The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-05-07
A CITY TEACHER
aRuIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIInIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiI

S.
copyright. Mcclure Newspaper syndieate-)
Slowly the big car stopped In front
of the white schoolhouse that was
perched upon a low hill. 1t was after
school hours and there was nothing
that indicated the house had been
filed with noisy boys and girls only
half-hour before.
Eyes this is the very place." said
the occupant OF the car aloud. "Not
much changed, either, since / ate my
dinner on that rock, barefooted and
happy. New paint. shades and hall
give 1t more modern appearance. i
wonder II the old desks are inside.
I'm going to investigate" and suiting
his actions to his words he was soon
testing the hall door. To his surprise
II yielded TO his touch. "Janltor must
be little careless" he thought. as he
crossed the narrow hall and entered
the schoolroom. In the dusk Of the
short. wintry afternoon he could see
that the room had changed. New
desks, backboards, pictures and sash
curtains gave II an unfamiliar aspect.
The fire was not wholly out In the big
stove. and as the man warmed his I'm
gers he became conscious that he was
not alone. Turning. he faced the
teachers desk. A slip of a girl, with
traces of tears on an unusually pretty
face. sat behind II, watching him. For
a moment the man looked at her, and
then in kindly voice asked:
"LonesomeT
"No, not entirely that" replied the
girl. winking hard to keep back the
tears.
Discouraged and tired?" he contin-
ued.
"Yes," quickly answered the girl.
"Ahw said the man, pausing to
draw a chair nearer to the stool. but
l don't believe it's nearly as bad as
you think"
"Yes, 1t is. This morning / was just
as happy, thinking of all the beautiful
Christmas stories l was going to teach
the children and what a good time we
would have illustrating them"
sand 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
afternoon and spoil everything. He
didn't want me elected because l had
always lived in the city and this was
my first year Of teaching. Outside Of
a few small summer resorts know
nothing of the country. bat I argued
the children would be ignorant Of city
life, and could give them that. This
afternoon we had practical arithmetic,
original problems. Some Of the prices
Of grains, pigs Give weight). wood and
fertilizers the older children didn't
agree on, and I knew nothing about
them. Mr.. P gave us the correct
prices. After school was dismissed he
asked me II 1t would not be an well
to acqusint myself with what the boys
and girls were interested In. The new
superintendent is young man. and
this Is his first year also. OF course
he will do just what the school board
tells him 10 do, and / shall be asked
TO resign, and you don't know how I
hate to go home because I've failed"
IT think l do" answered the man
with kind smile.
For a few minutes they talked. the
man telling humorous experiences that
had happened when as little boy he
had sat on the long board that served
as seat. and vainly tried to make
his feet touch the floor, until the girl
forgot about her troubles; then he
took her to her boarding place. 1t
was not until the car was out Of sight
that the girl remembered 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. 30 Little Town Of
Bethlehem" when a small boy who
had been clapping erasers rushed into
the room.
Miss Nj Miss M" he
cried. "The new superintendent is out
here in the dandiest carr
FLUSH, Robert" she said as she
turned to greet the superintendent,
who had followed close after the boy.
Slowly the color receded from her face
only to rush back in 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 her
for two weeks, II really intended to
get here earlier, but a, bad tire de-
tanned me. However, l thought 1
would get here before school dis
missed, but I'm ten minutes too late"
"Why-yOu are-if you are Mr.