West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-01-12
.AY FIRST scuooLIN.~

Wv Ni'''NN - 'NNA H'N'is lNNiiSu ~
for the benefit Of my many friends
IN the pleasant hills Of Preston. TO
whom | wish TO say, "a happy New
Years to all. !"
1t was wet, dismal morning in
October about quarter of cen
tury ago--the scene a farm house
amid the hills OF Maryland. The
chestnut trees were beginning to
shake their brown nuts to gladden.
the BOYS hearts and tickle their
bare feet with the hurs. Not wink
had slept since 3 o'clock. for my
brain was working undera fall head
OF steam and sleep was out OF the
question. The canse of all this
mental agitation was the fact that
in a few hours | would be on my
way to the district school house for
the first time.
To lad born aud reared among
the hills of Maryland this was an
event Of tremendous Importance,
gigantic stride right ont into the
wide, wide world, breaking away
from the maternal apron strings.
Needless to say. no voice called
me from my slumberS on that event.
ful morning. for | was up as soon
MS | heard the first one STIR. When
gathered around the breakfast table.
the Older members OF the family
made mysterious mention of "raw-
hide, and intimated that ! might
have an opportunity to test of It's
quality at u very early datc---a hint,
1t must be confessed. produced some
slight misgivings. For, be it un.
derstood, that in these days the
parents did not hesitate TO apply
the rod in fashion to excite pro
nounced local sensation Of warmth
and discontinue, as if one Ind been
suddenly introduced to hornets
nest.
King Solomon believed IN this
wholesome medicine. also host Of
other wise mon. Pardon this di-
gression.
Bat to return to my subject ::
Ny older sisters made my toilet and
my step-mother gave me helping
~ hand-thAt helping hand was
equal at all times 10 shock Of
electricity in urging me along the
paths of duty. Never did crusader
start TO rescue the holy sepulchre
from the Turks with higher hopes
than were mine | bounded like a
gazelle over the rough roads, Chi
ding my sisters for not having more
ambition for school work. for | WIS
he only boy. and thought what u
pity some folks have to be girls.
but the only reply was, that | wonld
get there soon enough and would
be glad to get home again--cven the
squirrcls scampering along the zig.
gag fence knew that was new
scholar. How ] strained my eyes
to catch glimpse OF the school.
house. 1t was Just over the rise in
road, and / broke INTO a run to
reach the little cminonce Ay feel.
iugs on beholding it cannot be de.
scribed. TO me il was the be-all
and the end-all Of my known world
Architectually il was make shift:
an old log building with large
chimney at one end The floor was
so uneven that 70 was difficult 10
walk over II without stumbling.
The bsckless benches had felt the
keen blade Of many a blade in
boys hand The plastsring be-
tween The logs WIS full Of holes, 80
one could see out nearly any direc
ton. did not notice much about
The house ut first. for my attention
WIS rivetcd on score OF boys and
girls who were staring at me, rs II
to see which could outlook the other.
| felt the least bit lonely and afraid.
50 ] kept close TO my sisters aud
began 20 think that sisters were not
50 bad company after all.
The teacher was n Mr.. FOrscvthe.
and he bad the right name. for the
way be did NOV down tbe weeds bon
% pupils mind and plant the seeds
of "larnin' was caution. His
instrument for cultivaiiug the mind
as we'll as moving down The weeds
was very supple birch rod. which
was never out Of his hand. for he
believed that "'lickin and larnin"
90 together As sat on ms sest
and observed bis makeup, bow his
small head, long nose, peaked chin.
perchod on a spindle neck. seemed
like a weather cock 10 tell which
way the wind blew, often wonder