Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-12-22

their heads and said one to the other:
young Mr.. Cole is certainly an &C.
complished gentleman, but his re-
finement and culture are all SO much
against him. The Docks will either
drive him out, or he will leave in dis
gust, as others have done, long before
the term is out"
Robert Coles plan was to do his
work conscientiously; to treat all
alike, and never to give an order
which he had not we'll considered,
and which he was not prepared to en-
force. He determined to keep his
temper, and to require prompt obedi-
ence from the very start.
1t was often remarked that School
10 always began the new term with o
new teacher, on which occasion the
building was always packed; but as the
term wore on the attendance grew
less, until at the close there were
neither scholars nor teacher.
Before getting to work Robert Cole
made quiet little speech to the chill
dren, and while he was talking he
noticed shock haired lad of seven
teen, with hair-lip, who persisted in
tickling the ear of little boy in front
of him with straw.
Robert stopped, and pointing to
the culprit, he said:
"What is your name, sir?"
The culprit looked about him with
laugh, as if he expected someone
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 hand on his collar, and be-
fore he knew what was up, he was
jerked into the aisle and dragged up
to the platform, where the teacher
picked him up and set him against
the wall.
"What is your name, sir?' Robert
asked again.
The boy with the hair-lip STAN
mered:
''My names Bill Dock"
'Bill Dock, I have heard of you,
but was not prepared to see you be-
gin your devilment before I began my
school. Now, 1 should prefer to get
along we'll with you and with every
other boy and girl in school, but
want you to know that you must do as
1 say from the very first, OF else I shall
fog you and put you out of school,"
my fathers q trustee" gasped Bill
Dock.
81 don't care if he is fifty trust ees.
You must promise to do as say or
shall fling you out of school now; you
understand"
"Ye-yes," said Bill Dock.
"Say yes, sir. >"
eyes, sir, 1 understan d."
"Good; go back to your seat"
Robert Cole resumed his inaugural
address just as if nothing had hap
pened.
Beyond lecturing red-headed girl
Of sixteen till she cried-she was also
a Dook-nothing unusual occurred
during the rest of the day.
Robert examined his scholars,
praised the bright ones, encouraged
the backward and got them all classi-
fed.
Up to this time the oldest inhabit-
ant of District 10 could not recall
teacher who began operations after
Mr.. Coles manner
He had not been there long enough
to have his qualifications as teacher
called in question by the gossips; they
did not know him long enough to
make charges against his character, SO
even the Docks had to confess that,
while the young teacher had rather
queer notions to start with, he meant
right.
Robert Cole got his school well or
ganized; he treated all alike, and
while during study hours he never re-
laxed his discipline, at noon and re-
cess he went out and played with the
children, and so prevented rude con-
duct and vulgar language.
Bill Dock was on his guard and took
care not to offend again. though
hither he had been the terror Of all
the teachers; from his dogged manner,
Robert Cole saw that the fellow har-
Lored revenge and that sooner OF later
he would try to crafty it.
AS the winter came ON Ned Dock,
young man of twenty, who had left
school 'for good" two years before,
took it into his head to attend again.
Ned Dock was heavy, powerful
follow, and had the reputation of be-
ing the best wrestler in the county.
One of Roberts friends limited to
him that Ned Docks object in coming
to school was to make trouble for the
teacher rather than to get instruction
from him, and Robert soon saw that
his friend was right.
The teacher, not bit alarmed, de-
termined to carry out his one rule for
all. He would not let the big boys
smoke or chew tobacco either in the
sohoolhouse or on the grounds.
"Edward Dock, are you chewing
tobacco?" asked the teacher, the day
after the big brother had entered the
school.
eyes. I am" said Ned Dock, and
to prove it he spat on the floor.