St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-06-11

tm&U,> W. AA
~ N,.n things I hav,
&M ~ VII taught school
Rm zA these days o.
advanced idea
and increased
wealth to duplicate my original expert
ence. 1t was in the time when the
PedaRogue boarded around in thu
deestucts and barring the teacheu
Out was among the most cherished
privileges Of young America 1 wa.
young, rather inclined to think that life
was worth living only for the fun to be
extracted from it, and became . rural
Instructor only because parental
authority thou9ht the attendant ex
perience would tend to cure the mis-
ehse3 and frivolity which seemed e
predominate in my makeup. My fa.
ther secured position for me and
passed IN examination that was essiev
than the catechism. Wise counsels
were dtnned into my ears, and accom-
panying them was m intimation that I
had pretty difficult lot of scholars "a
deal with. This did not bother me %
much - tie fact that I must be seclud-
ed from the outer world and its en-
ehsntments with which had been %
enamored.
I had sympathetic brothers, for we
were big family of boys, and, while
enlivening existence with occasional
qusrrels. We always stood BY each
other rs against the rest Of the world.
On the morning Of my departure 1 WAS
full Of troubles and half inclined to cut
loose from home restraints in the in
terest OF the army, navy or develop
nent Of mineral interests in the far
west In the first place, my clothes
did not fit This is not . resort to
modern slang. but the candid state
ment of . solemn truth. Ny fathers
idea Of developing boys was 70 make
them thoroughly independent and nm
hampered by conventionalities. 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
wore was 6rst dOnned on the occasion
OF . wealthy aunt's wedding. At the
time Of that somewhat gorgeous event
kept in the background as much -
possible, but even then I could hear oc-
casional expressions Of curiosity - to
''who cut that coat?" Il was too long,
too big around and without any claim
to popular Endorsement. The rest Of the
outfit was in harmony with the coat.
To obviate the humiliation which I
thought must attach 70 such . make
up had anticipated my salary and in
vested in . stunning suit Of Rne cloth
and excrutiatinSly broad measure bind
ing. This was slowed underneath .
pile of books in IN old satchel in which
I was TO carry my possessions to IN un-
tried feld Of labor. But when I went
70 hitching . horse to the buggy pre-
paratory to making . Utart those IA
therly IDEAS Of sturdy independence
again obtruded themselves. must
walk. The best men in the history of
the country had started out with NO
aids save their own talents and their
indomitable will. The first stages
toward greatness were not to be taken
with horse and buggy.
OF course. was bluer than . bound
boy at . husking, but read . good deal
in the MY wink brother Cash gave me
q started across the orchard to short
en- the six-miles trip ahead of me. A |
half-mile walk took me around . curve
into the woods, and there I sat on IN |
old moss-grown log, wondering with
the perxpicuity Of youth whether was
IN adopted son or . natural offspring,
thus to be treated. Soon there came
the sound Of rapidly-approaching
wheels, and around the corner whirled |
Cash 1t . terrific rate Of speed. using |
the whip and holding the lines like .
6rst-class jockey in . close finish.
We found the schoolhouse, dingy, |
somewhat out Of plumb and somewhat |
BY . coal shed in the rear
that suggested the cooked hat of . glo-
riously drunken man, while there was
, knotfy conundrum in the query - to
whether the shed was leaning on the
or the schoolh0use on the
she'd.
Cash simply deposited the grip and
myself, told me to keep stiff upper lip.
md sped for home. found the school
house unlocked, walked In. and there
stood . veritable Amazon with sleeves
rolled to her arm pits. skirts pinned up.
aer red hair disheveled and her freckled
lace alive with curiosity.
"Be .you the new school-teacher?"
he inquired, BY way Of sslutatioo-
'Thst's the information I have iron
he directors and I've come down 20
ook the thing over" was my reply.
''Better 60 back. You can't teaeh
his school. We've throwed two teach
rs out this fall. Pshaw! No little
eller like you can't boss them big boys
'irst thing yoa know they'll kick mp
ow, you'll get licked md school viii b
,usted again"
Don't you young people care to learn
Inything?"
"Some Of us do. but them big felles
5 . bed lot. Think Il smart 70 clean
mt school and have nuthin' to do"
..Well, / am glad was 90 fortunate
o meet . lady in the outset who was
houehtful enough 70 tell me Ill this- I
m certainly under obligations TO yoa.
wish sll the scholars would show .
Ike friendly disposition"
That brought her down with . Autter.
he FASTENED to readjust that intensely
uburn hair, the skirts were deftly re-
;eved Of pins and her faee carried the
ell-ta:e evidence o8 . good heart
..You talk better than them oehsr
- h>A They inst hlOved