Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-04-30

e"'th 70 unplic1e my original experi-
ence. It was "a the time when the
Pedagogue hodcd around IN the
deestrict,' esd barring the teacher
out was .smc,s the most cherished
privileges OF young America 4 was
young, rather hclined to think that life
was worth livig only for the fun 70 be
extracted fronit, and became a a~rural
instructor onv because parental
authority tholEat the attendant ex-
perience would tend to cure the mis-
cn'at and frivosty which seemed to
Preoom'nate in ny makeup. My IA
ther secured a POSITION for me aud
passed an examination that was cusIe r
th"n the catechsm. Wlss, counseIs
were dinned into ny ears, and accom-
PanyinG them war an intimation that l
had a pretty dif1ic,lt lot Of scholars to
deal with. This id not bother me SO
much as the fact hat must nc seclud-
ed from the out.r world and its en-
chantments with which had been SO
cnamorcd.
had sympathetic brothers, for we
were big family OF boys, and, while
ehi'veninS existence with occasional
quarrels. we always stood by each
othcr as against the rest of the world.
On the morning o; my departure was
loose from home restraints in the In
tesest, of the army, navy or develop
ment of mineral interests in the far
west In the first place my clothes
dad not mt. This is not n resort to
fhoo"rn slang. bnt the candid state
ment of solemn truth. NY fathers
1uea OF developing boys was to make
them thoroughly independent and un-
hampered by conventionalitics. So
was not dressed in accordance with any
suggestions of fashion. but after plans
and Specifications original with the
head OF the household The coat I
wore was first donned on the occasion
or wealthy annt's wedding. At the
ti'ne OF that somewhat gorgeous event
Kept in the background as much as
I"ssi"lc' but even then l could hear oc-
casi"nal expressions Of curiosity as to
who cut that coat" 1t was too long,
too big around and without any claim
to popular Endorsement. The rest of the
outht was in harmony with the coat
To obviatc the humiliation which I
Thought must attach to such a make
up had anticipated my salary and in
vested in Il stunning suit of sine cloth
and excrutiatinrly broad measure bind
ing. This was slowed underneath Il
pile of books in an old satchel in which
was to carry my possessions to an un-
tried field of labor. But when I went
TO hitchlng n horse to the buggy pre-
paratory to making ,tart those IA
thcrly ideas of s:urdy Independence
again ohtrudcd themselves. must
walk. The best men in the history of
the country had started out with no
aids save their own talents and their
indomitablc will. The first stages
toward greatness were not to be taken
with horse and buggy.
OF course, was bluer than a bound
boy at a hus{linG, but read good deal |
In the sly wink brother Cash gave me |
as started across the orchard to short
en- the siy-mfles trip ahead of me. A |
half-milc walk took me around n curve
into the woods, and there I sat on an |
old moss-grown log, wondering with |
the perspicuity of youth whether was
an adopted son or Il natural offspring.
thus to be treated. Soon there came
the sound of rap:dly-approaching
wheels. and around the corner whirlcd
Cash at terrific rate of speed, using
the whip and holding the lines like a
hrst-class jockey in a close finish.
We found the schoofhouSe, dinCy,
somewhat out of plumb and somewhat
disfgured by n coal shed in the rear
that suggested the cooked hat of a gIo-
riously drunken man. while there was
a knotty conundrum in the query as to
whether the shed was leaning on the
or the schoolhouse on the
shed.
Cash simply deposited the grip and
myself, told me to keep Il stiff upper lip.
and sped for home. | found the SC hool-
hot.e-' unlocked. walked in. and there
stood a veritablc Amazon with sleeves
rolled to her arm pits, skirts pinned up.
her red hair dshcvelcd and her freckIed
face alive with curiosity.
''Be you the new School-teachero"
she inquired, by way of saiutation.
That's the information l have from
the directors and I've come down to
look the thing over" was my reply.
BETTER go back. You can't teach
this school. We've throwed two teach
FRS out this fall. Pshaw! No little ,
feller like you can't boss them big bows. ,
First thing you know they'll kick mp "a ,
row, You'll get licked and school will be !
busted again.
Don't you young people care to learn
"Some of us do, but them big fellers
IS bad lot. Think it smart to clean {
,ut school and have nuthin' to do |
We'll, am glad l was SO fortunate !
20 meet lady in the outset who was !
thoughtful enough to tell me all-this. 1 9
Inn certainly under obligations to YOU
wish all the scholars would show a o
ike friendly disposition"
That brought her down with f1uttcr.
She hastened to readjust that intensely T
auburn hair. the skirts were de fly re- 2
ieved of pins and her face carried the
ell-ta.e evidence ot a good heart.
You talk better than them other
eachcrs we had. They just blowed
Ind clustered and didn't have no spunll 2
A Il,