Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-01-22
MISS BETSEY'S VICTORY.

MISS BETSEY'S VICTORY.
Every one in the district said that
The board of dir ectors had done an un-
wise thing in hiring a woman to teach
the winter term of the Long Lane
School. MIR. Jason Perry, President of
the school board, heard these words of
iIsapproyal with grin and sly chuckle,
AMI said:
swell. just wait until you've seen
her, and mebbe you'll change your
mind"
Il reckon, - said old Mrs. Peel, con-
temptuously, ''she's one of these
meechin', mealy-mouthed, too-sweet-
for-anything young women, and Jason
thinks she can wheedle the bad boys
into mindin' her like they do in story
books; but she'll find out diff'rent when
she comes to tackle tfem Gerry and
Bunker boys and Tom Lee and lew
of the Others
But Miss Betsey Pike did not look
very "meechin' nor "mealy-
when she opened her school and stood
behind her desk facing the boys before
named, and the other forty OF more
spupils comprising the lest of the school.
Il
and there had been all sorts of rumors
afloat regarding her age and personal
appearance.
One of these rumors was to the effect
that Miss Pike was but seventeen years
of age, and that she was ''mere slip OF
q thing" a'raid to say ''boo to a
goose, - SO that the pupils of the school
were not a little surprised when they
stocd in the presence 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 streaked with gray, was conbed
back straight and tight, and twisted
into a knot not much larger than d
walnat.
Her long neck was guiltless of girliSh
gewgaws, but had folded around it d
pIaid ginQham handkerchief, fastened
tsts the tlIOat with an immense 0ld-faSh
icned breasipin containing an ambro
type of a wonderfully plain man, and a
lock of red hair tied with bit of mar.
row green ribbon.
Miss Betsey every day wore this pin,
ard a short gown or rusty black alpaca.
very sklnpy In the skirt and quite void
of trimming of any kind. A la-ge,
stiffly staIched green and white ging.
ham 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;
"Booksl b, oksl 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.
l will ask nothing of you that isn't
right and for your good. Now get out
your books and go to work, and-nO
whisperingl"
One of Miss Pixies slippered feet
came down very fast on the platform a,
she spoke the last two words, which had
been called forth by the action of sew.
eral boys and girls whose heads were
su-piciOusly cl sc together.
Tie teachers voice had not been
harsh OF unkind, and she had even
smiled pleasantly while speaking; but
now she said, very sharply:
~ never allow whispering in my
school. Mind thati / never like u
punish boys and girls, but / can do if
if necessary, and L whip sometImes!'
The pupils assembled in little groups
outside the schoolhouse, and discussed
lie new teacher during the noon in er-
mission.
Nothing very meechin' bout herl''
said Cy Gerry. II don't think she's
likely to take any of us up into her lap
an coddle US, is she?"
Not muchI" responded Hadley Bun
ker. If she takes US on her lap, it'll
/ for some other reason But I'll tell
you what. I'm not a-goin' to let any
woman teacher boss mel"
Nor me, eitherl" said Gre -ory
Gerrish, boldly. II amt afraid OF
herIr
II guess you won't say so to her
face" said Tom Lee.
Yes, would.
well, say so then!'' said a sharp,
ringing voice, and the surprised boys
turned about ami saw Miss Pike look.
ing out of a window close by them. her
arms folded over her chest, a grim smile
on her, and her eyes flashing ominously.
''if you're not afraid of me, young
man, you'd better bel' she said 10
Gregory. "You're n ne of you any
need to be afraid of me, if you do
what's right; but if you willfully do
what's wrong, y u'll be afraid before
[ I've done with youl'
y She stood at the widow a momen
33after making this speech, but none OF
the boys had anything To Fay in reply,
and when she rang the bel they walked
in quietly and took their seats.
Before a week had passed, it became
evident TO the boldest of the bad boys
! hat Miss Betsey was net IN the least
afraid of them. She had shown this 10y
marching up to Jed Bunker and soundly
= Tapping his ears for whispering, and
when lie mumbled something III def
|, ,ance, after she had gone back to her
:. esk, she walked back with little raw
: }Iide in her hand, and Jed, the oldes.
), tnd boIdest boy in the school, fed from
lie room
After that there was 10 moro open
ebeIlion on the part OF the boys, but
o>iey, unwilling to acknowledge defeat,
,ok counsel tOget er to see what they
oibuld do to subdae Miss Betsey, who
NJ as the most formidable foe they had