The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-08-24

The New.
SchOOlnarm
By FAY STUART.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES r.
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)


Gordon homestead, closing it with
sharp click that made Mrs. Gordon
glance out from the aower-screened
window at her approaching guest.
Good afternoon, Martha!" she ex-
claimed heartily as Miss Pryor en-
tered, bringing with her gust of
fresh air. do take your things right
off and sit down.
Il can't stop long, but thought I'd
just run over for spell, SEEM had
the work done up," said Miss Pryor.
I'm glad you come, Martha. Folks
in Fairfield amt half neighborly
enough
After discussing various minor mat
tiers, Miss Martha held forth upon the
subject uppermost in her mind, which
was, indeed, the sole object Of her
visit
Have you heard about the COINS
on over to the schoolhouse since that
new schoolmarm come, Maria?" she
asked in an impressive tone that con-
tanned unspoken volumes.
Mrs Gordon frightened visibly. 81
amt heard no particulars, as you
might say. but James sister, Sarah
Ann, was sayin' last night that her
young ones was head over heels in
love with Miss Grayson. Now I call
that bad sign. I'm afraid she's goin'
to turn out kind of easy goin', without
much notion Of government"
"Notion!" cried Miss Martha, sharp.
~. shes all notions! That is the
trouble exactly. Of all the new
tangled ideas you ever heard-well, I
ought to know what l am talkin' about,
seem I live right side of the school
house, and I tell you, Maria, some
things got to be done! Why, last
Saturday she had the boys diggin' up
the schoolyard to make flower gar
dens. And she's forever trampin'
around in the woods after evergreen
and princess vine to decorate with.
There's precious little studyin' goin'
on these days, I'm thinkin'!" and Miss
Martha pursued her thin lips together
Its too bad sighed Mrs. Gordon,
helnlessly. Il did hope we'd get
smart teacher after that ridiculous
MI. Porter; he just let everything go
10 rack and ruin! I suppose it's
pretty hard school to manage by this
time"
She don't try to manage! She
amt got no idea of managin'! And
I've about made up my mind to COM
plain to the schoolboard. Now there's
Johnnie, dear; I'm bound to do my
duty by my dead brothers child and
! won't have his head filed with high
flown notions. He's almost stark mad
Already over DRAWN lessons and
speakin' pieces with motions to EN-
faint right! Why can't she be plain
and sensible and teach plain readin',
writin' and 'rithmetic? What do you
think Maria? Would it be any use
to see DR.. Whitcomb? I think a good
deal of your advice in important mat
ters'
Well, Martha, seems to me
'twouldn't do any harm at any rate
Might be worth tryin' Twill depend
good deal on the way the doctor
happens to be feelin'."
Meanwhile, Miss Leslie Grayson,
that new schoolmarm," went serenely
on her way, not wholly unconscious of
the commotion that she was creating
in the little village
To this village, where she had spent
several years of her childhood, fresh
from college and bubbling over with
enthusiasm, came Leslie Grayson. She
saw with wondering, pitiful eyes the
narrow, monotonous life Of these PEG.
pie, and her heart grew fairly a-trem.
BILE as she longed to show them all the
beauty and sweetness that surrounded
them. Oh, the boundless out-of- door
world, with it's wondrous nature
studies! The glory and delight of il
was all theirs-and they did not know
it. Here was the corner where she
could work; here, the opportunity fol
which she had longed; So with E
light heart she made her plans. AnG
she began with the children -
The result of her interesting expert
ment at the end Of the first month
was very gratifying. Already she ha(
won the goodwill Of e7e:y scholar;
and instead of the studied indiffer
ence so impossible to combat, people
were beginning to open their eyes
stare, wonder and talk.
At the close of the Friday afternoon
exercises, Miss Grayson omitted hel
usual reading from Miss Alcotts |"Lit
tie Women" and talked to the chill
dren instead
1T is month to-day, children" sh,
began, "since I first looked into you
faces. I want to tell you that I an
proud of my choice of a school,"
The children looked at each othel
with pleased faces
1T is pleasure to teach boys ant
girls who are interested. I can SCI
improvements already. Now that W,
are so we'll acquainted I expect bet
ter work to be done next month
When I first came here thought Thu
room the most dismal place in tn,