Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-09-08
EARNING MY BREAD.

BY julie P. Smith.


bit. schoolma' am! Don't be running
into extravagant expressions Well,
! II that be extravaganza, must be con-
Cant to be extravagant, and why not,
since al. am forced to such pinching
economy in everything else? But If
this sky, air, sun and glorious blend
Ing of Gods gifts be not magnificent,
let me learn what is, pray do!
How rich and yellow the sunshine is!
How softly it lies upon the green
grass. There goes that clear running
water, ripping away over the brown
sand. All if / might but follow it
rushing. gushing, sparkling and wind
ing under the high trees in the dim
greenwood. But l can't. I'm school
ma'am. / get two dollars week for
teaching young ideas how to shoot.
My pupils draw fearfully long bow
sometimes; l don't teach that-it
comes natural, like breathing and
sneezing. l must plod along upon this
dusty road because 1t Is almost nine
o'clock. A bird-note, and another!
well, sing away. I'd sing, too. if
were bird-but as l am only girl,
] must keep school"
/ | wonder what sort of an idea the
Merry Bank folks have Of a school?
I fancy some of them must consider
it q nursery, from the very young slips
they plant around me. Yesterday a
little toddling twO-year-old came smil-
ing in at the door, under the care of an
elder sister. She steadily refused to
be seated anywhere, upon any consi
Iteration / could offer, but went wan
dering about at her own sweet will,
kissing the boys and hugging the girls,
and calling me mammal" Of course,
every movement was watched, and
every new prank brought forth a burst
of laughter, and the lessons were no
where l hope | like babies in
general way, in proper places; but l
confess | am puzzled to enact grace
fully and with dignity nursery maid
time; and just suppose Clarence Hazel
had heard her call me mammal" Oh,
my!
Heigho. here's the schoolhOuse!
What a tumbled-down old affair it is,
to be sure! All the four walls disa-
vowing each other and setting UP for
themselves; half panel gone from the
wreck of a. door, guiltless, of paint.
minus a latch, and hieroglyphics
scrawled upon the ancient desks which
would puzzle a reader of ohelisks.
/, What a racket those boys are max
Ing! If l did not know was in civili-
zed society, should believe those yells
come from wild Indian Threats. But
tits only Young America disporting
ITSELF fervently hope they will sub
side into quietude when they see the
awful majesty Of the schoolmarm ap-
preaching. Oh, how pretty! Just look
at this beautiful group Of young girls
flying to meet me! Precious eternal
flowers buds which am to tend and
watch and help to develop. What
wealth of curls floating upon their dim
pied shoulders! what coaxing eyes!
what bright, glowing faces! how they
jump, and leap, and laugh and dance.
All, they have an immense stock of
surplus vitality to be played off. Well,
/ suppose l felt so once. In fact, be-
lieve l could skip that rope now if
could only get free long enough.
Look at my new scholar. That is
his ma" suppose, hauling him along
so ruthlessly. Poor little dear, his
shining face. damp hair and vindic
lively aggravated appearance show
how he has been scrubbed and spanked
into his clean clothes. Mercy, wish
he wouldn't eye me sideways as if
was an ogress. l am fond of thinking
that l am rather attractive. I'm only
nineteen. Anybody to see that look
would think it was for sixty at least
Well, here is a score of dewy mouths
put up to kiss the schoolma' am. Some
of the faces might possibly be the bet
ter for a little soap and water, but
never could refuse kiss from child,
be it ever SO dirty. After all, it is
something to be welcomed and loved
by SO many fresh natures, uncloyed
unsated. Bright flowers, too. Daffo-
dis, yellow as gold; wild violets, sweet
and blue, and my precious, darling pam
sizes. Thank you, children, you do me
good. Now to business Nine o'clock
Is here and the trustees will be buzz
zlng about our ears like exasperated
wasps IL we linger by the green road
side to enjoy freedom and flowers.
The first class in reading take your
places, on the line, toes out. Attention.
everyone! John Peacock. commencet
The lesson is the natural history of
the elephant, intensified with wonder
full anecdotes; and John winds up a
thrilling account of battle thus:
And he fell down in a great ray"
(erratum, for ray read 'rage"). and
feeling that he has acquitted himself
handsomely, he spreads wide his feet
and squirts the saliva through his
teeth, like Chinaman sprinkling clean
linen on, the irioningboard After a
correction and litter or so, the next
boy takes up the theme. "And the
shepherd went out to his fold
stop minute, James; what is a
shepherd"
James hangs his head, but being
pressed for definition, modestly gives
it as his opinion that a shepherd is a
big sheep.
"Not quite accurate, James, but still
not as bad as might be-" And the next
proceeds: But the cub ran off,
Now then. my boy, can you tell
what cub is?" Boy can't say, but a
little girl says it is hateful brother .
Another differs. and thinks it might
be a "squaw's baby" Virgin soil this,
truly! In fact, it is so peisectly free
from all cultivation that It's dificult
TO judge of the proper seed to SOW in
order to insure useful crop. / can't
help wondering what all the mothers
have been about. My dear mother used
to tell us everything.
But. bless and save us! had entire
~ forgotten. The inspector is coming