The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-12-07
SERVED RIGHT.
There Was Lots of Fun, But the
Teacher Enjoyed 1t All.

Every one in the district said that the
board of directors had done an unwise
thing in hiring n woman to teach the
winter term of the Long Lane School
Mr.. Jason Perry. president of the school
board, heard these words of disap
proval with a grin and sly chuckle,
and said:
"Well, just wait until you've seen her,
and mebbe you'll change your mind"
al reckon said old Mrs. Peel con-
temptuously, ''she' one of these meech-
in, mealy, mouthed, too-sweet-for-any-
thing young women, and Jason thinks
she can wheedle the bad boys into mind
in her like they do in story-books; but
she'll find out diff'rent when she comes
to tackle them Gerry and Bunker boys
and Tom Lee and a few of the Others"
But Miss Betsey Pike did not look very
t'meechin'" nor ''mealy-mouthed" when
she opened her school and stood behind
her desk facing the boys before named,
and the forty or more pupils comprising
the rest of the school.
She was stranger in the district, and
there had been all sorts of rumors afloat
regarding her age and personal appear
ance. One of these rumors was to the
effect that Miss Pike was but seventeen
years of age, and that she was ''mere
slip of thing" afraid to say "boo to a
goose" so that the pupils of the school
were not little surprised when they
stood in front of Miss Betsey herself.
She was almost six feet tall and could
not have been less than forty years of
age. Her thin, black hair, well streaked
with gray, was combed back straight and
tight, and twisted into knot not much
larger than walnut Her long neck
was guiltlesS of girlish gewgaws but
had folded around it plaid gingham
handkerchief, fastened at the throat
with an immense old-fashioned breastpin
containing an ambrotype of wonder
fully plain man, and a lock of red hair
tied with a bit of narrow green ribbon.
Miss Betsey every day wore this pin,
and short gown of rusty black alapaca,
very skinny in the skirt and quite void
of trimming of any lliGd. a large, stitfly
starched green and white gingham apron
hung from her long waist
III was muddy, rainy day, and when
she got to the platform she pulled off
her boots and put on a pair of carpet
slippers. Then, rubbing her bony hands
briskly together, she stepped up to her
desk, and said to the wondering school:
"'Books books. books.'
The boys and girls went to their seats
with less noise than was usual on such
occasions. When all had taken their
seats, Miss Pike said:
cIn nln IN
gether without any trouble, and we shall
if you only mind me as YOU ought. will
ask nothing of you that isn't right and
for your good. Now get out your books
and 20 to work, and-Ro ThfspGlng'
One of Miss Pixies slippered feet came
down very fiat on the platform as she
spoke the last two words, which had
been called forth by the action of several
boys and girls whose heads were suspic-
6ouslv close together.
The teachers voice had not been harsh
or unkind, and she had even smiled
pleasantly while speaking; but now She
said, very sharply:
Il never allow whispering in my
school. Mind MaN never like to pun
ish bows and girls. but can do it if nee.
EoSdJN, anu i HfttP SOllltlluto.
The pupils assembled in little groups
outside the school-house, and discussed
the new teache during the noon inter
mission.
Nothing very meechin' bout her!
said Cy Gerry. II don't think she's likely
to take any of us up into her lap and
eoddle us any, is she?"
met much!" responded Hadley Bunk
er- fiJf she takes us on her lap, it'll be
for some other reason. But III tell you
what. I'm not a-goin to let any woman
teacher boss me!''
''Nor me, either!' said Gregory Ger
rish, boldly, 81 amt afraid of her!"
al guess you *ouldn't say SO to her
face said Tom Lee.
@'Yes, would"
well, say so them" said sharp,
ringing voice, and the surprised boys
turned about and saw Miss Pike looking
out of window close by them, her arms
folded over her chest, grim smile on
her face, and her eyes flashing omin-
.ously.
4If you're not afraid of me, young
man, you'd better be!' she said to Greg
ory- You've none of you any need to
lbs afraid of me, If you do what's right;
but If you wilfully do what's wrong
you'll be afraid before I've done with
your
She stood at the window moment
after making this speech, but none OF
the boys had any thing to say in reply,
and when she rang the bell they walked
in quietly and took their seats.
Before a week had passed 1t became
evident to the boldcst OF the BAD boys
pflnat Miss Betsey was not in the least
afraid of them. She had shown this by
marching up to Jed Bunker and soundly |
sIapping his ears for whispering, and
when he mumbled something in def
;znce, after she had gone back to her |
desk, she walked back with a little raw
hide IN her hand, and Jed, the Oldest |
and boidest boy in the school, lied from
ahe room. After that there was no
uaore en- rebellion on the part Of the |
boys, but they, unwilling to acknowl-
edge defeat, took counsel togetherto see
what they could do to subdue Miss
Betsey, who was the most formidable
Zoe they had ever met in their connec-
.fion with the Long Lane Scheo oil. ]