Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-01-19
A PROMOTER OF
GOOD CHEER.
THE WAY SOME PEOPLE AFFECT
OTHERS.


another That's the way feel every
time | see Miss Statham. I've added to
my morning prayers, From meeting Miss
Stathdm. good Lord. deliver mel, A walk
with her casts a gloom over my whole
day Yes, she's in our school and m not
the only one who wishes she wasn't. If
the principal had as much power as they
say, she d be somewhere else | wonder
if Dante hasn't anything in his Inferno
about people who make you want to fight.
If he hasn't.he ought to have. BY just
talking peace she'd arouse a spirit Of
martial ardor that would conquer the
world
Yes, | know I'm bitter. but SO would
you be. She came into my room and told
me right before the children that school
was not the place to wear diamonds
know it is not; very few teachers have
them to wear. to tell the truth but how
could help it. when there was no one
at home to take care of my poor little
pin? Anyhow. children like TO see pretty
things and then. it was none of her bust
ness. A person like that is enough to
ruin anybody's disposition, say
why, Willie Stevens-you know
Willie Stevens, that dear little mothers
only boy? Well. Willie was in the office
the other day, looking as determined as
Roosevelt. 1t seems he had absolutely
refused to pick up paper from the floor.
1t was funny to see him with his jaw set
and his eyes flashing. Poor Mr. Sawyer
was worried to death He knew Willie
was all right. yet he knew too. that
discipline must he maintained; so there
he was
willie was at last induced to speak
and he said, half-sobbing, I'd pick it up
if she asked me to. even if didn't do it;
but | amt going to do it when she says
must And hOnored him for his pluck.
which must say never suspected. But
there it is. She can make even him
fight
why. do you know. she's promoter
of lying? Yes, you needn't look so as
founded and shocked; it's perfectly true.
You know how loved California. Well,
she began to praise it. and in an instant,
like a panorama. | saw all the disagree
able features of the region though until
that moment ! had entirely forgotten
them. saw myself holding my hat with
one hand and my skirts with the other.
as | went down Market street in August
with my teeth chattering actually felt
the damp clothes put on every morning.
was again in the room with the others
of our party. huddled up with our clOak5
on and the gas lit for warmth. When
was there. | thought all those things
funny We had the very jolliest kind Of
a time. telling our days experience in
those chilly rooms. But only the wish
to contradict her was uppermost in my
mind.
And Chinatown. really hated it; but
when she denounced it-well. to hear me
then you would absolutely think the one
ambition of my life was to live in one of
those oriental, balconied houses lit with
lanterns; to roam the quaint streets
and to pass my spare time at the gro
tesque theater. I'm glad my mother
didn't hear me. She'd think was losing
my chances for heaven.
Then she has such a superior air when
you tell her joke She looks as if you
hadn't the normal amount of intellect
when you think anything is funny No
one else being near one day | showed
her some sentences written by one of my
boys. He was to incorporate plum and
since in sentences showing thought. He
wrote. Tom Thumb had a whole plum
pie. He had a since She said she
couldn't see anything funny about that;
and when | deliberately explained that
he probably meant Tom had a 'cinch.'
she asked what that was and then said
she was surprised at any teacher laugh
ing at slang used by a child
You remember how poor little Jimmie
Davis. who lives in the alley. loves 20
adorn himself with anything in the
shape of jewery that he gets hold of?
Well. the other day he came to school
with brass ring on his first finger. All
the way upstairs he held his hand spread
out on his breast. so no one should miss
the sight of his treasure; and when
pretended to look over his head. he
accidentally. of course-bumped against
me. When | laughed at that she said it
was disgusting. DO you know what she
/ maze MIN 90 throw II INTO the waste
/ basket Yes. she did. But when | saw
him crying, going downstairs went
/ and fished il out (she wasn't in the
room and gave il to him. | warned
/ him not to wear it again in school eXcept
/ at recess and noon. IdOn't care whether
/ il was right or not Heavenly jewels
/ couldn't have been more precious to him
than that ring; and if his hands are
dirty it made no difference | think
such people as Miss Statham ought TO
be suppressed
There she is now Let's run Pretend
you don't hear her."
oh. good morning. Miss Statham. No
didn't know my dress was sagging in
the back How kind of you to tell me!
BY the way, how dreadfully unbecoming
that hat is to you. People with sallow
compilations ought not to wear brown.
But | suppose you are practicing econ
! o,ov 10 m alya nm fotf uour uactarp ri