The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-06-05

y
closely as she passed into the scioo
house. We were all there, and only
those who have gone through the or
deal can appreciate how very tryin.
this first day was to the young
teacher. At 8 O'clock the bell rang
and we took our seats. Some good in
stinct must have guided Miss Hope il
making the schedule of names, classes
and So on, for she began with the row
in which the best behaved pupils wer,
seated. Next was Barbara's row.
''What is your name:" inquired til,
young teacher.
''Some folks call me Red Top"
"Ies? What do your parents call
you?"
Barbara"
Barbara what?n
"Hunterr
''How old are you, Barbara Hun
ter?'
"Past ten"
"iow many years past "
"Five.u
"What do you read in, Barbara ~
"a book, Miss Hope"
In this way she and her followers
tried all day to annoy Miss Hope but
she seemed not to notice their rude
ness.
Not till afternoon did she discover
her present. Barbara had put il in a
/ crayOn box on her desk. The first
language class was called-ten boys
and girls. Miss Hope, eagerly study
ing their sweet faces, drew the box to-
ward her to get acrayon. She slid back
the lid, put in her hand, bat drew it
back quickly with an exclamation of
pain. There, clinging To her hand
was blind mole, its teeth nearly
through one slender finger. In see
| ond il had relaxed its hold and was
creeping round the floor. One big boy
with a ready boot would have crushed
the little creature, but Miss Hope laid
her handkerchief OVER il and lifted it
back into the box.
"We will use the mole for our les
son." she said. "Who can tell me
where moles live, what color they are
aud all about them"'
Although her face was pale and her
finger swollen, she never asked a word
about how the mole came there.
There were good blackboards in the
room, aud the wall had been newly
kaisomned, but the large apartment
looked bare and dismal. We had al
WAYS been accustomed To this, and
were not a little surprised TO find, one
morning, pretty pictures on the walls,
polished horns hung up by bright rib
bons and filed with flowers, calendars,
thermometer, little oilcloth mats for
the teachers desk, and various other
improvements. The room looked Very
inviting and pleasant.
One day Barbara was even more
wayward than usual. She would not
learn her lessons ut all. Miss Hope
kept her after school. 1t was some
minutes before she spoke Il word to
her. Then she did something - nat
urally and kindly that the girl could
not be offended. She took her own
brush out of the desk and said
barbara do you know you have
lovely hair? Pm going to arrange it
for you"
While thus engaged she talked of
the beautiful places and things she had
seen, telling her stories and anecdotes,
until Barbara forgot her wrath and
laughed outright. Then Miss Hope
| put her arms around her.
Barbara, let's be friends. Don't
YOU want To be-" she asked.
al don't know. I've been 50 bad
and-and-I put that mole on your
desk
'Yes, / know"
"And you are not angry?"
"No, only anxious about you, dear. "
| And then she talked to the repcntan'
girl in a kind, earnest way she never
forgot, and which made her Mis-
Hopes fast adherent.
The young teacher knew quite well
how she was regarded in the district.
Her methods Were - practical and
new that they caused comment, and
she herself was 50 young and pretty
and happy that the old fogies in th'
district shook their heads and sighed
They knew something dreadful would
happen in that school before the veal
was done. Fancy Il teacher standing
by and watching boy climb the tall
est tree he cold find, or turning rop'
for girl to jump! She had even beeI
known to approve of foot races, hant
springs and wrestling matches!
When the trustees, having been i'm
portuned again and again, consented t
go with Mr.. Sawyer to expostulate sh'
laughed and querled:
"Why, gentlemen, have you forgot
ten your own youth? fou did al
these things yourselves. Ii is a child
nature, and if my pupils want t
strengthen their muscles in the ol'
way, I'm going to be on hand, II pos
sible, 10 help in case of an emergency
You haven't any idea how muel
stronger some of them are CROWN
See how rosy and erect they are"
Down the road the scholars came
forty-two in number, with flags, broom
sticks, mouth organs, tin basins, bone,
anything with which to make noist
"Mercy on us /! What din! Hon
can you expect those bowling urchin
ever to become quiet, law-abiding cit
zens or even verge on being good me-
and women? you have any contrc
whatever over them, Miss Hope, be-
YOU will bid them cease their noise
"Peace Sawyer. And you, Mis
Hope, will you let us see what the
will do next, please ?''
Certainly. 1t lacks half an hour