Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-30
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE NEW SUPERlN-
TENDENT
By Helen Paterson

CNLOWIY the big car stopped III front
y of the white schoolhouse that was
perched upon a low hill. 1t was atter
school hours and there was nothing that
indicated the house had been filled with
noisy Toys and girls only half-hour be-
fore
"Yos, this is the very place. said the
occupant of the car aloud. "Not much
changed, either since I ate my dinner
on that rock. barefooted and happy.
New paint, shades and hall give 1t
more modern appearance. 1 wonder If
the old desks are inside. I'm going 10
investigate" and, suiting his actions TO
his words, lie was soon testing the hall
door. TO his surprise It yielded to his
touch. "Jauitor must be a little care
less" he thought, as he crossed the
narrow hail and entered the school
room. In the dusk of the short wlntry
afternoon he could see that the room
had changed New desks, blacliboards,
pictures and sash curtains gave it an
unfamiliar aspect. The fire was not
wholly out in the big stove. and as the
man warmed his fingers he became con-
scious that he was not alone. Turning,
be faced the teachers desk. A slip Of
a girl. with traces of tears on an un-
usually pretty face, sat behind it,
watching him. For a moment the man
looked at her, and then in kindly
voice asked:
Lonesome?
"No, not entirely that" replied the
girl. winking hard to keep back the
tears.
discouraged and tired?" he conin-
YES" quickly answered the girl
There isn't. anything one can do to
help me. It's all my own fault"
"Ah" =" said the man, pausing to draw
chair nearer to the stool, "but ] don't
believe it's nearly as bad as YOU think"
Yes it Is. This morning l was just
Christmas stories I was going to teach
the children and what good time we
would have, illustrating, them"
And what marred your plans?
Weren't the children Interested"
Interested? You ought to have seen
! them; but it's a member OF the school
| board. He had to visit us this after
noon and spoil everything. He didn't
lived in, the city. and this was my first
| year of teaching. outside Of a few
small summer resorts. l knew nothing
about the country but | argued the
}
and | could give them that This after
noon we had practical arithmetic, orr
gnal problems Some OF the prices of
grains, pigs, dive weighp, wood l!i and
agree on. and l knew nothing about
them. Mr.. p gave us the correct
prices. After school was dismissed he
asked me IL 1t would not be as well to
acuuaint myself with what the boys
! and girls were interested in. The new
superintendent is a young man, and
this is his first year also. OF course he
will do just what the school board tells
and you don't know how l hate to so
home because I've failed"
II think I DO" answered ra,stl, the man man
lesson Just as this will teach you, and
I'm quite sure you will not be asked
to resign. Your schoolroom Is very
pretty" he continued looking about.
The children must enjoy working here.
It's very different than IL used to be-"
"Do you think so? I've tried to make
It as attractive as I could and the chill
dren do like i. lid you ever come
This was my first I couldn't resist
going by tonight without peeking in,
For few minutes they talked, the
man telling humorous experiences that
had sat on the long board that served
as a seat and vainly tried to make his
feet touch the floor until the girl forgot
about her troubles; then he took her 70
her boarding place. 1t was not until the
car was out of sight that the girl re-
membered she did not know the mans
name.
Two weeks quickly passed. Busy
with her work the girl had almost for
gotten the new superintendent and that
she had intended resigning her school:
She faithfully studied farm products and
could satisfy the most eXacting member
of the school board on their market
values.
school had just been dismissed. The
girl picking up papers was singing softly
/, TO herself 40 Little Town of Bethlehem
when a small boy, who had had been been clap
. Miss NJ! Miss M" he cried
"The new superintendent is out here in
the dandiest car"
Hush Robert" she said az she
turned to greet the superintendent, who
had followed close after the boy. Slow
| ly the color receded from her face only
-, to rush back in a burning blush as she
looked at the man In front of her.
= Miss NJ" he was saying in the
, same Kind voice that had haunted heI
for two weeks, II really intended &c
} get here earlier but a bad tire detained
me. However, I thought I would gel
here before school dismissed, but I'm
''Why-you are--if you are Mr., C
> the superintendent. II was unfair saiG
/. III" Yes, sM' / L. guess It vas. replied Mr.
C, "but really Miss M, It wasnt
an official visit and ] had forgotten
:, the fact myself until it was too late
o SO let us forget 1t and begin over agar
today"
s II can't, 1t was so childish ant
= stupid of me-"
. III your work Is finished, ia lilS
: very much to help make you FORGET b!
taking you for ride. The air Is coo
and brisk. Besides. / want to tell yo
{. your resignation will not be accepted
at least this term"
Say" remarked precoclous Robert
E. few minutes later, as he watched tn
big car out of sight, 'I'll bet Miss NJ
i won't teach very long. She Is just III
It bestest prettiest girl / know and that
the dandiest car"
7. The neNt cOmnleLa noXeleIle-Th