Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-08-02
I New Teacher at District Four J
n BY Alice WaldrOn. (


IT L4S 2f1ooOL
nome. There was such a hubbub, in
fact. that Mrs. Mason declared. when
she stumbled for the third time over
Jimmy, who was trying to separate
his overshoes from the varied assort-
ment behind the stove: You neverII
get any breakfast, Bill, If you don't
Eake these young ones get out Of nv
way"
The kitchen was a Low room. rather
large, but seeming quite small on ac-
count of the many things crowded
into it, The rough, unpapered walls
were decorated by a few bright-col-
ored picture cards and a calendar un-
der the clock shelf. In one corner
fastened to the branch where it had
been built. Newspapers. with their
lower edges irregularly notched, were
tackled up to the windows for cur
tains. 4 row of caps and overcoats
were suspended from nails in the wall
by the door. In the center of the
room was the breakfast table. with
the red cloth spread.
Mr.. Mason. a tail. angular man,
with a stubby red beard and great,
hairy, brown hands, was combing his
hair before d cracked mirror.
Jim, come round TO this side of
the stove. Molly, can't you set the
table for your mother?" he said. turn
the edge of a chair slowly twisting
the ends of two yellow braids around
her fingers.
I'm lacin' my Shoes she said,
seized with sudden industry.
just then the door opened and Bud
came in.
Bud was a big, stalwart boy of
about II, built like his father and of
the same complexion. He looked at
the table and scowled as he pulled off
his coat.
"Ain't breakfast ready. ma? Wen
be late to school, / reckon"
Il guess you won't get a back seat,
anyway" said Billy. looking up from
his place on the floor where he was
rummaging an old wooden box for his
pencils. Joe and me are going to get
there first, and Tom Pierce will be
there too"
After breakfast the confusion be-
gan again with increased violence.
1t was the first day of the winter
term in the district school, and all
the boys had neglected to hunt up
their books and pencils until the last
minute, but at last all were off.
AS Mrs. Mason turned to her work
she said to her husband, 81 hope Bud
won't make her any trouble: 1 saw
her at church yesterday, and she
looked real nice. / thought"
Well" he replied. If she can't
manag Bud she amt fit to teach
school: that's all I got to say. /
don't think a teacher is a teacher if
the director has to run in to help her
all the time. and if she amt got sand
enough to make the directors boy
mind, then she better quit" and Bill
Mason buttoned his coat. pulled his
cap over his ears and left the house
whistling.
When Miss Gertrude Wells. the new
teacher. came up to the school house
that morning she found a small boy,
with his shining dinner pail in one
bare. blue hand, and a slate in the
other, shiveTing in the shelter of the
school house steps. She smiled as
she drew near. Good morning. You
are a little early. are you not? Come
in and We'll see if we can ave a fire
locked the door.
Silence and a frozen grin were the
boys only answer, but he followed
her into the house. put up his pail
and cap and, placing his slate on a
desk, came and stood BY the stove
Miss Wells was a slight. young-look-
ing girl, with a pleasant mouth and
merry blue eyes. Little locks of red
d~ish-brown hair curled around her
high forehead. and her neat, ark suit
of smooth cloth was in excellent IN
trast to her white skin. She took of
e wraps, then lighted the fire. Soon
it was roaring up the rusty pipe.
After a little time the other pupils
began to come. The boys. with their
high topped boots and shining faces.
and the girls, with neatly braided hair
and freshly starched calico aprons.
There was a decided preference for
back seats, and those who got them
arranged their books in triumph.
whispering behind their hands.
Miss Wells said very little beyond a
pleasant greeting to each as he
came in.
At exactly nine o'clock she tapped
the bell for silence
Bud Mason did not have a Jack seat,
but sat in front of Billy and Joe
Moore, who were triumphant. No
sooner was the teacher engaged with
the little ones than Bud turned
around and whispered:
.Say, you boys. whatn you take
and trade seats with me at recess"
Nav" returned Billy, 1--WE don't
want to trade for nothin'."
This is a lots nicer seat for you.
It's SO much higher. You can't write
back there"
Incredulity was written on the
smaller boys faces. Nor pull Lucy
Whites hair" added Bud. making a
suggestive motion towards the short.
taffy-colored curls touching the top of
the desk.
Joe giggled. and the teacher turned
around. Bud was sharpening his slate
mcneil noisily. Joe was looking into
the desk with a very red face and
Bflly's pencil scratched busily across
his slate.
The + number class was reciting be-
fore Bud had another opportunity TO
return to business. Say, III give you
everything I've got in my pocket if
you'll trade"