The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-03-08
WITH AUNT BECKY.

NOOIn "A NlNlO NOAITdS |
Girls and Bonnets-
lent Pension Appeals Other
Matters.
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Aunt Becky seems to be re-
neWing her youth, for she has
actually been to SCHOOL, all
day, and enjoyed it ever so much;
but to explain more fully: have
been acting as assistant at Oak
Grove Academy in the temporary
absence of Prof. Reynolds and
by his request, as he started
this morning to attend the nup-
tials of his brother at Mt. Gilead,
to be away a few days.
About one year ago | filled this
position for a day or two, and
taught the classes which await |
ed me again this morning, among
them a Latin class of three
bright girls, and l am much
pleased to note the marked ad-
vancement in all the classes and
different branches of learning
since | last tested their mental
requirements. For several
years in my early life held the
position of school marin" and
the occupation was a congenial
one. | was really very fond of
it, and this little taste" has re-
vived my appetite. l love chill
dren, love to watch the unfolding
of the young minds, the gradual
development of intellect. I love
their fresh companionship, their
quaint thoughts and expressions,
to hear their gay and happy
shouts on the playground; and [
love them because good children
are the sweetest of all the hu-
man family.
| called up the Latin class to-
day with some trepidation, lest
through the lapse of forty years,
l had lost my knowledge of that,
which was my favorite of all
studies; but to my great surprise
and pleasure discovered that
was yet able to conjugate verb
and translate a sentence fairly
we'll.
Before dropping the school
subject | must say that the schol-
ars, both in lessons and deport-
ment, reflected much credit upon
their teachers as we'll as them
: selves. and the Oak Grove schoo
is making commendable prog.
ress. AS l took my seat this
7 morning in the commodious and
| well-equipped school-room, with
it's patent desks, large black
board, school library, hanging
lamps, and pictures of historic
interest, in my mind arose ;
vivid contrast between my pres
ent surroundings and the "ol'
field" school house which I frs
attended. This was a log cabin
situated on a hill in the midst O.
a grove of noble oak and hickor
trees. One door furnished er
trance and exit, and the crack
between the logs furnished yer
tilation. There were no wine
ows, which circumstance relieve
the teacher of the accustome
trouble arising from childish CT
riosity to peer at the passers-by
For seats rough saw-mill slat
were used, with two legs ;
each end fitted into augur holes
One of these crude benches We
a prime favorite with the chi
dren, and was always filled
,, overfowing, because the les
Ill were of uneven length, so
could be made to rock, I
bump, to and fro, and serve
- as kind of rocker. There we
some little shelves erected {
fastened against the walls
- accommodate dinner buckets al
. little homemade splint basket
= and some wooden pegs drive
into the logs, whereon to ha1
up our bonnets and hats. Ye
girls, we wore bonnets in tho
good old days, real old-fashiont
sun-bonnets, with pastboal
splits run into cases, and oft
when paste-board could not
had (for it was a scarce artic
them, thin pieces of juniI
wood were used as a substitu'
But now head-gear of all kin
seems to be discarded, and or
natures covering serves to wa
off wind and weather. | on
knew a little girl who hated |
bonnet so grievously that s
~ would not wear it, and her ca
III full mother, intent upon prese
ing the beauty of her complexi
fell upon an ingenious plan:
- cut two little Sits in the top Of
- little calico bonnet, pulled
y braids of hair through the ar
1ss lures, and tied them hard ;
fast together; so she had
little rebel safe in prison for
day.
nc l have been reading LAT
% something more about Un:
| L.