The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-03-22
Examining the Teacher.

The resolution with which suffering
and want were borne by families Of
the COnfederacy which had lost their
all in the civil war, is proud memory
for the South and for the nation. Be
fore amnesty was extended to all Con-
federate leaders, their position was pitt
able. With other distinguished soldiers,
Gen. Pickett fed to Canada, whittier
he was followed by his young wife.
There they assumed the name Of Ed
wards. They were safe, but without
money. Mrs. Pickett was as deter
mined as her husband, and casting
about for work to do, she answered an
advertisement for teacher. The Sc
quel is told in her late volume, Pickett
and His Men"
1 was shown into the primmest OF
parlOrs. The tall. angular proprietress
met me with "Well-what-can-I-do-f
you" expression. / felt all my cour-
age going.
May l see the professOr? asked.
The advertisement was for a teach
er, not for a pupil" she replied.
Il am perfectly aware of that" an
swered
A most quizzicai expression punched
up the corners of her mouth. She left
the room, and soon returned.
'Will You be so good as to come up
to the recitation rOOmy' she said.
l saw as soon as / entered that q de-
scriptiOn Of me had preceded my COM
ing, and not a very fattering one,
either, judged from the faces Of the
professor and the pupils.
The class consisted Of fourteen young
ladies, all Of them apparently older
than was. The professor had q pleas
ant, round, smooth face.
"And you have really come to apply
for the pOsitiOn" he asked.
Il have. sir"
The expression on Miss McIntosh's
face, the nudging and suppressed litter
among the pupils which this expression
called forth, were not calculated to less
en- my embarrassment
Have you had any experience In
teaching?'
NO, SIR" l said
MAY I ask where you were edu-
Gated"
AT home. Then / went to Lynch
burg College, where was graduated"
rs that in EnglandY'
'.Oh no, SIR" said I, astOnished at his
ignorance; and then. recolleeting my
self just as was about to inform him
that Lynchburg was the fifth town In
population in Virginia. was on the
south bank of the James RIVER, 116
miles from the capital of the state and
within view Of the Blue Ridge Noun
tains and the Peaks Of Otter. stopped
short, embarrassed at my imprudence.
"And so you were graduated there.
Do you remember how Caesar COM
mencesT
Yes, sir. Guilla est omnis divisa In
parties tres"
He gave me several sentences to
translate, and some selections from Ca
tullus and Tibullus. By this time the
pupils were silent and Miss McIntOsh's
expression was changed
He asked me to write and parse q
sentence. which 1 did, saying, sOtto
voce, as he took the chalk from me,
''That was a catch question"
Without noticing my aside, he wrote
in Latin: ''The President of the United
States said. Nobody is hurt"
Instead Of translating, looked up at
him and said:
But. oh. sir. somebody was hurtr'
Quickly he cleared the board, wiped
his hands, turned his face toward me.
and Offering his hand. said. not to my
surprise, for have faith in prayer. but
rather to that Of Miss Mcintosh and
the young ladies':
81 will engage you. Mrs. Edwards
and will be responsible for you"
My first months salary was spent In
part payment on an overcoat for the
general. and only our Father ard the
angels know what joy filed my heart
that with my work I could give him
g. xh-