The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-25
A LESSON OF LOVE.
The story of Little school Mistress
Who Taught the Three RS.
BY. WILL 5. GDLEY.

hol more imam o. at the OUTSIDE dnl
| for some reason best known to himself
| still bachelor
! He was not what would be called
handsome man, exactly, but he was the
| possessor of a graceful. well-knit figure
and clean-cut, self-reliant face, from
which a pair of honest gray eyes looked
forth unfiinchingly upon, the world.
Just now they were looking into a pair
as honest as his own-the troubled blue
eyes of Ethel Ellis, the teacher in one
of Peacedale's half dozen schools. Trou-
bled was not their natural expression, bur
troubled they certainly were at that mo-
ment
Il am very sorry, Mr.. Gordon, that you
should have heard such poor reports OF
my school," she said, looking the new
superintendent frankly in the face. Eyes,
1 am very sorry, indeed" and the
speakers eyes certainly looked as if she
meant 1t; in fact, Gerald Gordon was al
most certain he detected a tear in one
OF them az that very momeut-"5ut i
don't think 1t is wholly my fault. l have
tried hard enough to keep order. and if
the three or four big boys who have
made all the trouble had spark of ehiv-
airy or manliness in their nature l should
nave no dlfheulty in controlling the school,
put 40 you know, Mr.. Gordon, there are
boys who simply won't behave and Their,
IS nothing in their makeup, no sense OF
harness or justice, no gentlemanlY in
stincts, absolutely nothing to which one
can appeal to induce them to do SOP"
You put the case rather strongly, Miss
Ellis, replied the new superintendent,
thoughtfully; but. after all, there is little
doubt that you are right. Such boys are
natural-Dorn bullies, aud towards as Well
There IS nothing that appeals to them ex-
cept a good thrashlng, and you are almost
too slender to attempt anything of the
kind."
I
Mr. Gordon am too tender-hearted TO
punish my pupils. 1t would hurt my feel
ngS worse than theirs, 1 am afraid. and
if 1 cannot conquer them by love l shall
nave 10 give up doing SO az all"
YOU would have an easy task before
you II | We're one of your pupils" said
Gerald Gordon, with glance Of admra-
ton at the blue eyes before him.
me petite ana attractive schooima am
smiled for the first time during the inter
I'm not so sure of that" said she. arch
ly If you were a boy again-and, or
course, you couldn't be one of my pupils
unless you were-perhaps you would be
Just as incorrigible as any of the rest OF
them"
DO you really think so. Miss Ellis?"
Her blue eyes fell before the ardent
glance OF his gray ones.
Wei II hope not" she stammered
Thank you" said he, with a graceful
bow; and now, Miss Ellis, if you will ring
the bell for the children 10 come in l will
remain an hour or so while your classes
are reciting and see if there are any sug-
gestions to be made. Perhaps your IN
ruiy boys will behave while l am here"
I'm not sure about that They may
take advantage of the opportunity to show
off before visitor. OF course, none of
them know YET that you are the new su-
perintendent"
That's good. That will give me an op.
portunity 70 see how they behave when
they are off their guard"
II.
A moment later the girls came hurry
ing. in, with faces flushed from their ex-
their seats. The majority Of the boys
did the same, but bringing up the rear
were half dozen of the larger boys, scuf-
fling and showing each other about and
behaving in anything but an orderly man
ner.
They kept it up until they were inside
the school house door, and when the en-
barrassed teacher requested them TO come
to order, the one who was evidently the
rngleader sung out: 'All right ma am;
and deliberately upsettlng an empty bench
standing few feet in front of the rest,
ne staggered TO the back part of the
school room and took his seat.
Peter Crane" said the teacher, quietly
you will please walk back here and pick
up the bench that you upset"
But Master Crane, a thick-set, bullet
headed youth of 10, was very busy with
his books just then, and apparently failed
to hear the teachers command.
Inis is a fair sample of what 1 have
TO contend with. Now, what can one Go
with boy of that kind?" said the frap
young teacher, in low tones, turning help
lessly toward the new superintendent.
Like flash Gerald Gordon was on his
feet, with flushed face and eyes blazing
with Indignation
Peter Crane he began. in firm, even
tones. i am the new superintendent of
schools for Peacedale. and l would like
TO know II you intend obeying your
teachers request TO pick up that bench
which you purposeiy upset?'
Il dunno muttered Master Crane
We'll, l know. young man." rejoned
the new superintendent, briskly. "YOu
are going to pick up thai bench, and
you are gong to do it inside of one min
ute by the clock or get a thrashing that
you viii have good reason to remember
for the resi- of your lifer'
Master Crane gazed doggedly a the
new Superintendent for a moment, and
then he came slowly forward, and pick
ing up the BENCH replaced it in its orig
look in the direction of his teacher and
the superintendent, he turned and shut
fled back to his seat.
Not much there to work on said
Gerald Gordon, in tones intended only
for the teacher, 1T is just as you said
Miss Ellis; there is nothing in such a
that has any effect on that sort of
young man IS physical force, or the fear
of physical force. The fear of it an
swers as well as the reality in most
cases. as 1 have found in my experience
that boys who behave in that way are
invariably towards >at heart"
mo doubt you are right, Mr. Gordon
but, you see, I'm not big enough TO
frighten them, and as nothing else seems
to answer the purpose I am having
rather a hard time of il trying to keep
them within bounds. l wouldn't care
so much, but this is my first term az
school teaching, and / wanted to make
a good record SO l could retain the
place. as ] am fond of teaching and
would prefer making a living in that wav
to any other. l presume, however. that
the school committee won't want me an
other Term unless l con manage some
how to keep better order-and if they dis
miss me I'm sure l don't know what 1
shall do
We'll Miss Ellis, if were in your
place i shouldn't be at all discouraged.
Keep on doing the best you can with
your school, and l win get around AS
often as possible and assist YOU in
Strengthening matters out in case
find 1t necessary to do so. | think 7
shall be able to visit your school throa
times a week. or perhaps oftener for the
present, and If there is anything reuuir-
ing my attention at any time | trust Won
viii not hesitate to let me know"
She accompanied him to the door when
he rose 70 go and as they shook hands al
parting she said:
h