The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-01-26
CHAPTER III.

~1HE crowd at Simmons general
store discuss politics as a gen.
eral thing, state and national
- politics in their seasons. but
county politics and local affairs al
ways The question in Bayport that
summer, aside from that of the harbor
! appropriation, was who should be
hired as downstairs teacher. Our
schoolhouse is a two story building
with a schoolroom on each floor. The
| lower room, where the little tots begin
with their "c-a-t, cat" and progress
until they have mastered the Fourth
Reader, is called downstairs" Up
stairs" is, of course, the second story,
where the older children are taught.
To handle some of the big boys" up
stairs is a task for a healthy man, and
such one usually fills the teachers
position there Downstairs, being, in
theory at least, less strenuous, is pre-
sided over by a woman.
Miss Seabury. who had been down.
stairs teacher for one lively term, had
resigned that spring in tears and hui
initiation. Her scholars had enjoyed
themselves and would have liked her
to continue, but the committee and
the townspeople thought otherwise.
There was general feeling that en-
joyment was not the whole aim of
education.
There was a difference of opinion
concerning Miss Seabury's successor.
A portion of the townspeople were for
hiring a graduate of the state normal
school, young woman with modern
training Others. remembering that
Miss Seabury had graduated from that
school, were for proved ability and
less up to date methods. These latter
had selected a candidate in the person
Of Miss Phoebe Dawes. a resident of
Wellmouth and teacher of the Well
mouth downstairs for some years.
The arguments at simmons were hot
ones.
whats the use of hirin' somebody
from right next door to us. as you
might say?" demanded Alpheus Small
ley, clerk at the store. Don't we
want our teachin' to be abreast of the
times. and is Wellmouth abreast of
anything?'
Its abreast of the bay, that's about
all will give in" replied Mr. Tidditt-
But the way l look at 1t we need
discipline more'n anything else, aud
Phoebe Dawes has had the best disci-
pline in her school that's been known
In these ATTITUDES. Order? Why, sayr'
ut seems to me-" put In Thaddeus
simpson, who ran the barber shop and
was something of a politician-'it
seems TO me, fellers, that we'd better
wait and hear what Mr.. Atkins has to
say in this matter. l guess that's what
the committee II do anyhow. We
wouldn't want to so contrary to He
man, none of us. hey?"
Tad Simpson was known to be deep
In Congressman Atkins confidence.
The mention of the great mans name
was received with reverence and mods
Of approval
That's right. We mustn't do moth
IN to displease Heman," was the gen.
eral opinion.
Captain Cy did not join In the
chorus. He reflled his pipe and cross
ed his legs.
"Humphr' he grunted. "Heman At
kins seems to be- Give me a match,
Ase. won't you? Thanks | under
stand there's special prayer meetin'
at the church tomorrow night AL |
pheus What's 1t for?'
"ForT Mr.. Smalley seemed sur
prlsed. ITS to pray for rain. that's
what. You know it. cap'n. as wells
| do. Amt everybody's garden dryin'
np and the ponds so low that we shan't
Continued on Page Z.