The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-01-17

HE 10 t6G kC1NuGIs tuC Olu
man said, introducing him to an ell
derby woman with a thin, sharp face
and faded red hair, who was prepar-
ing the table for supper. Ny sister
Cynthy, Mr.-Mr.-"
Jasper said Mark.
..Yes--Jasper. Wal, hope make
you both acquainted.
Mark took of his ovcrcoat and sat
down before blazing wood fire in a
large old-fashioncd fireplace; and
while the old man was busting
around and the sister ratified the dishes
in neighboring closet. he had an OPP
portunity to look around.
What attracted his attention first
was the floor, which was painted to
represent waves dashing here and
there. Next he noticed that every
thing was dashed either to the
floor or to the wall, the same
as in the cabin OF a ship. and as
if a gale might be expected any
moment to upset the house. The
brass door-knobs were polished. and
there was nothing that showed the
slightest hint OF dirt. A cleaner room
could not be imagined, and Mark be-
gan to feel comfortable and at home
before he had been seated in II five
minutes. The tall. ancient clock IN a
distant corner seemed to have friend
" tick; the fire was hospitable and the
table looked inviting.
At last the old man. or Uncle Seth,
as it was soon discovered he was
called by every body, annHnnced that
Sis said supper was ready and in
vited Mark to move up and help him
self. Sister Cynthia soon joined them,
and then Uncle Seth fell to eating and
talking. He had sailed the seas ever
since his youth and was full of stories,
anecdotes and good nature. Mark
laughed until he was red in the face,
and soon became the best of friends
with him. BY the time the meal was
finished Uncle Seth had become SO
confidential that he began to confide
to him much Of his personal history.
Sitting at one corner of the hearth
and resting his wooden leg across q
chair, he smoked and told about a
long cruise in whaling ship and then
Of a voyage to Australia during which
water cask rolled on him and
crushed his leg. Since then he had
been aground, he said, pulled up high
and dry.
Before Mark was aware Of IL the
evening had slipped away and the
clock was striking ten. Uncle Seth
then inquired of Sister Cynthia
whether the teacher was to sleep
'for'ard or up aloft." and, learning
her preference, led Mark to spare
room. opening of the parlor There
were green paper curtains at the win
dows, q peacock's feather dropping
over small looking-glass, three or
four shells on the mantel-piece, and a
collection Of dagnerreotypes, framed
in . group, hanging above it. The
room was so chilly, however. that
Mark did not pass many moments cx-
aiming these details. He looked at
the dagnerreotypes long enough to
discover that one Of them was = pict-
ure Of Uncle Seth, taken when he was
a young man, and that another repre-
sented his sister in the bloom of
youth. Then, hastily undressing, he
blew out the light, jumped into
plump, old-fashioned bed. and soon
afterWard was sound asleep.
His first thoughts In the morning
were, OF course, about the school. He
could see the drab-colored old building
on small hill q short distance away.
The smoke was beginning to curl up
from its chimney when he sat down to
breakfast, signifying that one pupil.
at least, was already on hand. With
some anxiety Mark watched the clock
until 1t was a quarter of nine, and then
he started to begin his work. While
he walked leisurely up the hill toward
the school-house, he saw the boys and
girls crowd around the door to look ut
him; and as he drew near them they
SlssfCO 6O AAuOA lac UCCdAC COu4uCGus
But his embarrassment soon passed of
when he had gone among them and
called them to order They numbered
thirty-nine-big and little, short and
stout, and they all watched him the
most of the forenoon. Three OF the
larger boys in the back row were the
pupils, Mark decided, who would
probably cause him the most annoy
ance.
No indication Of trouble appeared,
however, during the day. Every
thing glided on very smoothly; and
Mark, sitting near one OF the windows.
watched the shiN in the distance
dreamily while he heard the big and
the little recite their lessons. 1t would
not be such difficult undertaking
after all, he fancied. The location Of
the school-house was picturesque and
romantic; it was pleasant to be SO
near the ocean; and the effort to teach
was certainly not great. But it came
to PASS that these reflections were the
result Of inexpericncc. On the third
day the tough Set" whom Uncle
Seth had spoken of. began the attack,
and Mark had no more peace until the
term was nearly completed. He ain't
no ways big enough to learn u.s." a
couple OF the largest and most stupid
boys declared. Hes agoin' to be put
out right spry.
Its their old game, young man. =
said Uncle Seth, rubbing his wooden
leg thoughtfully. Their great idee
In life is to put somebody out; and We
always said that the teacher who could
master them would be fit to govern
Roo-ia.
Marks first feeling was disgust. To
wrangle with ignorant DULLES was not
to his taste; and he was undecided
whether he would not give up the
school ut once. They could easily put
him out, Of course, II they determined
to do so; and to attempt to fight with
1,rs -