Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-10-15

~3s teacher was per-
fsction the first month; simply human
the second, and if he or she remained
through the third nc nth, the children
were in rebellion at the instigation of
their parents, and the brains of the
gossips were busy concocting 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 get
ting started in his legal studies he de-
termined, in the absence of anything
better. to teach school for year.
The superintendent of schools for
McComb County was Robert Coles
friend, and to him the young man ap-
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 sal
ary in the county, and the money is
sure, for the district is rich-but
them"
"But what, Mr.. Moore?" asked
Robert Cole, seeing that the superin
tendent hesitated.
ut is hard district"
"How so?"
"Well, they slander the female
teachers, particularly if they are pref
ty; and the big boys have fashion OF
thrashing the male teachers"
"I should rather like to try school
like that" said the young man, with a
laugh.
"Oh! I am sure, Mr.. Cole, you
could manage the boys, but the
parents and older brothers interfere.
Why, last gear young man taught in
No. 16; he was powerful fellow and
q fine teacher, and he maintained or
der. OF course, he did some logging,
particularly with the Docks, but lot
of the men folk lay for him one night,
and after beating him they threw him
into the pond, and if he hadn't been
expert swimmer he'd have drowned.
As it was he escaped, and the very
next day he resigned" said Mr..
Moore.
"Who are the Dooks?"
''It is large family; they are re-
lated in some way to nearly every one
in the district, and I believe-yes, |
am sure-two of them are trustees at
this time"
"Are there no good people in the
district?" asked Robert Cole, feeling a
bit discouraged, yet anxious to under
take the school for its very Difficult
ties.
ooh, my! yes; indeed, majority of
the people mean to do right and would
change matters if they could; but they
are quiet, law abiding folk, who need
q leader and dread to act for them.
selves. Ifyou say so. l can get you
II shall be thankful if you do. I
have theory OF my own about manag.
ing hard boys, and I should like to
try it, said Robert Cole.
The superintendent said every
we'll, and within week Robert Cole
he'd met the trustees and was engaged
for the ensuing school year.
He was we'll built, handsome young
fellow, and during the ten days that
elapsed between his engagement and
the time when school was to open lie
visited all families that had children,
and did his best to create a good im.
preston. In this he was successful,
and when he opened school the inhabi
tants in No. 10 felt that they had al
last got the teacher they had been look
ing for for years and years.
The doctor and the clergyman and
. few other observaLt people shook
their beads and said one to the other:
young Mr.. Cole is certainly all &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, aud 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 OH the attendance grew
less, until at the close there were
neither scholars nor teacher.
Before getting to work Robert Cole
made gniet little speech to the chill
dren, and while lie was talking he
noticed q shock haired lad of seven
teen. with hair.lip, who persisted il