The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-31

kz6lM cipaI announced it to the class,
looking at them coldly and stating
the matter curtly. 1t was as though he
considered the third reader class to blame.
Somehow Emmy Lou felt apologize about
It and guilty. And she watched the door.
A substitute might mean anything. Hattie,
Emmy LOUIS desk-mate. watched the door,
too. but covertly, for Hattie did not like TO
acknowledge she did not know.
The substitute came in little breath
lessly. She was pretty-as pretty as Emmy
LOUIS Aunt Katie She seemed little I'M
certain as TO what to do. Perhaps she felt
conscious OF forty pairs Of eyes waiting to
what she would do.
The substitute stepped hesitatingly up on
the platform. She gripped the edge of the
desk and opened her lips, but nothing came.
She closed them and swallowed. Then she
said, children
shes goin' to cryr' whispered Hattie, in
awed accents. Emmy Lou felt 1T would be
terrible to see her cry. 1t was evidently
something so unpleasant to be a substitute
that Emmy LOUIS heart went out to her.
But the substitute did not cry. She still
gripped the desk, and after moment went
on-"you will find printed on the slips of
paper upon each desk the needs of the third
reader"
She did not cry, but everybody felt the
tremor In her voice. The substitute was
young and new to her business.
Reading over the needs of the third reader
printed on the slips OF paper, Emmy Lou
found them so complicated and lengthy she
realized one thing-she would have to have
a new school bag. larger. stronger one, to
accommodate them.
Now, there is a difference between a real
teacher and a substitute. The real teacher
loves mystery and explains grudgingly. The
real teacher stands aloof, with awe and dis
tance between herself and the inhabitants of
the rows of desks she holds dominion over
But substitute tells the class all about
her duty and its duty, and about what she
IS planning and what she expects of them.
"A substitute makes the occupants of the
desks feel hattered and conscious and inn
poFtant.
The substitutes name was Miss Jenny.
The class speedily adored her. Soon her
desk might have been a shrine to Pomona.
1t was joy to forego ones apple to swell the
fruitage OF alteration piled on Miss Jenny's
desk The class could scarcely be driven to
recess. since going tore them from her. They
found their happiness in Miss Jenny's pres
ence.
So. apparently did Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Bryan
was the principal He wore his black hair
somewhat long and thrown off his forehead
only Mr.. Bryan would have called it brow
Mr.. Bryan came often to the third-reader
ROOM He said 1t was very necessary that
the third reader should be well grounded in
the rudiments of number. He said he was
astonished, he was appalled,, he was cha
grined
He paused at "chagrined," and repeated
1t impressively, so that the cultural grim
ness of it's second syllable sounded most I'M
pleasant. Appalled, and astonished must
be bad. but TO be chagrined, as Mr. Bryan
said 1T, must be terrible.
He was chagrined, so il proved, that
class could show such deplorable ignorance
concerning the very rudiments of number
1t was Emmy Lou who displayed IT, when
she was called to the blackboard my Mr.
Bryan He called different little girl each
day, with discriminating impartiaIity.
When doing so. Mr.. Bryan would often ex-
press a hope that his teachers would have
no favorites.
Emmy Lon went to the board.
IF man born in 1909 lives began Mr..
Bryan. Then he turned to speak to Miss
Jenny.
Emmy Lou took the chalk and stood on
her toes to reach the board.
''Set it down." said Mr.. Bryan, turning
'the date"
Emmy Lou paused. uncertain Had he
said 1.S9. she would have known; that was
the way one knew II In the second reader,
but 1870 was confusing.
Again Mr.. Bryan looked around, to see
the chubby little girl standing on her toes
chalk in hand still uncertain. Mr.. Bryan's
voice expressed tried but laudable patience.
Put it down-the date" said MIR. Bryan,
s1S09"
Emmy Lou put it down. She put it down
an this way: