Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-15
ture of this seat of learning.

| lItll ltccOA 4Ol L44C LAOA LAh "AAAAN 49, .
Richard as industriously chewed a
more than mouth full of tobacco, and
the stove, filled with green, frying siz-
zling wood, that was trying in a halt
hearted way to burn, took its usual
smoke. After a good half hour of
quiet, during which Mr. Richard tried
very hard to put out the feeble fire
with deluge of tobacco juice, fired
from his funnel-shaped lips through a
hole in the stove door, thefrst spell
ing class was called, half score of
small boys and girls stood in line,
wiping the tears from their smoky eyes,
and then the fun Of the day began.
Mr.. Richard gave out "duck, " and a
girl at the mead of the class spelled
promptly duck, duck. Luck, - said
Mr.. R. "L-u-c-k, luck, said boy
next in class. Suck, said Mr. R.,
but the next boy q think it was Billy
Rice), didn't seek a suck according to
Webster's rules, so Mr. Richard sus-
pended business long enough to show
how much much he loved Billy by ap-
plying the cbastening rod Business
was then continued, and the spelling
lessons for the morning were finished
after some more words had been missed
and the chastening rod had fallen up
on the shoulders of a few more luck
less urchins. By this time the green
wood in the stove had fried out and
begun to burn, Mr.. R. had turned the
tobacco saliva against the wall in the
rear of the desk, the door which had
been opened to let out the smoke was
closed, the room got little warmer,
and the children hugged the stove a
little less afectionately.
The geography class was then called.
Now, Mr.. Richard had his own notions
upon the geography of the earth, and
believed the earth was fiat, regardless
of the opinion of others. He, however,
could teach geography any way, be
could teach it sitting up or standing
down, horizontal or globular, to suit
the parents Of the children. He taught
the round kind though, because every
BODY else, including Columbus, seemed
to think that the correct shape. This
recitation had proceeded without incl
dent for some time, but schoolboys are
likely to have little fun regardless
of circumstances. AS the students
paused while one member Of the clas:
pointed out on the map Of North
America Moler's X Roads, or some
other important place, the silence vas
broken by one of the boys at the stove
screaming, "ouch p What in the
world is the natter howled Mr.
Richard, as he grabbed the weapon
from his desk where he had laid it tc
be handy. "Come here, sir, was the
next command, and boy named Sam
my Huyett, looking very sheepish anc
very much frightened, presented him
self at the bar and stood before the
stern Judge. The geography class wa'
at once dismissed for matters more I'M
portant. The teacher then, very angry
demanded What made you disturb
the class by screaming, sir?' Now
Sammy was Just as honorable as a boy
as he has always been as man. HI
didn't want to tell on his playmate
and for a time was as dumb as sheer
before its shearers. This silence wai
not golden and could not last. Sammy
by strong threats, was soon forced t(
turn States evidence and depose. Th'
evidence showed that in the early
morning, when the boys had crowded
in on the bench next the cold stove t.
imagine themselves getting warm
Sammy had gotten the best place, which
was opposite the middle of the broac
side of the stove. Sammy had on
pair of heavy WOODEN trousers, and a
the bench was close his knees came
within a couple of inches Of the stove
which by this time had gotten red hot
Sammy's knees and trousers had alst
gotten red hot. AS the trousers smoked
and scorched with the heat, Satar
tempted John Crider, who sat next
John quietly laid his book aside anc
clapped both hands over Sammy
knees the heat in the woolen good
became as living Goals Of fire as 1t wa
driven into the flesh the boy dropped
his slate and pencil with crash anc
howled as only schOOlboy can howl
During the recital of this tale Of wot
Mr.. Richard got white with anger
The children knew there was going t.
be another fight, and waited for the
round to begin. They didn't have
long to wait, though, for the culpri
was soon dragged from his place at th'
stove. and as he had nothing TO say il