The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-11-08

Then there was a beautiful freshness
about them all. The little glimpses
which she gave them Of the world
beyond the mountains excited in
them the liveliest interest, and they
literally opened their mouths and
drank down knowledge. And the
teacher grew in the esteem of her
pupils. They all loved her, and
chose many ways, often amusing,
of showing their regard. Their par
ents, too, appreciated her kindness,
and looked upon her with feelings
of loving veneration. "Miss Sarah''
became a household name through
out the entire community, and "Miss
Sarah said so" settled many a point
of "book larnin," general informa-
ton" and 'good breedin'." But
there was II exception to all this,
and that was in Sam Sloan's family.
Sam himself chad nuthin' agin her,n
but his wife had. In the first place,
Sam and his family we're squatters
on the Pkilippson estate, with the
hope of remaining there long enough
unmolested to get a legal right to
the land they lived on, which hope
Philip had wrecked by demanding
a nominal rent for the land. Sam
was getting over his disappointment,
but not so his wife. At first she had
refused to let the children go to
school, but they finally persuaded
her to let them go. There were
three of them, bright and sharp,
but self willed and dirty. Sam, after
the school had begun, Sarah dis
covered that she would love to
teach more of her scholars clean
liness as well as spelling and reading,
and she had therefore provided a
towel and comb and soap at the
spring. If any scholars came looking
as if they had been so eager to
get to school that they had not
taken time to finish their toilets, she
pleasantly, but firmly required them
to go to the spring and wash and
comb. The little Sloans fell under
this rule more often that any other
scholars. Indeed, after a while they
had the comb and soap and towel
all to themselves. This made some
of the others laugh at them, and
they in turn were reluctant to wash.
One morning they took their seats
with the dirt and grease thick
over their faces and hands. Sarah
did not notice them till school had
opened. Then she quietly called
them to her, and told them to GO
to the spring and wash.
"Dooh wanter,n said the oldest
of them, holding his head down.
"Why not, JimmyY" asked the
young lady, pleasantly.
"Caise they all laughs at us, and
nanny said he neednter."
"Well, never mind their laughing
at You. They all have to wash too,
here Dr. at home; SO run down to the
spring all three of you"
They left, and she turned to hear
a class. Presently she looked to-
wards their seat, and there sat the
three unwashed. She called them
up. "Why haven't you three
washed?" she asked sternly.
"Doon wanter," said Jimmy.
"Well, | want you to, 60 right
away to the spring" But they
stood still.
This was the first INSTRUMENTATION
that had been in the school, and
Sarah hardly knew what to do; but
she had some time ago settled this
in her mind, that the burden of
Furnishing should rest on the parents
rather than on her. After a mo-
ment's thought she said, "Scholars,
Miss Mary Jones will report to me
who misbehaves while / am gone,n
and taking the three children to
the spring she give them a kind, but
thorough washing. At the first
recess that day they slipped off
home. AS school was about to be-
gin after dinner one of the boys
sang out, ''Miss Sarah, thar's Miss
Sloan bringin' her children back"
When Sarah looked through the
open door she saw a woman, with
red face and redder hair, her face
shining with grease and her I'M
combed hair hanging down her
shoulders. Sarah rose to meet her,
as she reached the door. "Mrs.
Sloan, ] believe" said the teacher,
"walk in, ma'am.n
ono, pll STAN right hyar," she
replied stopping in the doorway.
"'You washed my children this
mornin'?"
eyes, ma'am," said Sarah, ''they
seemed a little averse to doing
it themselves"
"Well, I want you to understan'
/ low no woman to wash my chill
dren. You've been a pickin' at 'em
ever sense they started to your
school, and l O. for you to quit it.
My children is as good as you, if
they is POI"
"But Mrs. Sloan"-"No, don't
interrupt me, young woman, l knew
old JaHa philipnoop too ualI for