Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-29
THE pEOAGoeuf OF POPLAR HOLLOW

taught a large school in the country, about three miles from the village
 He began late in the summer after the crops were laid by" which was the time most satisfactory to the farmers.
 Some of the pupils had to drop out at harvest time, but the majority attended until Christmas.
 The academy had been closed for some time. when Will and I for the moment grew tired of going swimming dozen times a day, and even marbles got to be dull; so we decided to walk out to Cur ranss school and enroll as pupils
 He taught in d log cabin of two rooms, the girls and boys being thus separated. Several boys, who were favorites, were allowed to sit among the maidens, and we were given this distinction. We were not so old as the other boys thus honored. but hailed from town
 The teacher consumed about three hours reading his rules. He had more than 100, and read them slowly, distinctly and impressiVely, often pausing from the perusal to give us a dissertation on the importance of the subject generally.
 l wondered why the pupils. who were compelled to attend, were not alarmed at so many, but soon perceived that while they were quiet enough they really gave him little attention. l suppose they had heard the rules read often before.
 One of the most emphatic enJoinders was that there must be a place for every thing and everything in its place. This injunction was rather difficult or apph- cation as there were few recepucles TOT anything, desks not being used. How ever, the inconsistency of his rules did not seem to strike him nor his pupils; rules were merely hobbies of his.
 In the afternoon he decided that as II was so warm it would be advisable 10 build a bush-arbor, so that the entlre male portion of the school was excused to gather the material in the woods near by.
 On the following morning the arbor was constructed and favored few whosi records were good permitted to study there The class in Webster's blue back speller was also organized. It comprised the entire school. Most of the students had different books and would not buy others so there was large number or small classes in all branches.
 He read some more rules that morning, one of which was that no boy should go near the creek without special permis- son. That afternoon some of the older fellows overlooked this injunction ana were told they could not sit in the arbor until the expiration of ten days. We were among the number
 At o'clock, just before dism ssal for tho day. the road committees" were ap- nointed There were three roads leading away from the school house and one boy and girl were to report for each route whether the others conducted themselVes properly while going home.
 These committees were to report each morning and what they had to say was yery interesting and amusing, and usn- ally consumed about an hours time.
 The "creek road" crowd had great many difficulties, and frequently all of them were involved including the mem bers of the committee, when it was impo3- sible to learn what had occurred, as all of them gave different versions and the reporters were contradicted, so the creek road coterie would be mildly reproved and have to listen to the rules again. Th1 teacher was never severe, and ms pun ishments, as he considered them, were mild.
 Next came the ridge committees re- port. The boy would state that Dick Jones had thrown rock at Jack Nal lard because Jack had deceived him into biting an Indian turnip, having per suaded him it was radish; then they had fought and Jack got black eye. Something of this style occurred daily. The other member of the committee would report that Sallie Smith had laughed at Jessie Hoopes because she had pug nose, and Jessles sister hao tweaked Sallie's nasal organ. The boys were made to stand in corners with their faces among the spider webs the spiders having retreated), and the girls were 1old 10 sit among the boys, which, as they were timid, they did not like.
 The other road led to the village, and some of the scholars accompanied us short distance toward home. Over these Win was supposed to maintain a strict surveillance, but he was magnanlmous, and so long as his division did not come to battle he made a good report.
 It took the old gentleman some time to classify the older students, and Will and myself were so much interested in the daily occurrences that we did not re alize for some time that we had not been classified at all, and were allowed to do Hs we pleased to some extent. No doubt he understood us and knew we were there only for pastime. would not finger great while and concluded to humor us so long as we behaved ourselves.
 l never saw him really angry but once. On that occasion his usually mild temper got the better of him. He had repr- manded boy for chronic incidence, and the latter, having probably concluded that he was tired of school and wishing to empha size his departure by diver sion suddenly sprang from his seat and flung a huge arithmetic (aGainst which he had a spite) straight al the teachers head.
 He had measured the distance to tle 
 euded the blow, but the book struck him on the ear It always seems to make people angry to have their ears handled roughly; it is peculiarly irritating. The old man reached the door before the boy and clutched him by the arm. There was a fiery look in his eyes.
 No doubt the boy regretted his impetu- osity and wished he was back in his seat quietly boring over the hated arithmetic. His meditatcd flight had been stopped short and the attention of the whole school was fixed upon him, although as far as appearances went, every boy and girl was studying lassiduously. They rusted their books vigorously. as if to emphasize how deep down into their con tents they were delVing; but Curran did not notice the small deceit.
 He was preparing to slam against the wall the boy who had so insuted his dig nifty. but Philip did not lose his head.
 He was village boy and had our sym pathy, although we could not help him. He was a handsome little fellow of gen tlemanly bearing, and when he drew him self up and looked one straight in the eyes he spoke so impressively a fellow be- ileved him perforce. He was young diplomatist.