Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-11-12

up to the.platform, where the teacher
picked him up and set him against
the wall.
"What is your name, sir?" Robert
asked again.
"My names Bill Dock"
"Bill Dock, / have heard of you,
but was not prepared to see you
begin your devilment before I began
my school. Now, 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 / say from the very FIRST,
or else I 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 l say or
shall fling you out of school now;
you understand"
"Ye-yes," said Bill Dock.
"Say yes SIR"
eyes, sir, l understand.
"Good; go back to your seat"
Robert Cole resumed his inaugural
address just as if nothing had hap.
pened.
Beyond lecturing a headed
girl of sixteen till she cried-she
was also 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 clas-
sified.
Up to this time the Oldest inbab-
liant of District 10 could not recall
a teacher who began operations after
Mr.. Coles manner.
He had not been there long enough
to have his qualifications as teach
err called in question by the gossips;
they did not know him long enough
to make charges against his charac-
ter, so even the Docks had to con-
fess that, while the young teacher
had rather queer notions to start
with, he meant right.
Robert Cole got his school well
organized; he treated all alike, and
while during study hours he never
relaxed his discipline, at noon and
recess he went out and played with
the children, and so prevented rude
conduct and vulgar language.
Bill Dock was on his guard and
took care not to offend again, though
hitherto he had been the terror of all
the teachers; from his logged man
ner, Robert Cole saw that the fellow
harbored revenge and that sooner or
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 be-
fore, took it into his head to attend
again.
Ned Dock was heavy, powerful
fellow. 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 trou-
BILE 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 schoolhouse or on the grounds.
edward Dock, are you chewing
tobacco?' asked the teacher, the day
after the big brother had entered
the school.
Yes, | am, said Ned Dock, and
to prove it he spat on the floor.
you cannot chew tobacco here;
apart from the example you set the
younger boys, | cannot stand snch
filth in the schoolroom.n
give chawed for years. laughed
Ned.
Il don't care what you have done,
you can't use tobacco in this school
house. Go to the door and throw
that stuff in your mouth CUT"
Ned Dock laughed and threw the
quid on the floor.
Pick that stuff up and throw it
QUIZ said the teacher, calmly and
firmly.