St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-22
CHAPTER XXI.
IN A DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Poor Cousin Rose Her hig h ambitions
blasted, her first hopes blighted, she
sought rest in country school house.
Some five miles out from White Hall,
surrounded by neat and well tended farms
stood the school building-a little room
with two windows on either side, and a
dirty door facing the West.
Here one quiet September morning Rose
began her first school, Here she learned
to sow that others might reap.
Like all district schools, only few
scholars came the first day, and they "a
B C" folks.
There was little to be done. Reading
and numbers, and numbers and reading
Very much in.tLis way the school went on
for a month and half.
Now and then good district father
came in to visit "the skule."
= One thing, however, gave 1t touch OF
life. One of the directors was quaint
old bachelor, who was very kind In his
way, He always made it convenient to
cali at the end of the month to bring the
"skule NAM her money.
As is the case in all districts, some of
the scholars thought Miss Baily an angel,
and others q devil; so the poor little
school teacher was the subject of many
comments.
, AS winter came on the large, good ma
tured Johns and Sans of the district be-
gan to come in.
Then certain old gentleman of the dis
trict took it upon himself to visit the
"skule marin" and inform her of the treat
ment necessary to deal out to certain
neighbor boy, against whom, we after
wards learned, he had family grudge.
School had just been dismissed one
pleasant evening in late autumn, when his
venerable head was seen to appear around
the corner. With uneven step flor he had
rheumatism) he came directly to the desk,
and in low, cautious tone said:
"Miss Baily, I want to talk with you
lust minute about some boys that's likely
to start in here next Monday. Now ye
understands Pm as peaceable citizen as
lives in this here county, an I've nothin
in partic'lar to say O. my neighbor OF his
boy but at are boy O. his'n an my Jim
hev bean hevin' some trouble here for
more'n a term or two, an it's like as not
they'll hev a fight the fust thing; an the
best thing you can do is to let at are boy
O. neighbor DIS understand to begin with
That you're boss here, an then he'll be-
have"
"I'm very sorry that you anticipate
trouble Rose replied, 'sfor everything
has gone so nicely and really expected to
like those boys"
"Wall, yell be apt to hev heap O
trouble with that one boy, an thought it
best to warn ye fust, an tell ye that ct ye
need any one ter help lick him, don't yer
be afraid ter call on my Jim, fur he's bean
itchin' ter lick him fur year"
"But you don't really think the boy will
need such treatment as that, do you,
Mr.. -"
"Ter be sure do, an more. too; an eff
you an Jim can't due it I'll help ye," he
said, waxing warm and thinking he was
gaining his point.
Excuse me; I do not wish you to un-
derstand that contemplate any trouble
whatever" Rose said, seeing the drift of
his thoughts 81 thank you very much
for your kind intentions, but have no
fears whatever"
eyer welcome, Miss, an hope yer'll
not be disapinted, as fear. Good evenin. >
''Good evening, Mr.. -. Come to see
our school some future time"
She had just finished sweeping and dust
ipg and was just in the act of locking the
door, when .that other boys father ap-
peared on the scene.
s'Glad yer not gone yit, Miss Baily /; I've
some important things ter say ter ye, about
Their gurvermint of yer skule."
"Well. Mr.. -, it's getting quite late,
and fear | will be late to supper. Can
you not call at my boarding place to-mor-
row."
.sIm just going that way, now, Miss
Baily, and ye get right in here aside me-
and well ride over thar together, and I'll
tell We all about it,"
every well, them" she said, and seated
herself beside him.
s.It's this I hev ter say ter ye, Miss
Baily," he began, as the old white horse
pricked up his ears and started off on an
unusually fast trot for an animal so old ;
eoTis now about time that these big boys
around here be comm in, and l hear that
neighbor Ms boy over thar be going ter
start next Monday. Now he and my Sam
is not the best friends in the world, an
the chances are ten ter one they'll hev
fight before one hour. Now Jim's big
eeran Sam, and he'll lick him bad; and
the thing fer you ter do, is ter let him
know that you've got backin' enough in
this ERE district ter lick him an his dad
die, too" :.
ooh. for lodge in some vast wildernessl'
thought Rose.
..There seems to be feeling Of distrust
in my power to manage the school," she
said at last for want of something better
to say.
"Wall, hope yell hev no trouble; but
that Jim's mighty mean boy, an he an
the old man ii cause ye trouble if they
kin. But don't ye forgit, Miss Baily. I'll
stand by ye, fur ye are stranger and
young, an it's the duty of this ERE dees-
trict ter back ye up"
ssMany thanks, she courteously replied
.sbut really hope to find both the boys
quite friendly"
ITO be continued