The Republican journal., 1892-02-18
NO. =.

was like that over an inland lake IN its
-ieeriest mood. Through the Thorough
fare we wound our way with pleasant
views on either hand, then on to Deer
Island. stopping at Green's Landing;
thence past Isle au Haut and to South
west Harbor, Mt. Desert, then the prin-
eipal port of this rough and romantic sec
tiOn, Great mountains form the back
ground. Bar Harbor had then a back
seat as well as location. S. W. Harbor is
@ great rendezvous for fishing vessels,
many of which were in port. Across
Frenchman Bay the wind freshened and
tine way grew rougher. The good old
Pioneer rolled and tumbled like a cart
over frozen burrows; once in a while get
ting a good lick at some careless roller
cooling around her bows. The great white
pillar of Petit Menan lighthouse rose l20
Iret over the waves bearing its great torch
to 41lde the passing ships.
The arrival at Seaclitfe was an event in
,1c life of the jewellers there as we'll as to
tine boat. 1t was the only regular weekly
communication with the outside world.
eNcept by the stage and sail vessels.
tfter landing at the wharf another vOy-
Ige 10y sail boat was necessary to carry
me to my destination, a few miles away.
anding me tired and weary in the early
gone entirely out of vogue and | found
That it was the custom heretofore in Dist
No - for the teacher to divide his living
alnong the parents of the pupils accord
me- to the number each family sent to
school. quartering himself upon them for
bed and board. To this arrangement we
must submit or take the risk all refQrmers
nun Of unpopularity and criticism. Kind
fortune, however, favored homeless dip
omacy and a stated boarding place was
lITanged.
The ordeal of the school supervisor had
vet TO be passed, and it was with a degree
IF fear and hope in mingled anticipation
hat his place was sought and his presence
uttered. The examination was success
fully passed at length and we We're duly
authorized and empowered to enter upon
the duties of teacher. This opened be-
fore us a new field and placed new re
sponsibilities upon us. The first school.
the first public trust, will ever bring to
he young aspirant new views and ideas
u lie and lite's requirements Labors.
burdens, work and responsibilities come
with each widened field Of operations No
discipline is better for the student than
hat of the responsibility of imparting
knowledge as well as the duty of acquir-
ejl,line us well as of being Disciplined 1t
IS change of places and a seeing OF
tlings from opposite standpoints. Per
laps the examination showed us our
thin ice, our weaker points and our
uncleared fields better than We had
known them before. In this ii was very
useful
he inst day of school to the Young
teacher, their maiden effort will be an
experience. Do you remember YOURS
hind readers that have taught OF kept
>u)ol? There is said to be quite a diff
terence between teaching and keeping
school. We well and distinctly remem-
bel a teacher thai brought the point out
with such practical emphasis that we al
ways had reason to regret the time when
Ac changed from teaching to keep
iug school. Others luay have some such
neminiscences. The first thing III those
avs in Which we began our experience
teaching was TO call to order and regis
.eI the pnrils names. ages and ascertain
heir present condition in regard to ad-
rlncement in their several studies. In
mixed SCHOOLS the classes run from prim-
Typ to 5tlt>N.ader, and from Johnnie A. B.
and Mary D. L. f. to Miss Smith in the
3ack seat and back part OF the arithmetic
geography and grammar; generally az
.umpanied by John Jones but length
r Two 'trhind. Then come the Browns,
Hacks. Whites. Peas, Beans. Fields.
lnes. Rhodes. Woods Meadows Fowles.
iMrds etc. clear down to little Sally
DIES and Billy t'mbelhind on the front
af>. These must all be duly cata-
.-ued, questioned weighed measured
Nided, delegated and cIassed according
l requires about all the bumps in or
/. ]
mnage a country school, and it is not
lieh to he wondered at if lie sometimes
Inclined to ralse some on the heads of
d> pupils.
HE schoolhouse at Seacli1fe stood in an
Slated situation on All elevation with a
missy road i'll front and groves OF frag-
nl Fir and spruce, intermingled with
/ orch and other trees. about it, There
vas one door several windows, and the
4'yltable box stove for wood. with its
/ zach OF pipe and the half chimney. The
I eNk was in one corner, giving a raking
4 uew from it over the seats and desks
L lie structure was shingled outside and
lpainted without and within. a comfor-
able, small, unpretentious editice. Lodges
l md great rocks We're not far away from
( he locality The murmurs and com
1 plants of the sea could be heard at all
Il 4HtS oulSlue. more Gi lGtS ulSJ1Dct
| o9rding to its moods. The sea air brood
I I'D over all and the smell of the shores
was ever on the atmosphere. A half mile
I walk OF more separated schoolhouse from
| boarding place. This gave reasonable
I AMOUNT of exercise walked four times a
| day.
l 1t was a balmy, glorious autumn day
| hat condescended to honor the opening
1 the school. The sunshine and haze
\ ay ike a benediction over headland. isl
aud, ocean and forest. The 20 pupils that
settled into their chosen seats with many
4 tiutter, rustic and quiver and some ex-
ga noise at the tinkle of the bell ranged
/ tom four to eighteen years old, and in
varied degrees of advancement as in
rars-some bright, quick, active, pro
1 I~Nsiye; some dull sluggish, Opaque and
| eaYv. Here opened rich experience in
dior and responsibility Many illusions
the light tasks of the teacher we've
| ~on dispelled.
How many incidents come into each
he important to it, yet unimportant to
thers Things that fill us with pain, or
With pleasure, may have little or no in
crest to anyone else. Every one has
ares, responsibilities, pains. pleas
| res, hopes, fears, successes or failures
HAT nobody else knows or cares much or
AYthing about This is one of the les