Mower County transcript., 1890-07-16
THE SCHOOL At MI RPHY's MILL

THE SCHOOLATSEtURPH MILL
'''Tll tell you how said grandpa to the listen.
Ing girls ind boys,
"A teacher taught q oackwoods school. Twas
out In Illinois ~
In rough and ready days whom schools were NOT
rs they are now 81
When maay boisterous deeds were done We
folks would not allow; f. {
When people boosted Of their strength and
seemed to take delight
In trying 1t on every one, and thought that
might was right;
When fathers ut barn raising bees would
wrestle, jump and box.
And when man was little good who couldn't
stand the knocks. :ss. >s 80.
'"The school Of which speak was called tho
worst for miles about; s". e..
No matter who essayed to teach, the boys
would turn him out. .~, ,ff+.
They somehow would arrange it to discourage
every one,
For they were full OF mischief and they did II
just for fun. as
Committeeman would hire teachers every week
or two.
Who'd hold the fort little while and all at
once be through.
It seemed as II there was no hand with strength
those boys to rule, s.
And so twas only now and then the district
had q school,
"At times they used to hire youths from college
fresh and new;
1t didn't take them very long to ind they
For he who put on city airs and had an uppish
Had not the very slightest chance of having
long to stay.
And then again the men employed would be so
very cross, fS
They did not seem to care to teach but simply
Just to 'ooss;'
And SO the boys for this or that found fault
with every one
But II was only mischief and their way OF hav.
ing fun.
''Ttoy had D half score Of ways pedagogue
to rout;
Sometimes they'd close the chimney DER and
smoke tho teacher out,
Or bar the doors. or work some one Of many
cunning tricks
To place the new-tound leader in trying, help
less fix.
For when a lot OF roguish boys decide to have
some fun,
The point they set about to gain is certain to
be won.
And though the teacher might declare with
force he came to stay. "
It nearly always happened that he quit and
went away.
'Once when the school had long been closed
the word was sent around
That books would be resumed again: q teache.
had been found;
And all the sturdy youths who in the former
sports had shared
Felt not o little pleasure, and for future spor,
prepared 80
And little fellows much too mall to take An
active part
Were all on hand to see the fun and get an
early start.
And ere the teacher had arrived the stragslers
all werein,
And waited quite impatiently to see tho fun
begin. @'~'..-
Il COLL the morn to mind as though 'twere only
yesterday;
The fakes OF snow were falling in binding
sort Of way.
The wind was wildly blowing it in deecy pu1rs
about;
Twas just jolly winter morn to turn teacher
out.
The boys assembled early, with the leaders all
on hard
And all their schemes were nicely laid and
every thing was planned;
They waited for the teacher with q curious sus.
penSe,
And all were very anxious that the 'doings'
should commence. =.
mo one could tell from whence the newly
hired teacher came, - s~,.t ,- -
Nor did 1t seem to matter much; the end would
be the same.
The boys with smiles recounted the victories
they'd won,
And talked Of what would come to pass before
the day was DONE
Tine 81 ~
In scurries drove.
The boys were all within and closely huddled
round the stove.
All unannounced the door swung back and ere
they were aware
The teacher-just woman young and frail-
was standing there
.'"The fercest fash OF lightning from the fairest
azure skies
Would not in the beholders waken more of
deep surprise;
And DER the faces OF the youths who mischief
planned there came , = ;g.rs'-
A sudden flush Of color and look akin to
shame. #s
In vain their minds had plotted ana for naught
their wits had schemed,
For she was quite beyond the realm OF all
which they had dreamed;
The glances that were passed between wide
open, wondering eyes
o210 notnlng snOuld be done until they might
1eorXanlze.
$50 at recess tho boys convened to talk the
matter DER,
For such q turn in their affairs had never come
before '~~'
And one strong youth with frmness said: Who
dares that girl to harm
Viii learn how much Of strength have laid up
in my right arm;
Who disobeys rule she makes shall suffer for
the deed
And all the others then and there with him as
one agreed.
The youth who thus spoke up for her she loves
and honors still.
Ask grandma if she ever taught the school at
Murphy's Mill!''
Nixon Waterman in Chicago Herald.
HOW 7 WAS "RURGTED'' y