Griggs courier., 1889-12-13
SERVED RIGHT.
There Was Lots Of Fun, But the
Teacher Enjoyed It All.

10S4Ck10I Gj4JOy0S1 IL ALI
:
Every one in the district said that the
board Of directors had done an unwise
thing in hiring 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 grin and sly chuckle,
and said:
SWELL, just wait until you've seen her,
and mebbe you'll change your mind"
81 reckon,'' said old Mrs. Peel, con-
temptuously, ''she' one of these mech
inH 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 diffrent 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
vsmeechin' 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 o. the school.
She was stranger in the district, and
there had been all sorts of rumors afloat
reaarding 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, we'll 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 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 vtid
of trimming of any kind. A large, stifhy
starched green and white gingham apron
hung from her long waist.
1t was muddy, rainy day, and when
She got to the platform she pulled off
: her boots and put on pair of carpet
\slippers. Then, rubbing her bony hands
brisllly together, she stepped up to her
desk, and said to the wondering senool:
''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:
Now hope we shall get along to-
gether without any trouble, and we shall
if you only mind me as you ought. I will
ask nothing of you that isn't right and
for your good. Now get out your books
fand go to work, and-no achaspersng.''
One of Miss Pixies slippered feet Gallo
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-
iouslv 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 that! never like to pun
ish boys and girls, but can do it if nec-
essary, and achip sometimes!''
The pupils assembled in little groups
outside the school-house, and discussed
Athe new teacher during the noon inter-
= mission.
Nothing very meechin' bout herr
said Cy Gerry. "Idon't think she's likely
to take any of us up into her lap and
codale us any, is she?"
s.Net much!'' responded Hadley Bunk
er. ''If she takes us on her lap, it'll be
for some other reason Eut I'll tell you
what. I'm not a-so:n to let any woman
teacher boss me-"
e s'Nor me, elther!'' said Gregory Ger
Il rish, boldly, 81 amt afraid of hertz
n II guess you wouldn't say so to her
face said Tom Lee.
ssYes, would
s.Well, say so then!'' said sharp,
ringing voice, and the surprised boys
turned about and saw Miss Pike looking
out of a window close by them, her arms
folded over her chest, grim smile on
hel .ace, and her eyes flashing omin-
ously.
s'If 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
be afraid of me, if you do what's right;
but if you wilfully do what's wrong,
Hsyou'll be afraid before I've done with
ASou!''
i Sha stood at the window moment
I after making this speech, but none of
55 the boys had any thing to say in reply,
,kiand when she rang the bell they walked
s. in quietly and took their seats.
Before week had passed it became
evident to the boldest of the bad boys