The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-11-13
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL,

"Come on, dear, " said Amy, putting
up her parasol.
"Dear" came, chubby e-year-old.
"We'll take a stroll up the road, NAL
colin, " said his young aunt.
GAN wight, said Malcolm.
They had come, Malcolm and his pa
rents and his fathers pretty sister, to pass
the summer in Gloster
Gloster was only hamlet, but it was
cool and green and delightful.
Gwen so along by this stone wall,
dear, " said Amy.
They passed maple grove, little,
old church, some farm-houses, and then
came suddenly upon square, white
building, with two doors in front and
yellow blinded windows. Out Of the
doors bare footed children, with dinner
pals, were coming.
"A district SCHOOL," said Amy. "And
il looks so much like But of course you
don't remember, Malcolm. You were
only two years old"
Smiling in a pleasantly retrospective
way, Amy strolled up to the door.
She would have a congenial little chat
with the teacher. Probably it was Il
spinster with pointed nose and shoul-
der-shawl, but
She and Malcolm went in, and the
teacher rose from the desk.
He was hardly spinsterl He was a
tall, bright-eyed, dark-moustached, in
disputably goodlooking young man.
"Oh!n Amy faltcred.
'Come inln said the schoolmaster,
though they were in.
Amy mustered her courage. 1t was
embarrassing, but after all it didn't alter
the case. She would have her congenial
talk Just the same.
"We thought we'd come in, " she said
sweetly smiling. "You see, taught a
term in a district school once myself,
and
Certainly" said the master. 81 am
always glad to have visitors. I'm sorry
my school is out"
He hastened forward to meet her, and
walked back down the aisle with her.
"pd have been glad to see it, said
Amy-not very regretfully, however.
''See, Malcolm, dear, that rat on the
blackboard"
"Yes, 1 illustrate their lessons for my
primer children, " said the teacher, laugh
ing. "They like my pictorial efforts. -
What a pleasant laugh he had, and
what clearness and gaiety in his eyes
Amy's heart beat little faster.
"It's such work, isn't it, teaching
babies2n she said. Il had an infant OF
three in my school"
"0h, / draw the line there! Bat
have them as small as this young man. y
He pinched Malcolm's fat check.
''Malcolm is five, said Amy. "Have
you many pupils2 l had only sixteen.
"Oh, can beat that! have forty. y
"Aud you do il alli" said Amy, her
| admiring eyes raised to his. ''I'm afraid
I I'm presumptuous TO try TO have con
genial talk, she laughed, ambiguously
I "You see, taught only one term.
was spending the summer at Hinton, and
the teacher was taken sick the first OF
the term, and taught it for her, But
I'm afraid l did it for fun"
/ ~ shall rank you among the peda,
gogues, all the same, the young school
master declared, gaily. you've taught
a school, and the insincerity of your mo
tive doesn't matter. l don't know why
we can't have a congenial talk
"Perhaps we can, said Amy, viii
pretty laughter and blush.
They had it.
Malcolm, sitting close 10 his pretty
aunt on the bench, listened round-eyed
interested if not comprehending.
Amy wondered afterWard how eyel
they drifted from school methods ant
monthly examinations to the prettiness o
Gloster's rambles and the the pleasant
ness of the Clarks' front porch, wher
Amy boarded, and the excellence Of thei
croquet ground. But they did and the,
were honestly amazed when the clock ol
the wall gave its 'tchick" for half-pas
five.
They looked at each other in flushed
alarm.
Their acquaintance was an hour an'
half old.
GIVE hindered youw Amy cried
''You've got lessons TO make out, o
something" ="
~ haven't" " retorted the teacher, witt
bright laugh. II was going houe.
live beyond the Clarks', and l hop
you'll let me go with you"
"Come, Malcolm, dear" said Amy
turning aside her smiling face.
II don't suppose YOU will care for N
commencement, ' said the schoolmaster, a
the Clarks' gate. sits day after to-mor
row evening. Ical it commencement i
some irony--its the mere stepping off 0
ny higher class. Only its somethini
of a celebration here, you know
Everybody comes, and tha school-boar'