Nevada County picayune., 1891-11-19
THE NEW TEACHER.

LIE NEW 6HOU6U
 II don't think she will stay al teaching very long about here," re- marked Mir. Jonathan Coles, one oi the members of the school committee of Burrilltown, to his associate, Dr. Miller, as they started for their homes on crisp December evening from a meeting of the committee.
 After a long and inharmonious dis cussion the committee had resolved by vote of three to two, to begin the next term with new teacher, a graduate of the State normal school, instead of the old teacher, nick named "Boozie" whose dissipated habits made him unfit to lead chil- drcn in the way they should go. MT. l Coles and Dr. Miller were the minor. ity. 'Boozie' was distant rela- tive of Coles, who adhered to him with unreasoning 6bstinacy, when his shortcomings and dissipation alien ated all who had the interest of the school children at heart, and Dr. Miller voted with Coles because he was his family physician, and was aided by his fellow committeeman in procuring other practice, especially among the town poor.
 The new teacher, Miss Nettie Sea grave, began her work after the Christmas holidays. It was her first engagement, but she had graduated very creditably from the normal in- stitution, and there could be little doubt that, with q fair degree of en- enlargement, she would be success ful in conducting the little crossroads school at Burrilltown Corners. Train ed and educated in the city, the little home on the banks of the West rIver, near the ruins of an old fac tory, had a lonesome, chilling air under the sombre winter sky; but Nettie repressed the feelings which sweled her heart, and determined to do her best, mindful of the widowed mother to whom her darling's wei fare was life itself,
 School opened on Monday. It con- sisted only of two classes, one main ly composed of the larger and the other of the smaller boys and girls.
 The worst boy in the school was sam Coles. Not that he was natur- ally bad, but his cratic, slovenly disposition had been fostered by the former teacher, on account of the fathers support as committeeman, and, knowing the fathers antipathy to the change, sam set out to make things as unpleasant as possible for the new teacher, who was "nothing but girl" as he remarked scorn- fully to his schoolmatcs. Sam might have acted differently had his mother been alive to direct him.
 With all her softness and beauty of feature there was good deal of character in the steel gray eyes of Nettc Seagrave. She had come there to teach that school, and meant to be teacher while she remained. Therefore, when after two admon- tions Sam Coles indulged in loud conversation for the third time, to the annoyance of the girl to whom he addressed his remark, he was promptly summoned to the desk.
 Sam stepped forward with an air of independence and defiance. The command, and especially the impera- tive tone in which it was delivered, had taken him by surprise, but he was resolved to brave out the issue and prove 10 the others that he could browbeat the new teacher.
 Hold out your hand, Samuel Coles l' said Miss Seagrave, calmly and firmly.
 "You're not going to hit me, air you?" asked sam in genuine aston ishment, for he was truly astonished