The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-01-21
THE YOUNG
SCHOOLTEACHER
BY +. n. LANCASTER.

2 BY T. n. LANCASTER. 81
oooooooooooooooo8
Copyright 1893, By Daily Story Pub. Coz
HANDS off? A mais oui. But how
was Miss Margaret to know that
her new-found garden held its tree of
forbidden fruit?
The trustees Of LIE Blanc school, being
busy with their coal-burning and corn
hoeing, forgot, as they usually did. to
elect teacher; and the first Monday in
May found the little log schoolhouse
among the pines shut up and silent.
N'importe. Nobody was much con-
eerned. Priests are not partial to pub
lie schools, and all 'Cajans are good
Catholics, and follow their priests
lead. Still in every community there
Is leading man ready to step in and
shoulder responsibilities that the dele
gated shoulders shun. So it chanced
that NJ. Lecerf. plodding past the school
house beside his slow-moving team,
looked at the closed door and shook his
head. And that night, after he had
washed his feet and eaten his supper,
he shook his head again over his ciga-
rette and said to his wife:
{ "Chere, das aim right. Schoolhouse
shot op. Das ain right"
mo. Das ain right" agreed madam.
Madam always agreed. She was as
small as monsieur was large, and was
convinced beyond all doubt that he was
quite the brainiest man that ever was.
Madam had gone as far as the third
reader, and had been known to read
paragraphs from the county paper. She
looked at monsieur, now smoking silent
in the moonlight, and a droop Of weari-
ness in his attitude stirred her love to
deeper tenderness. She hastened to
strengthen her Endorsement.
mo, das ain right. Me and Amelia
was talk bout das last wik. Corn all
plant, rice clin. Chilun ought to be in
school, Des In de way"
Monsieur removed his cigarette.
Madam Amelia was the wife and boss Of
the second leading man.
What did Amelia say?" he asked.
"She say: Vas das so. Dere's my ill.,
gal fall in de branch while was wash
and Dazier get hees foot mash playing
down to de log But she won't board
de fletcher, Bebe. No. Says de last
time she board de fletcher was de last
Z time"
"Das all right" monsieur replied.
+ I'VE board him"
"Yas," madam agreed loyalty, 'das all
right" But she looked in consterna-
tion at the prospect Of having strange
man In the house, and wondered dis
mally how she would ever get through
work If she had to wear shoes all day
long. And there was Marie-Louise-
with an accent on the last syllable like
an exclamation-just budding into
beauteous womanhood. But she kep1
these forebodings to herself, and brave
ly subscribed to the belief OF the neigh
bors that when M. Lecerf said thing
was all right, 1t was all right. C'est bien
Their faith was well founded. Singular
" cool Of Judgment, far-seeing, fearless
with education Antoine Lecerf nigh
have been Pericles; without it, he wa
q coal burner He shot the sheep-killin,
dogs of dangerous men, adjusted neigh
borhood Quarrels, guarded wife ant
child, and drudged cheerfully for liv
ing. AS for citizenship. he could no
even vote. Pourquoi? NJ. Lecerf coul'
not sign his name.
En-, bien, M. Lecerf had reason t
know the value Of an education. H
went to the school superintendent for
teacher, and was introduced to Mis-
Margaret. The young city girl wa
eager, ambitious and anxious to get t
work, but she was frightened, badl
frightened at the thought of riding te
lonely miles with this great big man un
til the superintendent, understanding
and sympathizing. said:
"Mr. Lecerf will take good care Q
YOU" And NJ. Lecerf, with his broad
indulgeut smile. seconded cordially:
"Yas, das all right. TEX good car
IF YOU" Then, with rush OF conf
dence, Margaret slipped her fingers int
a great rough palm, and found herse
swung lightly to seat in M. Lecerf
high wagon.
Crowding His own huge frame owe
the side of the seat that she might not b
cramped, and forbearing to smoke, a
though an hour without cigarette wa
thing almost unknown, he told h
stories as they rode along, stories Of II
neighborhood In which she was to worl
with shrewd comments in passing ths
Margaret laid up carefully for futul
use. So rapidly did their friendshi
progress that when they reached b
Of heavy road and the horse slowed wit
self-indulgent air. to walk, she reache
an eager hand to the lines, saying, plea
antly:
Cant l drive, please, Mr.. Lecer
while you smoke?"
You dom mind tobacco? No!''
mo, indeed. don't mind, she
sured, taking possession OF the lines
passed over to her.
NJ. Lecerf smiled indulgently at n
eagerness, and rolled a cigarette. II DO
know it hurts If you dom smoke t.
moch." He said in tone OF apoloe
ssvr,, 1S1,n 3'A