The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-09-15

teacher In the county seems TO be en-
tering their school work with JOY and
che determination to do better work
this year than ever.
PHELPS AND HIS TEACHERS
In the frat Grade Continued
So the poor teacher, in her Ignor-
ance, was suffering as severely as the
children.
One day, after the teacher had been
called upon by few parents in re-
gard to her ignorant treatment of
their children, she was unusually
severe. Among the number who had
protested was Phelps mama. She
had done this unknown to the boy.
"Children," she began with deep
scowl on her face, ~ want to talk TO
you about tale-bearlng. You have
been going home and telling things
that you have no business to tell.
And at this she glared at Phelps as If
she would eat him up. l tell you
you have no business going home with
tales about the schOol-tattlersl I'd
be ashamed of myself.
Imagine the feelings Of mother
who has thrown around her child ev-
cry refined thought and influence
within her power; always spoken
kindly to him and always with love
where reproof was necessary; all this
that the good might grow and the
bad might starve. Try to take her
place just long enough to imagine
your child sitting day after day under
the influence of mind just describ-
ed. That night Phelps went home
crying. He told his mother that the
teacher said that they were tattlers,
and that she looked straight at him
and that he just despised her His
mother tried to soften his heart TO-
ward her, but did not succeed.
On Friday afternoon the teacher
felt happy.-The weeks drudgery was
about ended, To her, school teach
ing was drudgery. She did not love
her work. She would gladly give 1t
up at a moments notice if better
position presented itself. At the end
of the session the teacher felt so good
by so much life, and all
Of it reaching out for something to
love and cling to that she asked for
the hands of all those who loved her,
Every hand went up save one and
that was Phelps.
"Why, Phelps, dear, don't you love
me?"
mo, ma'am," respectfully replied
the boy.
"Why don't you love me?"
Just because"
"Don't you know why?"
mo, ma'am."
She flushed red for an instant,
angered at first, but seeing
the frank countenance of the boy |
cooking up at her, she felt twinge
Of shame. That night she kept re-
that Phelps didn't love
ler. IL annoyed her quite little.
IN Monday she set about trying to
make Phelps love her. She seemed
20 hunger for it. She was as kind as
The could be, which was not saying
much for HER, and before the day
vas over she had patted Phelps head
,nce or twice and once she had put
ler arm around his shoulders.
That evening Phelps told his moth
n that he and the teacher und er
TODD each other now. But it was
,nly for day. Some of us can be
rood for an hour, Others for a day,
,thers for month and some even for
! lifetime, but unfortunately for her
he found it too difficult to be good
t was not worth while TO waste so
much EFFORT just to win a child's
oye-so she drifted back to her old
habits of scolding, whipping and look
ng ugly. 1t was easier for her to
i've that way. 1t was in accord with
Ter own coarse nature, which was in
lose relationship With the clod. Ac-
,ordingly, Phelps found he never un-
lerstOod her, or il he did, it only
asted day. From boy with an
ven sweet temper he became nervous
md excitable before the first month
vas over. Before the second month
loSed she took him out into the
loak-room one afternoon and whip
,ed him. After this he hated her so
much he did not learn anything. His
mama had to compel him to 90 to
chool. Matters came to such a pass
hat his pspa's attention was called
o it. He had a talk with his boy.
70 his great surprise and sorrow the
10Y flew into fit of passion and be-
anne ugly in the extreme.
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