San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-03

"D0tnD ms dutU OY fhch pd'CHtS'
he never inflicted chastisemcnt without
following it by the assurance, so consol-
atory to the smarting urchin that "he
would remember it and thank him for it
the longest day he had to live"
When school hours were over he was
even the companion and playmate Of the
larger boys; and on holiday afternoons
would convoy somo of the smaller ones
home, who happened to have pretty Sis
tcrs or good housewives for mothers,
noted for tho comforts of the cupboard.
Indeed, it bchooved him to keep on good
terms with his pupils. The revenue aris-
ing from his school was small, and
furnish him with daily bread, for he was
huge feeder, and though lank, had the
dilating powers of an anaconda; but
to help out his maintenance. he
was, according to country Gus
tom In those parts, boarded and
lodged at tho houses OF tho farmers,
whose children he instructed With these
ho lived successfully, week Mt q time,
thus going the rounds of the ncighbor-
hood, with oil his worldly effects tied up
in cotton handkerchief.
That all this might not be too onerous
on the purses of his rustic patrons, who
are apt to consider the costs Of schooling
q grievous burden, and schoolmastcrs as
mere droncs, he had various ways OF
rendering himself both useful and agree
able. He assisted the farmers occasion
ally in the lighter labors Of their farms
helped TO MAKE lay, mcndcd the fences.
took the horses 10 water, drove the COWS
| from pasture and cut wood for the win
ter fire. He laid aside, too, all the domi-
nant dignity and absolute sway with
which Il. lordcl 1t In his little empire,
the school, and became wonderfully zen
| tie and ingratiating. IIo found favor in
the eyes Of the mothers by petting the
children, particularly the Youngest: and
like the lion bold, which wllilo.n 20
magnaniinouslY the lamb did hold,
he would sit with a child On ono knee,
and rock cradle with his foot for whole
hours together.
In addition to his other vocatiorS, he
was the singing master Of the rcighbor-
hood, and picked up many bright Ghil-
| lings by instructing the young folks In
| psalmody. IL was n matter Of 10 little
vanity 60 lim Oh Sundays, TO take his
station In front Of the church gallery.
with band of chosen singers, wbcTc, in
his own mind, he completely carried
away the palm from the pcr0on. Cor
tain it is. his voice resoundCd far abbvc
all the rest of the congregation. ard
there arc peculiar Gaavcrs still To be
heard in that church, and which my
even bc heard half milo OF. cutie 10
the opposite side OF the Is.il pond. on
still Sunday morning. which arc sail 10
be lc-iiimately descended from the noe
Of Icliabod Crane. Thus. hy divers liiiie
maEcsiiiis, in that inScsiOus way which
is commonly dcnominatod "sy hook and
by crDos." the worthy Tcd1--o-uc 60; or
toleT-bly cnDu--l. and vas iiiUught. by all
who understood nothing, of Tie labor al
hcaI ycOr-. u have ysOaLCTful Cs-5y
life Of il.
The schoolu1astcr is generally \ rlan ~
some importance ia The fcm@lr circle Il
a rural neizliborhOod. being considered
a Kind of idle gentleman like IersOnzee.
Of vastly superior taste and accomplish
mcnts 20 the rough cOBntTy swaizs, and,
indeed. inferioT IN learnins only 20 the
parsOn- His aTpe1rarce. Therefore. is
art 20 occasion some Litle sur - the tea
table q farm lIousc. and flle addition q
: superuu-Derzry dish Il cakes O. sweet
meats. O.. peradveniurc. TIE Traradc q a
sslrer tezp1t Ourman q letters therefore
was peculiarly haTpy IN The E1iles q al
the county da-nsels EOU De Woud
figure amolC thea IN tie churciIyzr
tefueau services On S-ndars. gathering
srapes f0T fhe1 from TIE vlld FIlaz thai