Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-23
THE YANKEE TEACHER.

4 Pllcn MIN out OF doors! L low Western
men is good enough for us r'
John, don't talk So" said his STEP
mother, a high-shouldered, freckled wo-
man, with watery blue eyes and chronic
drawl.
But she smiled as she said it, and MIN
ute or so later the boy heard her telling a
neighbor who had stepped in" to borrow
postage stamp and sheet of paper
"what fine spirit our Johnny has"
guess likely you'll behave yourself,
Jack" said Gilbert, the big brother, who
was mending harness out in the shed,
when John began to air his boasts out
there, "or else you'll get a frst-class
thrashing when you come back"
"We don't want no Yankee foolin' round
here" said John, sullenly.
"Our folks was Yankee afore they was
Westerners," sagely observed Gilbert.
All the same, though, | wish Joe Hol-
ley'd got the place instead of this Rhode
Island fellow. Joes good neighbor, and
he's got right smart O book learnin'"
Gill" said John, leaning both elbows
on the shed window. "why don't you go in
for schoolin' ?"
Reckon Pve got enough to pass in a
crowd" said Gilbert, boring a series of
holes in a check-strap.
No great, though" retorted John.
You can read, and you can write, and
that's about all"
"Pve always had something else to
think of when deestrick school was open"
said Gilbert, composedly. "Times has
been brisk since father died. But we've
pretty nigh squared up the work now, and
if this 1ank is pretty middlin' smart,
may take turn at my books some time in
the winter. Eve always thought l should
like to see into what they call geometry.
Joe Holley can't teach that"
"No more can the Yank, | don't reck-
on" said disaffected John.
Evidently his theories and those of the
new teacher came into active conflict, for
the next day, the first of the school quar-
ter, he came blubbering home at noon.
Teacher took away my books and won't
let me hev my dinner basket" said he.
"And Pm hun-n-n-gryw
1.-The poor creature whined Mrs.
Bligh, instinctiyely cutting a gigantic
wedge of pumpkin pie and looking around
for the cheese.
Don't stop for that now, mother" said
Gilbert setting his teeth together. "Come
with me, John. Well look into this bust
ness"
Never was mile more rapidly traversed
than that expanse Of dreary pines and sere
grass that lay between the district school
house and the Bligh farm. John, running
with all his breathless might, could scarcely
keep pace with his brothers long, swing
ing strides.
Gilberts face was dark his eyes sparkled
ominously. John glanced at him now and
then with scarcely subdued awe.
Cells proper mad" he said to himself.
"And when GiPs mad it means suthin'."
Arrived at the little red brick building
at the cross roads Bligh pushed the door
open and strobe iercely in.
"Now, them" said he, whats this
about bullying little Jack Bligh? Phi
know the reason of it, or Pll-"
He stopped abruptly. Instead of the
tall, ungainly Yankee whom he had ex-
pected to see behind the desk, a trim,
pretty young girl, with jet-black hair and
a complexion like a ripe peach, rose from
the pedagogical chair.
"Well," said she, composedly, "what is
wanting? Do you know, young man, that
it is the custom in civilized countries to
knock at the door before you come in I?
Children" to the little flock, who, with
one accord, had raised their heads, sail
this does not in the least concern you.
Mind your lessons. John Bligh, take your
seat"
81 WON'T" clustered Johnny, embold-
ened by the presence of his tall brother.
Gimme my dinner basket. Lemme hev
my books"
I" want to know" began Gilbert Bligh,
"what right you have"
Miss Root" Emma Abigail Root" it
was in the school certifcate-raised a
warning finger.
Silence she cried. leave this room
at once! l will not have my discipline in
terfered WITH
"I-won'tp' again hawled the belliger-
ent Johnny
The children held their breath.
Miss Root took in the situation at once,
and briskly Selling the young rebel by the
coat collar, walked him in the book-closet
and turned the key in the door.
Gilbert advanced to rescue him, but
while he stood chivalrously unwilling to
lay violent hands on a woman, Miss Root
turned upon him and took him by the
| wrist as if he had been a child
"Did you hear me tell you to go ?" said
she, and put him out at the door without
further ceremony.
A thrill ran through the little audience.
The school ma'am had triumpbed over
lawless Johnny Bligh, and afterward con-
quered his big brother. Her rule was
thoroughly established now; there would
be no further fear of revolt.
| Calmly Miss Root returned to the little
wooden platform upon which stood her
chair and desk.
may give me the boundaries of South Caro-
lima over again"
And business went on just as it had done
before
"By Georgew muttered Gilbert Bligh,
outside, =" amt she plucky little thing {?
Well, | suppose | may as well go home. /
reckon Jack will have to work out his own
salvation for all of me. How those black
eyes did snap, though p
| To Gilbert's infinite amusement-some-
what to his discomfture-when he came
in at night from a horseback ride to the
| slX-mlle postofhce, he found Miss Root sit
| ting at the domestic tireside
"Gil," said Mrs. Bligh, uneasily, "here's
the school ma am-come to board out her
week. 1t was Widow Dunn's week by
rights, but they've got the dumb ager over
there, and lowed they'd ruther she'd come
here first. School ma'am, this is my eldest
son-or leastways my husbands son.
never had none O my own, but / set deal
O store by Gilbert and john"
Gilbert Bligh bowed rather awkwardly.
Miss Root rose up and dropped dainty
little courtesy, like a slim young hazel
bush swayed by the wind.
!" l hope you don't bear malice, said she
half smiling, while soft pink flush rose to
her cheek. "You see it was absolutely
necessary for me to enforce discipline, and
really you were sailing under piratical COL
ors-now, were you not?"
81 was altogether wrong" said Gilbert,
reddening also. AZ beg your pardon"
(Which John has already DONE" said
Miss Root, resuming her seat and her knit
ting work. "John's not bad fellow after
all, when once you appeal to his reason and
common sense. We shall get along capt.
tally after this"
| an -. ~