The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-10-19
THE NEW TEACHER,
BY ALBERT ROCHE ORT.
>~~~~>>

y Comb county, had the reputation
of being a very rough place for
young teacher, and no place at all for
an old one.
Every new teacher was perfection
the first month; simply human the sec
ond and If he or she remained through
the third month, the children were in
rebellion at the instigation of their
parents, and the brains of the gossips
were busy connecting ISLANDERS which
their tongues did not hesitate to utter.
Robert Cole had just graduated with
honor from a well-known college, and
by way of recruiting his health, re-
plenishing his pocketbook and getting
started in his legal studies he deter
mined, in the absence of anything bet
ter, to teach school for year.
The superintendent of schools for
McComb county was Robert Coles
friend, and to him the young man APP
piled.
There is only one district in this
county that has not teacher engaged
to open school at the end of the pres
ent holidays; it pays the largest salary
in the county, and the money is sure,
for the district is rich-but then"
but what, Mr.. Moore?" asked Rob-
ert Cole, seeing that the superin-
tendent hesitated.
at is a hard district"
"How so?"
"Well, they SANDER the female
10 ,-lr T.
ty; and the big boys have fashion of
thrashing the male teachers"
II should rather like to try school
like that" said the young man, with a
laugh.
ooh! | am sure, Mr.. Cole, you could
manage the boys, but the parents and
older brothers interfere. Why, last
year young man taught in No. 10;
he was a powerful fellow and fine
teacher, and he maintained order. Of
course, he did some fiogging, partic-
ularly with the Docks, but lot of the
men folk lay for him one night, and
after beating him they threw him int o
the pond, and if he hadn't been an eX-
pert swimmer he'd have drowned. As
it was he escaped, and the very next
day he resigned" said Mr.. Moore.
who are the Dooks?"
1T is large family; they are re-
lated in some way to nearly every one
in the district and | believe-yes, am
sure-two of them are trustees at this
time"
Are there no good people in the dis
trict?" asked Robert Cole, feeling a
bit discouraged, yet anxious to under
take the school for its very difficulties.
"Oh, my! yes; indeed, a majority of
the people mean to do right and would
change matters if they could; but the v
are quiet abiding folk, who
need a leader and dread to act for
themselves. If you say so, l can get
you the school," said Mr.. Moore.
81 shall be thankful if you do.
have theory of my own about manag-
ing hard boys, and | should like to try
it," said Robert Cole.
The superintendent said: Very
well", and within week Robert Cole
had met the trustees and was engaged
for the ensuing school year.
Robert Coles plan was to do his
work conscientiously; to treat all
alike, and never to give an order which
he had not well considered, and which
he was not prepared to enforce. He
determined to keep his temper, and to
require prompt obedience from the
very start.
Before getting to work Robert Cole
made quiet little speech to the chill
dren, and while he was talking he no.
ticed a shock. haired lad of II, with a
hare-lip, who persisted in tickling the
ear of little boy in front of him with
straw.
Robert stopped and pointing to the
eulprit, he asked:
What is your name, sir?'
The culprit looked about him with
a laugh, as if he expected some one
else to answer.
Come up here, sir" said Robert,
sternly.
The culprit again looked about him
and laughed.
He was still looking about him when
he felt a hand on his collar, and before
he knew what was up, he was jerked
into the aisle and dragged up to the
platform, whese the teacher picked
him up and set him against the wall.
what is your name, sir?" Robert
asked, again.
The boy with the hare-lip STAN
mered:
"My names Bill Dock"
bill Dock, have heard of you, but
I was not prepared to see you begin
with your devilment before / began
INV school. Now, l should prefer to
get along well with you and with
every other boy and girl in school,
but want you to know that you must
dc as say from the very first, or else
| shall fog you and put you out of
school"
my fathers trustee" gasped Bill
Dock.
81 don't care if he is fifty trustees.
You must promise TO do as ! say or l
shall fling you out of school now; you
understand?
"Y-yes," said Bill Dock.
"Say yes. SIR"
f"Yes, sir, understand"
"Good; go back to your seat"
Robert Cole resumed his inaugural
address just as IL nothing had hap
pened.
Robert examined his scholars,
praised the bright ones. encouraged
the backward and got them all CLASH
fed.
Up to this time the oldest inhae:tant