The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-08
A School Meeting and its Result.

tBy Lewis h. Hitchcock, 10, Westmin-
| ster West.)
When | lived in Dublin witnessed u
school meeting which will describe.
The meeting was held in the old brick
schoohouse where all OF the committee
had assembled. MIR. Sparrow. chairman,
said in despairing tone, rs ne took OF
his glasses and looked about at his
associates: what shall we 40 now: /
have just received letter from the
schoolteacher in the Smith district, saying
| that he found himself unable to control
the school and therefore he resigned his
position"
ale is the fifth teacher we have tried
this year." said Mr.. Andrews, the mill
lister. "The first was that tall, solemn
| man, who used to read novels all the time
and let the boys do as they liked"
"Yes, and the second used to fall
asleep in school time
.'Oh, but the worst of all was that Mr..
Green who boarded with the Widow
| Brown. He was that fiery little man
who thought he would brighten the boys,
but they all laughed when he tried to be
stern, and one day when he began to
scold, the big boys took him right up
| in their arms and set him down in mud
| puddle in the road. And SO we got a
very large, black haired man, with deep
voice. They didn't carry him out into
the road, but they carried on their pranks
right under his nose, and he couldn
catch them. Whom shall we try next!
The gentlemen all looked at each other.
I've have The worst school in the
country" said Mr.. Sparrow, putting on
his glasses slowly, and taking letter
from his pocket. 81 have note here
from Mr.. Gray. He says:
"'Having heard that your present
teacher is about to resign, | write to
apply for the situation. If you will put
the school into my hands, there will be
| perfect order from the first day.
Yours respectfully,
Thomas P. Gray"
81 like that" said one of the committee
Lets try him"
"We will" said the rest.
When Mr.. Gray arrived in town on
Saturday evening, there was great
curiosity to see him.
At the station crowd of the most
troublesome boys had collected, to get
glimpse of him who had promised to
conquer them. He alighted from the
train.
"Oh, shop cried Tom Hanks. "He is
mild and gentle, l guess Thinks he'll
conquer us by little words of kindness,
l suppose"
eyes, that is his game" said Bill Bush,
a., h., ,,,olI,ad about tha station
Mr.. Sparrow took the teacher to his
house to spend Sunday.
'You must be sure to impress the boys
with fear from the first" said Mr.. Spar
row, but his heart sank as he looked at
he mild, peaceful face of the new teacher,
who he expected would fail.
Monday morning came clear and bright
with large attendance at school.
Tom Hanks and Bill Bush were bub-
bling over with fun.
"You 90 ahead, Tom," said Bill, "Ill
back you up"
Just then large boy crawled in at
the window. All eyes were turned upon
the teacher. He smiled, and then said,
81 wouldn't do that again if were you"
The children all laughed.
Snow, my children said the teacher,
rising slowly and standing in front OF
the desk; 81 wish to say few words OF
counsel that will put into your hearts
true desire to be Obedient, docile and
studious / do not like to rule by force
| prefer to rule by kindness, and hope
YOU all will endeavor to do your best"
"Who are you, anyway" cried Tom
Hanks.