Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-11-10

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suggested the Colonel.
The committeeman returned from
flights into the future Of them
wild CATS to the present. He put
the case to the young man.
.But,' said Geof laughing Pm
no teacher, and what's more, don't
know anything to teach
You can read, l s'pose p said
the Squire wondering what under
the sun he should do If the answer
was in the negative, for, having
found his man, he meant to hold
% 10 him teacher or no teacher.
Heof sigrifled that he cou'a read.
WALL now said the Squire,
the last teacher he held on some to
Biography. 'Taint no pint with me
Biography aint. Them boys is got
to be 'hoed OUT That's you you
hoe them boys, an i won't make
no pint of jography.'
Geof signified that biography
was also within his limitations.
Terms were next discussed. Geof
had just views as to his own value;
but though the sum demanded was
far beyond the usual rate, the COM
mitteeman smiled as he agreed to
pay it.
The Squire went home, chuck
ling.
Did you engage new teacher,
father p asked his hopeful sons.
'Oh, yes !; / found one.'
whats he like p
'Oh. slip of chap. Looks
simmer than our Bob, | should
say
The boys grinned. So did the
Squire.
The following Monday brought
large attendance to the West Centre
School. All the boys and girls
were present with the exception of
Tom Bats, the bully of the school.
Tom said 'he wur tired of turning
boys out of the teachers chair.
Twur time they had a man to teach
'em. He should take vacation
The door opened, little late,
and in walked the new teacher.
'T'm late, he said easily, as he took
his seat at the desk. Il started
later than l intended, and it's
pretty steep road.
He had walked the fourteen miles
and come in as spry as cricket ?
The boys measured him. Yes,
he was slim. Many Bob and Tom
present, perhaps some of the girls
could outweigh him. There would
not be much in ousting him, any,
way, and meantime they could do
just as they'd a mind to-
They began to have good time.
Chewing gum and splitting went on
with careless unconcern, as the buzz
of talk and unruly laughter gained
ground. In five minutes time the
school was not much better than a
bear garden.
The new teacher sat at his desk,
whistling cheerily, while his calm,
gray eyes passed from face to face
of his pupils. He said not a word.
There was plenty of time before
him, and he rather enjoyed this
opportunity for maturing his plans
as to the subsection of the enemy ;
so be sat in his place whistling
Yankee Doodle with variations, and
looked on.
Now, had he been the weak crea-
ture they supposed, this close scru-
tiny would not have been felt by
the class but ere ten minutes were
over, the boldest began to feel un-
comfortable. Perfectly undisciplin-
ed minds are often to be held by a
strong will Geof was aware of this,
and ere long drew the attention OF
every pupil to himself, boys and
girls wishing as they nudged one
another that the new teacher would
not look at them so kinder keen.
They began to wriggle in self-con-
scious discomfort. Geof's compre.
hensiye gaze had become painful.
/ Ladies and gentlemen he said
presently pointing to the floor, 'ws
begin our session by a thorough
cleansing of the school room floor,
Follow me to the well p
! The whole school swarmed into
into the yard.
Bring out the benches, lads
Somehow, the tone was one tha
demanded, nay, exacted obedience
The benches were broucht ont.