Daily Republican., 1889-01-17
AN oLD-FAsHIoNED TEACHER.


commences:
She WAS tall, angular, severe-looking
woman, about fofty years OF age.
She wore perfectly plain dark brown
dress, reaching TO her shoe-tops only,
long black silk apron with velvet ribbon
trimmings, and checked piugham kerr
chief around her neck with tho end cross
ed and fastened with an immense old
fashioned gold aud glass breast-pln with
several varieties and shades OF hair under
the glass.
Her own hair, black, thinly streaked
with gray, was combed down smooth and
fiat over each ear aud arranged 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 spectacle-, and smiled in n grim
sort Of a way on those who came nearest
her desk.
'Tncy never hired her for her beauty"
said Bryce Shtldon, mlschievous boy Of
sixteen.
mo; guess they hired her to make
such chaps as you oe tue marx, replied
Ben Lewis, "and she'll do II, too"
"Wond what Gid D-'il say TO
her," said third boy
"Wcll, ! wonder what she II say to
him, " replied Bryce Sheldon.
Gideon gave Miss R long, search
Ing look when he came 10. She returned
1t with interest. For the first time the
teacher had looked him tout Of unite
nance" The keen gray eyes behind the
spectacles never left 0iieon's face until
he turned 1t away, and said, In low
tone, to one of his mates:
"lm not afraid o. her "
He realized, however, that the person
he had 10 deal with this time was M COM
mon foe, and he res lived to proceed eau
tiously ut first; but from the moment he
saw Miss r. he was resolved to cut
short her csrtet as teacher of that school.
When o o'clock came Mis- R
rang her little btll, aud stood, prim and
soldier-lilSe, with arms still aud straight
at her sides, waiting for her pupils to taEe
their seats.
When she spoke, her severe face bright
ened up, and her voice was pleasant sur
prise, II was 80 clear and soft, and even
sweet. Some CT the children thought they
might like her, after all.
They knew that they liked her when
the first week came to an end. They
found her TO be just and kind teacher
stern only when It was necessary for her
to he so la order to enforce some rule that
ought to have been obcyed without ques-
ton or force.
A full month passed, and Gideon D.
had not yet made what the other boys
called "a bad brake" aid he had been
questioned often as 10 why he had not
| done go.
He generally rel lied that he would do
80 when he "got good ready"
lie had been nearly ready several times,
but tomething ia those remarkably
piercing eyes OF Miss R. had held him
in check On two or three occasions he
had thrown out "ieelers," as he men,
tally called them. That is, he had DIS
ODE yed the rules in trifiing things to see
how Miss R. would take IT,"
Her eyes had flashed ominously, and
the pleasant look had died quite out of
| her face as she told him "never to repeat
the offence" and he never had.
But, having "run out" two men teach
ers, Gideon did not propose being con-
quered and subdued by woman.
1t was on Monday morning OF the fifth
week oil the school that Gideon decided To
"mRke o break"
Miss R always called the roll as
! coon as the school came to order in the
MOI, ting. those present at that time
were To 80 present" and were TO keep
tbeir arms folGsi during the calling OF
the roll.
When the teacher called the name oil
Gideon, he answered with lodG
"IIereP'
Miss R sat up very straight In an
instant; her keen eyes shone behind her
| glasses; she looked toward Gideon. His
arms were unfolded and his hands spread
out flat on his desk.
| "That is not the way tt answer, and
you know It perfectly we'll" sald Miss
r. in a sharp voice. "Fold your
arms instantly, and say Present"
'I'vs answered once, and that's
enough" said Gideon, land ain t doing
any harm with my arms untolded
Miss r. sprang to her feet, her face
very red and eyl s brighter than ever.
| Gideon" she said, slowly and icely,
off you do not have your arms folded
within thirty seconds, and II yon have
not answered Present within the same
length of time, you'll he sorry for It,"
| With II sneer on his face, Gideon coolly
clasped his hands over his head, straight
enod himself up in his seat, and stared at
Miss R with compressed lips that
showed no sign of yielding.
Even those who were there, and saw
what followed, were unable TO give very
coherent account Of It,
They said that the lid of Mics Re
desk went up like q flash, that she drew
from 1t long, new rawhide, and seemat
to fairly fly down the aisle to Gideon'i
seat.
He had not for enc moment expected
that she would dare use force with him
He had confidently expected to Fighter
her at the last, and seemed to think thai
his bolduess had stricken her with terror
Most OF the other lady te cheers had crieC
when he defied them, and he rather ex
pected Miss RI to beat retreat o
some sort.
He was, therefore, wholly unpreparcC
for the vigor and fury of Miss R 3 on
elaught. He had not time to even leay
his seat when one of Miss Rs stroug
bony hands was fastened firmly In hi
long, thick hair, his head WAS pulled for
ward, and the blows rainad down On hi
back, every stroke cutting the air with
sharp, whirring sound.
In vain he writhed and struck ou
, blndly. He could not get out OF his sea
nor out of Miss Rs clutches. Neve
had he fallen into such hands before
Her grip was Ike a vice. She shook hiI
until his teeth chartered; she whippe
him until he fairly roared, aud some {
the little children began to cry.
1 Nptli bar rH Inua, mil har nn I