Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-11-12
THE NEW TEACHER.
BY ALFRED ROCKFORD.

OAN OShOoA oAoeiANS 4NOt IJt OFCL
in McComb County, had the repu-
tation of being a very rough place
for a young teacher, and no place at
all for an old one.
Every new teacher was perfection
the first month; simply hnman the
second, and if he or she remained
through the third month, the chill
dren were in rebellion at the instiga.
ton 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 well-known col
lege, and by way of recruiting his
health, replenishing his pocketbook
and getting started in his legal
studies he determined, 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
applied.
"There is only one district in this
county that has not a teacher en-
gagged to open school at tue end of
the present 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
Robert Cole, seeing that the super
intendont hesitated.
"It is q hard district"
Chow so?"
"Well, they SANDER the female
teachers, particularly if they are
pretty; and the big boys have FASH
ion Of thrashing the male teachers"
Il should rather like to try a
school like that said the young
man with laugh.
"Ohl | am sure Mr.. Cole, you
could manage the boys, but the par
ents and older brothers interfere
Why, last year young man taught
in No. Is; he was powerful fellow
and fine teacher, and he maintained
order. OF course, he did some fog
ging, 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 an 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?"
SIT is a large family; they are re-
lated 10 some way to nearly every
one in the district, and | believe
yes, I 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 un-
dertake the school for its very diff
cuIties.
ooh, my yes; indeed, a majority
of the people mean to do right and
would change matters if they could;
but they are a quiet, law.abiding
folk, who need leader and dread
to act for themselves. If you say
SO, | can get you the SCHOOL, said
Mr.. Moore.
81 shall be thankful if you do. 1
have theory of my own about man
aging hard boys, and / should like
to try it, said Robert Cole.
The superintendent said "very
we'll" and within week Robert
Cole had met the trustees and was
engaged for the ensuing school year.
He was we'll built, handsome
young fellaw, and during the ten
days that elapsed between his en-
gagement and the time school was
to open he visited all families that
had children, and did his best to
create good impression. In this
he was successful, and when he open
ed school the inhabitants In No. 10
felt that they had at LAST got the
teacher they bad been looking for
for years and years.
Ihe doctor and the clergyman and
9 few other onserganE people shook
their heads and said one to the other;
aYOunp Mr.. Cole il oartainlv an