thirty seconds, and if you have
not answered present within the
same length of time, you will be sor-
ry for it."
With a sneer on his face, Gideon
coolly clasped his hands over his head,
Strengthened himself up in his seat,
and stared at Miss R with COM
pressed lips that showed no sign of
yielding.
Even those who were there and saw