Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-15
THE YANKEE TEACHER.
A Tale OF Discipline That Ends
Delightfully."-.

| AOAAeS
"A Yankee school-teacher, ehp, said
Johnny Bligh. "You'n see how soon well
pitch him out of doors I'low Western
men Is good enough fo- usr
'John, don't talk so" said his stepmoth
or, high-shouldered, freckled woman, 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 q
neighbor who had "stepped inn to borrow g
postage-stam and a sheet of paper, ''what
a fine spirit our Johnny has"
81 guess likely you 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 frst-class thrashing when
you come back"
1--WE don't want no Yanl1s foolin' round
here" said John, sullenly.
'Our folks was Yanks afore they was
Westerners," sagely observed Gilbert.
"All the same, though, wish Joe Holley'd
got the place instead o. this Rhode Island
| fellow. Joe's good neighbor, and he's got
right smart o. book learnin'."
"Gil," said John, leaning both elbows on
the shed window, ''why don't you 90 in for
schoolin'r'
'Reckon I've got enough to pass iu q
crowd" said Gilbert, boring series Of
holes in a check strap.
''No great, though" retorted John. "You
can read-and you can write-and that's
about all"
'I've 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
Yank is pretty mlddlin' smart, may take O
turn at my books some time in the winter.
I've always thought should like to see into
what they call geometry. Joe Rolley can't
teach thatr'
'No more can the Yank, don't reckon, /"
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 quarter,
he came blubbering home at noon.
Teachers took away my books, and
won't let me hev' my dinner-basket," said
he. "And I'm hun-n-n-gryr'
"The poor creaturel" whined Mrs BliRh.
inStinctively cutting gigantic wedge Of
pumpkin pie, and looking around for tho
cheese.
Don't stop for that now, mother" said
Gilbert, setting his teeth together. "Come
with me, John. Well look into this busi-
ness"
Never was mile more rapidly traversed
than that expsnse 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, swinging
strides.
Gilberts face was dark; his eyes sparkled
ominouSly. John glanced at him now aud
then with scarcely subdued awe.
"Gil's proper mad" he said to himself.
"And when CHS mad it means suthin'.n
Arrived at the little red brick building at
the Cross roads Bligh pushed the door open
and strode fercely In.
"Now, then," said he, what's this about
bullying little Jack Blighl rll know the
reason Of it, or Pll-"
He stopped abruptly. Instead Of the tall,
ungainly Yankee whom he had expected to
sec behind the desk, a trim, pretty young
girl, with jet-black hair and q complexion
like ripe peach, rose from the pedagogical
chair.
"Well," said she, composedly, "what II
wantinRl Do you know, young man, that
1t Is the custom in civilized countries to
knock at the door before you come int
Children" to the little flock, who, with one
accord, had raised their heads, ''an this
does not in the least concern you. Mind
your lessons. John Bligh, take your seat"
81 won't" clustered Johnny, emboldened
by the presence of his tall brother
"Gimme my dinner basket. Lemme have
my books"
81 want to know" began Gilbert Blgh,
''what right you have"
Miss Root-"Emma Abigail Root 1t was
in the school certifcate-raised a warning
finger.
"Silencer' she cried. Leave this room
at once! Twill not have my discipline in
terfered withv'
"I-won'tT again bawled the belligerent
Johnny.
The children held their breath
Miss Root took in the situation at once,
and briskly seizing the young rebel by the
coat-collar, walked him into the book-eloset
and turned the key in the door,
Gilbert advanced to rescue him, but while
he stood chivalrously unwilling to lay
violent hands on awoman, 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 goI'' said
she, ana pat him ont at the door without
further ceremony.
A thrill ran through the little audience.
The school-ma'am had triumphed over law
less Johnny Bligh, and afterward con-
UAk OFOtHCE. 116F RUE 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,
snow, Peter Dorsey" said she, .syou may
give me the boundaries OF South Carolina
over again"
And business went on just as it had done
before.
by Georgef' muttered Gilbert Blieh.
outside, Saint she a pIucky little thiapi
Wen, Isuppose may as well go home. I
reckon Jack will have to work out his own
salvation for all of me- How those black
eyes did snap, thoughIn
To Gilbert's infinite amusement-some-
what to his discontinue when he came in
at night from q horseback ride to the six
mile post-ofice, he found Miss Root sitting
at the domestic fireside.
"Gil, p said Mrs. Bligh. uneasily, sehere,s
The school-ma' a'am--come 70 beard out her
week. II was Widow nunnss week by
rights. but thcV'Fe got the dpmh-ager over !