Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-29
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~ CONVICTED grl1Rs Ix1LFErTon
: FrRsr aOlN4 40 SCHOOL.

was only tot years of age, wnen 1 first
entered scholar Webster's blue bacA-
ed spelling book. 1 could spell as baker
when my led the school house door, anu
the teacher put my down on hls roll and
he would pay the bill / never any free tuition
in life pay, pay from start TO Ilnisi-
The school house an extra good for the
time 70 years ago, was a long, well-shapsd
structure with big chimney at eah
end. AS there were in those days the fire
places both necessary snowy, wintry days
The school house in big grove of oak trees
on my fathers land, timber fuel plentl-
There deer in the country, too. remember
inclosed lot as went to and fro from
home The grown boys collected the wood for these
large firepaces. the girls swept the house
by turns. The neighborRood took much pride N
unusual good opportunities. 1t was great
place for speaking well teaching prayer meet
ngs and such like
1 was a painter I picture of tha5
house and its environs now, recollec-
ton is so distinctly vivid Our teacher was yeIy
popular Being single man. the girls liked his conf
pany, while it gave great surprise to him
one of handsomest girls step out after big
exhibition over, to be married, 1 expect Was
the only little who had suspected the denoHe-
ment. He kept teaching usual, but the hand
bride undertook housekeeping rather than books
afterwards
We had something in that school that
anywhere else a white pine about
a foot wide and Is inches long 1t was fastened
center the building about eight feet high fhe
board was hinged at the lower part and stout cord
passed over a small pulley from the upper part
to raise lower the board.
When the board pulled tight to the post
nobody spelled read aloud. If it swung about
half way down could do a little more, had more
liberty make ourselves heard, a swayed to and
fro on that spelling lesson. When the time
came to get the last lesson spelling day.
where tuned down. just before dismissal, then
could go it, loud and hearty. 1 that
Torrance in my mind very plainly to this day.
You cannot imagine what bedlam of noise II
made Big boys and smaller boys with voices just
changing made a chorus that fully matched by
the big girls and smaller girls who undertook to be
also heard in the hubbub.
I expect looked like all dementel.
Travellers the big road two three hundred yards
away always stopped the matter,
but only spelling out loud; that packing
in education by the nearest route, suppose And
didn't enjoy it! With a chubby finger the book
word 1 could just look about and squal equal to
the best of them, until had spelt baker and shady
all down the But it was for good spell
ing! I grew in size it a great exploit to be
ablefto outspell those big fellows and
.ead, if 1 did not stay there very long.
We had left the school house about
cold March day go home. The teacher and the big
boys put the fires with water. The dry wood for
days fires stacked in corner, and every
body expected to be time next day.
About an hour later after the scholars were all
gone, and I at home, eating freshly roasted
potatoes, the cry of "Fire!" heard and di
high March wind and lack of water finished the
destruction.
1t sad looking crowd that gathered next
morning. Nobody could explain the catastrophe.
We We're given empty log cabin the big
until we might do better The patrons made
seats puncheons of mill slabs, rude things with
out backs, and a writing bench fastened to
wall
But the glory departed. The teacher found
another place to and sent to oxford Ga, to
a lady teacher and a blind music teacher later
there still a halo of interest and affection
that fingers in memory around that first school of
mine that has faded.