The Glenwood post., 1923-11-01
SYNOPSIS

- ~ - ..'- -
--------
SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER I.-Jennie Woodruff con-
temptuously refuses to marry Jim Ir-
win. young farm hand, because of his
financial condition and poor prospects.
He is Intellectually above his station,
and has advanced ideas concerning the
possibilities Of expert school teaching.
CHAPTER u.-More as a joke than
otherwise Jim is selected as teacher of
the Woodruff district school.
CHAPTER III.-Jim, in his new posi-
tion, sets out to make stanch friends
OF his pupils, especially two boys, New
ton Bronson and Buddy" Simms, the
latter the son of shiftless farmer.
Colonel Woodrun, Jennie's father, has
little faith in Jim's ideas of Improving
names him the Brown Mouse" in H.
lustration Of an anecdote.
CHAPTER Iv.-Jim's conduct OF the
school, where he endeavors to teach
the children the wonders of nature
and some of the scientific methods of
farming, as well as book learning"
Is condemned.
CHAPTER v.-Jennie Woodruff is
nominted for the position of county
superintendent of schools. The school
board grows bitter in its opposition
to Jim and his innovations.
CHAPTER VL-At public meeting
teaching in the rural schools, and
makes no friends thereby
CHAPTER VIA delegation of
prominent women condemn Jim's meth
DDS of teaching. but he is stoutly de-
Tended by his pupils, especially Newton
Bronson.
dinner at Colonel Woodruffs, and lis
tening to him, Jennie begins to do some
thinking concerning his ability and
his prospects
CHAPTER KIN the evening jim
as well as he knows how, courts Jen-
ME. without, however. making much
her poor opinion of him.
Since that Christmas afternoon when
Jennie had undertaken TO follow Nj
Peterson's advice and line YiIa Irwin
up. Jim had gone through an inward
transformation. He had made up his
mind that he would marry Jennie
Woodruff. He saw her through
clouds of rose and pink but she
looked at him as ut foolish man
who was making trouble for her,
chasing rainbows at her expense, and
deeply vexing her She was in cold
official frame of mind.
Jim" she said. 'I want you TO give
up this sort Of teaching. Can't you
see it's all wrong?"
NO answered Jim, in much the
stabbed by his sweetheart. 81 can't
see that it's wrong. It's the only sort
l can do. What do you see wrong
In it?"
"Oh, | can see some very wonderful
things in it," said Jennie, but 1t can't
be done in the Woodruff district. II
may be correct in theory, but it won't
work in practice"
Jennie" said he, when a thing
won't work, 1t isn't correct in theory.
But my theory is correct. and it
works"
But the school board are against
it."
"The school board elected me.
They stood by and saw the contract
signed" said Jim, "and-yes, Jennie,
! know l am dealing in sophistry! |
got the school by sort of she'll
game, which the board worked on
themselves. But that doesn't prove
that the district is against me- be-
lieve the people are for me. now, Jen-
ME. l really dot"
Jennie rose and walked to the rear
of the room and back, twice. When
she spoke. there was decision in her
tOne-and Jim felt that It was hos
tile decision
"As an officer" she said rather
grandly, my relations with the dis
trict are with the school board on the
one hand, and with your competency
as teacher on the other"
Has it come to thatY' asked jim.
"Well, have rather expected It"
His tone was weary. The Lincoln
ian droop in his great sad mournful
mouth accentuated the resemblance TO
the Martyr President. Possibly his
feelings were not entirely different
from those experienced by Lincoln at
some crisis of doubt, mlsunderstand-
ing and depression.
IF you can't change your methods"
said Jennie, 81 suggest that you re
sign"
Are you to be called upon to sug-
gest that?" asked Jim.
"A formal complaint against you
for lncompency." she replied, "has
been lodged In my Office. signed by the
three directors. | shall be obliged to
take notice of It,"
"And do you think" queried jim,
"that my abandonment of the things
in which | believe in the face of this
attack would prove to your mind that
/ am competent? Or would 1t show
me Incompetent"
Jennie wns silent.
IL guess" said Jim. "that we'll have
f.,it -.