West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-10-24
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

IbG DlCIhlCI CtHUUD,
'.come on, dear, " said Amy, putting
up her parasol.
Dear" came, chubby -year-old.
s'We1l take stroll up the road. Nal
colin, said his young aunt.
HAll wight, said Malcolm.
They had come, Malcolm and his pa
rents aud his fathers pretty sister, to pass
the summer in Gloster.
Gloster was only hamlet, but it was
cool and green and delightful.
''We'll go along by this stone wall.
dear" said Amy.
They passed maple grove, a little,
old church, some farm-houses, and then
came suddenly upon a 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
1T 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 il was a
spinster with pointed nose and shoul-
der-shawl, but
She and Malcolm went in, and the
Neacher rose from the desk.
He was hardly spinster He was a
tall, hright-eyed, dark -moustached, in
Sispotably good-looking young man.
''Oh!p Amy faltered.
Come inip said the schoolmaster.
though they were in
Amy mustered her courage. It was
embarrassing, but after all it didn't alter
the case. She would have her conoenial
talk just the same
1--WE thought we'd come in, she said,
sweecly smiling. "You see, taught n
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
WalEed back down the aisle with her,
"Id have been glad to see it, said
Amy-not very regretfully, however.
f'See, Malcolm, dear, that rat on the
blackboard. F"
"fes, ! illustrate their lessons for NV
primer children, said the teacher, laugh
ing. They like my pictorial efforts. "
What pleasant laugh he had, and
what clearness and gaiety in his eyes
Amy's heart beat little faster.
ats such work, isn't it, teaching
babiesg' she said. 'I had an infant Of
three in my school"
''Ob, / draw the line there! But I
baye them as small as this young man. -
He pinched Mslcolm's fat cheek.
Malcolm is FIVE, " said Amy. "Have
YOU many pupiIsl had only sixteen. -
ooh, can beat thatl / have forty. -
And you do It alll" said Amy. her
admiriug eyes raised TO his. "Im afraid
I'm presumptuous TO try to have con
genial talk, " she laughed, ambiguously
''You sec, j 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 / did il for fun.
81 shall rank you among the peda
gogues, all the same, the young school.
master declared gaily. you've taught
school, and the insincerity OF your mo.
tive doesn't matter. ] don't know why
We can't have q congeuial talk -
Perhaps we can. said Amy. with
pretty lsGghter and q blush
They had It.
Malcolm, sitting close TO his pretty
aunt on the bench, listened round-eyed
interested If not comprehendinR.
Amy wondered afterward how ever
they driftcd from school methods and
monthly examinations to the prettiuess Of
Gloster's rambles and the the pleasant
noss Of the Clarks' front porch. where
Amy boarded and the excellence Of their
croquet ground. But they did; and they
were honestly amazed when the clock on
the wall gave It's "tchick" for half past
Eve.
They looked at each other iu flushed
alarm
Their acquaintance was an hour and
half old.
Give hindered youl' Amy cried
You've got lessons to make out. or
something
81 haven't, rctorted the teacher. with
= bright laugh. 81 was going home 4
live beyond the Clarks, and hope
you'll LET me 20 with you.
"Come, Malcolm, dear" said Amy.
turning aside her smiling face.
II don't suppose you win care for my
commencement, said the schOolmaster. al
the Clarks' gate. s'It's day after to-mor.
, row evening call 10 commencement in
q me irony--iis the mere stepping of Of
my higher class Only its somethiug
Of celebration, here, you know
Everybody comes, and the school board