The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-01-11
SERVED RIGHT.
There Was Lots Of Fun, But the
Teacher Enjoyed It All

Every one in the district said that tn
board of directors had done an unwis
thing in hiring woman to teach tn
winter term of the Long Lane School
Mr.. Jason Perry, president of the schoo
board, heard these words Of disaI
prevail with grin and sly chuckle
and said:
well. just wait until you've seen her
and mebbe you'll change your mind"
II reckon" said old Mrs. Peel, con
temptuously, s'she' one of these mech
In, mealy. mouthed, too-sweet-for-any
thing young women, and Jason think
she can wheedle the bad boys into mind
in her like they do in story-books; bu
she'll find out diff'rent when she come.
to tackle them Gerry and Bunker boy,
and Tom Lee and few of the others.
But Miss Betsey Pike did not look very
"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 afioat
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 a mere
slip of thing" afraid to say s'boo to a
goose" 80 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 streakod
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 a plaid gingham
handkerchief, fastened at the throat
with an immense old-fashioned breasspin
containing an ambrotype of wonder
fully plain man, and lock of red hair
tied with 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 kind. A large, stifiiy
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 of
her boots and put on pair of carpet
slippers. Then, rubbing her bony hands
briskly together, she stepped up to her
desk, and said to the wondering school:
Books! booksl 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 !
II 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 60 to work, and-no sohisperingr"
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-
iouslv close together.
The teachers voice had not been harsh
or unkind, and she had even smiled
while speaking; but now she
said, very sharply:
II never allow whispering in INV
school. Mind that ] never like to pun
ism boys and girls, but ! can do it il nee
essary, and sehip sometimes."
The pupils assembled in little rroups
outside the school-house, and discussed
the new teacher during the noon inter-
Nothing very meechin' bout herr
'aid Cy Gerry. 'Idon't think she's likely
% take any of us up into her lap and ,
'oddle US any, is she?" |,
NET muchw responded Hadley Bunk
n. "lf she takes us on her lap, it'll be
or some other reason. But I'll tell Won
vhat- I'm not a-goin to let any woman
eacher boss me!''
Nor me. either~ said Gregory Ger !
fsh, boldly, 81 amt afraid of herr,
II guess you wouldn't say 50 to her :
ace, said Tom Lee.
Eyes. would"
well, say 50 then!n said a sharn. /.
lnging voice, and the surprised bows .
urned about and saw Miss Pike looking !.
Ut OF window close by them, her arms :
olded over her chest, grim smile ON
or face, and her eyes flashing omin- :
usly. "
II you're not afraid Of me, young :
ian, you'd better be!'' she said to Greg :
~. You've none Of you any need to :
afraid of me, If you do what's right; =
ut Il you wilfully do what's wrong. N
oull be afraid before I've done with 8
pup Il
She stood ct the window moment (,
[ter making this speech, but none Of
le boys had any thing to say in reply, n
I'd when she rang the bell they walked :,
quietly and took their seats.
Before week had passed it became v
''asas y tie holdest q tie bad boys :,