Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-10-09
whispered, Hes a reg'lar dude"

from his polished boots ana from the
bottom OF his trousers before enter
ing the house, Nat whispered behind
his hand to Bryan Thayer, Just look
at Miss Nancy
Miss Nancy's sense ofhearing was
acute. He heard Mats whisper, but
did not show any sign that he had
heard il.
Mr.. Dick surprised the school by
making no threats, and laying down
no law to the school in his opening
talk. This was an unheard of thing
in the Rose Lane school. The surly,
ignorant man who had taught the
school during the previous winter
had brought with him on the first day
a long, keen rod cut from hickory
sapling. Marching defiantly into the
old school-house, this teacher had
given the desk several resounding
whacks with the rod, and had sand
NOW, that's what you'll all get if
YOU don't mind your books and be
good No whispering. no sticking
pins into each other, nothing but
to study and behave yourselves
Mind that, or you'll get this rod on
your backs -
\ new order of things seemed TO be
coming in with the new school-houSe
and this trim. gentle voiced young
teacher.
II know his game, said Bryan
Thaver to several OF the large boys
during the first recess. He's going
to try the soft soldering game on us. y
His nice little meachin', cityiied
wavs may work with the girls and
the small boys, but they won't go
down with me-" said Nat Brace. 1T
takes muscle to fetch Inc to terms
Muscle" said Phineas Joyce, deri-
sively. "All the muscle he's got
wouldn't hurt a fly"
"Well, he'd better get some up be-
fore the first snow comes, or some OF
the ten-year-old boys will wash his
face for him, said Nat.
Yes, and you might get your own
face washed about that time, Nat
Brace" said Sally Redding. "lou
bows will see what you'll get yet. lie
isn't afraid Of you, and | know it.
Anyway, you ought to be ashamed OF
Yourself If you go to making trouble
afterth gentlemanly way he's treated
us, and when we have such lovely
new school-house'
A shout of derision greeted this
speech.
I'll tell you what I'm going to do,
BOYS. " said Nat Brace "I'll haul out
nv iack-knife and 90 to whittlin' the
new desk right in school, and see
what he does?''
Ten minutes after the school was
called to order, Mr.. Dick, who was
sitting at his desk with a first reader
class before him, tapped the floor
lightly with his foot and said pleas
antly:
This won't do, this won't do at
all. Whiting these new desks
That cannot be permitted. What S
your name, sir ?
His hand was extended toward Nat
Brace. There was no anger in his
tones.
Nat Brace - the boy called out
doggedly.
The teacher stopped at Mats desk
and held out his hand.
We'll Nat" he said, you may
give me your knife for the present,
and you may pay the school com
mittee for the damage you have done
to the property Of the district -
Never in all his unruly, rebellious
career had Nat Brace been approach
ed in this cool manner. Never bad u
teacher taken up one of Mats gaunt-
lets with a smile, and no trace OF fu-
rious anger; and Mr.. Dicks smile
won from Nat half-dazed, half
ashamed sort of an obedience before
the boy really knew that he was
obeying.
The large boys attended school ir-
regularly at first. Farm duties kept
them at home; but by the first OF De
cember all had begun to come every
day.
By this time Mr.. Dick had won the
respect and even the affection OF the
other pupils. Ithada also been proved
that Mr.. Redding's theory was not
groundless. Visitors to the school not
only remarked the neat appearance
of the room, the desks and pupils,
but perceived decided Improvement
in the children's manners.
There was hardly sign OF rebellion
on the part Of the pupils until Phin-
cas- joyce, Nat Brace, Bryan Thayer
and Hiram Beal began TO attend reg
] uldrlN. utet lOuI io' 81 wy - ''-'
tie unenviable honor Of barring out,
ducking and in other ways defying
and maltreating half Of the teachers
who had tried to teach the Rose Lane
school during the past four years.
These four boys walked TO school
together one frosty morning in No
vember. They intended to 20 to
school regularly now, and it was the
/ first day they had all been in attend
ance.
They felt that it was fitting time
to 'let little Miss Nancy know who
was boss,
Various methods Of imparting thi'
information TO Mr.. Dick were dis
cussed Just as they came TO Lowrie'
po,J Nat Rrace struck the palms Of