Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-02-28
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s The New 5
| SchOOlnarn !
BY FAY STUART
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Copyright. by Joseph 3. Bowles.j


Gordon homestead, closing 1t with q
sharp click that made Mrs. Gordon
glance out from the fower-screened
window at her approaching guest.
Good afternoon. Martial" 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 I thought I'd
just run over for a 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 | 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
ly, she's all notions. That is the
trouble exactly. OF all the new
tangled ideas you ever heard-well. /
ought to know what | am talkin' about.
seem l live right side of the school
house, and 1 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'i" and Miss
Martha pursued her thin lips together.
Its too bad" sighed Mrs. Gordon.
helplessly. Il did hope we'd get a
smart teacher after that ridiculous
Mr.. Porter; he just let everything go
to rack and ruin. l 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
duty by my dead brothers child and
1 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-.
'Tain't 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? | 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
a good deal on the way the doctor
happens to be feelin'"
Meanwhile. Miss Leslie Grayson,
that new schoolmarm, went serenely
IN her way, not wholly unconscious of
he commotion that she was creating
n the little village.
To this village, where she had spent
Of he.
rom college and bubbling over with
came Leslie Grayson. She
Jaw with wondering, pitiful eyes the
monotonous life of these peo-
lie, and her heart grew fairly a-trem-
lie as she longed to show them all the
'eauty and sweetness that surrounded
hem. Oh. the boundless out-of-door
World with its wondrous nature |
tudies, The glory and delight of it !
vas all theirs-and they did not know |
/. Here was the corner where she |
ould work: here. the opportunity for |
'hich she had longed; so, with a
ght heart she made her plans And
he began with the children.
The result of her interesting expert
lent at the end of the first month
Tas very gratifying. Already she had
ION the goodwill of every scholar;
nd instead of the studied indiffer-
nee so impossible to combat, people
ere beginning to open their eyes,
.are. wonder and talk.
At the close of the Friday afternoon
Sercises. Miss Grayson omitted her
sual reading from Miss Alcott's Lit
e Women" and talked to the chill
rem instead.
1T is month to-day. children" she
agan. since | first looked into your
ICES. want to tell you that l am
-oud Of my choice of a school"
The children looked at each other
it'll pleased faces.
1t is a pleasure to teach boys and
rls who are interested. l can see
already Now that we
e so well acquainted I expect bet
r work to be done next month.
hen I first came here l thought this
ON the most dismal place in the
orld but even in this short time we
I'VE succeeded in making it neat and