The Opelousas courier., 1894-01-13

tCCo tIlIU tllCl L nave NSI IAutI
trouble in securing the services of a
worthy and estimable woman. The
applicant, Miss Amelia Squabbs, came
to me a few days ago and asked me to
use my interference in her behalf. She
probably meant my influence, gentle
men. I did not quite engage her, but
gave her to understand that her mind
might be at rest on the subject. Miss
Squabbs left her photograph to be pre-
sented to the district at this meeting.
I consider it and her manner extreme
ly prepossessing. fJust the woman,
| gentlemen, to train the tender mind"
'Indeed!'
Mr.. Spick's tersc remark expressed
SO much that Mr.. Sawyer vas on his
feet again in a moment.
Don't feel prejudiced, gentlemen,
because she came to me first. Her
face shows that she has had experience
with boys and girls and I feel conf.
dent she may be able to c~ivil1ze some
Of the wild Indians in this district"
'Indeed!"
This second 'indeed" issued from
the lips of Mr.. Spike, who owned two
of the said wild Indians.
eyes" continued Mr.. Sawyer, I'M
mindful of the interruption, sour
school has been degenerating for the
past five or ten years, until the chill
dren in it are the most demoralized
set to be found in the whole county.
They are ignorant, saucy, bad"
"Haveacare, if you please, Sawyer"
spoke up Mr.. Span. "You are speak
ing of our children, not your own. We
quite agree with you that the school
has not been as good lately as it might
be. The trustees have not taken as
much interest in it as they should. We
have allowed others in the district to
~monopolize the duties of our office. In
future the trustees expect to hire the
teachers themselves, to say what shall
and shall not be done, andto supportthe
teacher in every way in their power.
So you may tell Miss Squabbs, the pro-
totype of this caricature of woman
hood, that we don't want her. We
have a treat in store for the children
Dolly Hope is to teach the school
next year"
A murmur of surprise and disap-
proval filled the room, and a tall, burly
man at the end of the room rose quick
ly. .
"Neighbor, I'm safe to say you dost
mean the young gal as lives yer the
fields wonder"
s'The very same, Dawson. What
have you to say against herr"
"Why, she's but a child, not older
than my Jemima. The children won't
obey her"
"Give them to understand that they
must obey"
II do my best neighbor, but those
! youngsters are fuller. of spirit than my
| colts are. I'm half inclined to agree
with Mr.. Sawyer; get them a teacher
they will learn to dread and have a
wholesome fear Of"
The speaker was William Dawson, q
wealthy farmer with a large family.
! His wife was Ri invalid, and Jemima,
| his eldest daughter, a girl of twenty.
! ruled his home as best she could. He
sent six children to school, and that
left at home Jemima and Robert, q
handsome young fellow of twenty-five.
SIS this new teacher the young girl
whe goes ~gall;vanting roand the coun-
try n a big black horse?" asked Red
dy, the father of another big family.
"Yes, she rides horseback"
"She has just returned from Europe,
they say, and / doubt not her heed is
filed with all sort of %outlandisb
knowledge. A common teacher would
do just as we'll"
"Why now, neighbours, I think we
had better give the young lady q
chance" spoke up ex-soldier Brown.
II am glad for my children's sake that
we are to have a refined, college-bred
and travelled teacher. She is q stran-
ger to us all. Perhaps she will do
better than some of you are inclined
to think"
ooh, yes, Brown; to be sure you
have no fear for her! Your children
always do get the benefits. It's a fine
| t1llug W Nc q ihfOllOC puPi'
Mr.. Browns face flushed, but he
answered quietly:
eyes, I'm glad my children are ia
v~orites. They are accustomed to
obedience and kindness at home. and l
believe they are also good in school,"
Mr.. Sawyer here arose, and making
his way to the door said:
"Gentlemen, the business of the
evening is finished. I nave he1pedthe
school in the past all that I could. If
Miss Hope wishes my advice I'll give
it; but the trustees have assumed the
responsibility of hiring her. now they
must support her. I'm done. Good
night"
And he passed out.
THAT is just what we mean to do
support the teacher, and if every
father here will impress it on his
children's minds we won'thave SO many
to expel next month";" remarked Mr..
Brown.
On the morning when school was to
open the children congregated early.
live brought a present for the new
teacher" said Barbara Hunter. 81
wonder how she will like it?"
She opened a box she carried, and
we caught a glimpse Of a little furry
creature.
won't the dainty Miss Hope yell,
thought said Barbara. "'Taint
likely she saw any Of these in them
Turin parts"