Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-03-19

Il like that" he said to the trustee,
who had been telling him of the unruly
boys, great, hulking fellows that made
trouble every winter term. Trouble
It's grand thing-but I'm not selfish,
and If find any I'll agree to divide it
with the boys. l don't know but I'll be
generous and let them have the most
OF 1t. Ii they put me out of the school
house I'll have learned something"
The trustee looked at the six feet
and two inches of bone and muscle
that sat lounging in a chair-looked
from end to-end of 1t.
WHATS that?' he inquired, smiling.
"That I've no business there" said
young Mr. Trove.
Il guess you'll dew" said the trus-
tee. Make 'em toe the line; that's all
1 got t. say"
And all I've got to do is my best. 1
don't promise any MORE" the other
answered mOdestly us he rose to leave.
Linley school was at the four cor
ners in Pleasant valley-a low frame
structure, small and weathered gray.
Windows, with no shade or shutter,
were set, two on side, in perfect APP
position. A passing traveller could see
through them to the rocky pasture be-
yond. Who came there for knowledge,
though fool, was dubbed scholar"
1t was word sharply etched in the
dialect Of that region. If one were to
say ''skollur-r-r" he might come near
it. Every winter morning the scholar
entered little vestibule which was
part of the wood shed. He passed an
ash barrel and the odor of drying
wood, hung cap and coat ON a peg in
the closet, lifted the latch Of a pine
door and came into the schoolroom. If
before 8 it would be noisy with shout
and laughter, the buzz Of tongues, the
tread of running feet Big girls in
neat aprons would be gossiping at the
stove hearth; small boys would be
chasing each other up and down aisles
and leaping the whitfield desks of pine;
little girls in checked flannel or home
spun would be circling in song play;
big boys would be trying feats of
strength that ended in loud laughter.
So it was the first morning of that
winter term in 1850. A tall youth
stood by the window. Suddenly he
gave a loud "Sh-h-h!" Running feet
fell silently and halted; words be-
gun with shout ended in whisper.
A boy making caricatures at the black
board dropped his chalk that now fell
A
and expectation, flew kissing from lip
to lip, ''The teacher!" There came
tramping in the vestibule, the door
latch jumped with loud rattle, and
in came Sidney Trove. All eyes We're
turned upon him. A look of rectitude,
dovelike and too good to be true, came
over many faces.
"Good morning." said the young man,
removing his cap, coat and overshoes.
Some nodded, dumb with timidity. On
ly few little ones had the bravery to
speak up, as they gave back the words
in a tone that would have fitted gold
en- text. He came to the roaring stove
and stood moment, warming his
hands. A group of the big boys were
in a corner whispering. Two were
sturdy and quite six feet tall = the
Beach boys.
"Big as bull moose" one whis-
pered.
can stouter," said another.
The teacher took pencil from his
pocket and tapped the desk.
"Please take your Seats" said he.
All obeyed. Then he went around
with the roll and took their names, of
which there were thirty-four.
II believe I know your name," said
Trove, smiling, as he came to Polly
Vaughn.
II believe you do" said she, CHANGING
up at him, with half smile and lit
tie move in her lips that seemed to
ask, How could you forget me?"
Then the teacher, knowing the peril
of her eyes, became very dignified as
he glanced over the books she had
brought to school. He knew it was
going to be hard day. For a little
he wondered If he had not been foolish,
after all, in trying job so difficult and
SO perilous. If he should be thrown out
Of school he felt sure it would ruin
him-he could never look Polly in the
face again. AS he turned to begin the
work of teaching it seemed to him q
case Of do or die, and he felt the
strength of an OK in his heavy mus
cles.
The big boys had settled themselves
in back corner side by side, situa-
ton too favorable for mischief. He
asked them to take other seats. They
complied sullenly and with hesitation
He looked over books, organized the
school in classes and started one of
them on its way. 1t was the primer
class, including half dozen very
small boys and girls. They shouted
each word in the reading lesson, Ia
bored in silence with another and gave
voice again with unabated energy. In
their pursuit Of learning they bayed
like hounds. Their work began upon
this ancient and informing legend,
written to indicate the shout and skip
of the youthful student:
acknowledgement d--it-is-day-
day?-day.
you're afraid" the teacher began
after little. "Come up here close to
me-"
They came to his chair and stood
about him. Some were confident; 9TH
ers hung back suspicious and unframed.
Were going to be friends" said he
In low, gentle voice. He took from