University of Oregon monthly., March 01, 1908, Image 23

26
U N IV E R SIT Y , O F OREGON MONTHLY
the fence and had me surrounded’ b'éïore I knew what had hap­
pened—all shouting that they wished to ring the bell and each, giving
his reason why he should be chosen. After some maneuvering, the
question was satisfactorily decided and they all scrampered off t©
begin a ball-game, making more noisfe than a band of Apache In-.
diang-A Às I entered the quiet school-house,, the- vocifenoÙF Screams
o f % ’m pitcher 1 I’m pitcher!” “catcher! catchç-rJ çatpheigi rang in.
my ears.
,. *
H The little girls accompanied me into the,’hou^e and qptitipued .
to ‘ inform me of the conditions.-qÎithé.^scfiopl- and the naughtiness, of
some of the larger^qys, and k|yeX offered helpfu^hints for keeping
good order? 'Whilé-’pthey wèye making jthesej, comments I had àn
Opportunity' ,of observing my surtounding.
À’Àt the back of the room, numerous hooks and nails had been ,
driven into the walls for the purpose of hanging up wearing, apparel.|
Disposing of my hat here, and placing my lunch-basket on a bench
among the bright, tin, dinner-pails'of the, children,
ti?,'f
begin my da/s, work. I was
beginning to earning the cM-A
fashioned double desks, wheuVnotieed that J t was tame for |chpol.
I ’sent Delilah out to .tell the boÿ;to ring the ‘bell and heard him
answer that he Would* dô. so “just as sOon ,as the game is over. It 11
only be am init.” Somewhat ruffled in-tëmper, and with résolutions,
of future discipline, I rang the bell myself and stood at thef doptAo
watch ’them tumble into line and march in, each in the manner
peculiar to himself, and regardless of keeping step. When all were
sseatèd .before me, I could not help but admire the happy, .rpsy faces..
. and bright eyes. There were onlypsix girls among that - restless,
noisy, mischievous crowd of thirty-three b o y ^ F ^ '
All the'courage and optimism of an eighteen-yeai^ld .school I
teaçhersank under'the calm* critical gaze of thirty-nine pairs, of-
eyes. The last straw was added when a knock, at the door announ­
ced the. arrival of the sehopl-board, who always .made .it a point to ,
be present at. the opening of school/ Thé < chairman of fthe. .board
carried an armful of long hazel switches, which he placed in a cor­
ner'with a significant glance at the>giggling audience. Forgetting
to ask the .directors if they would favor the school with a speech*.
I.began to.take the names
the pupils^, This required, a deal’oT
persuasion, as some of the little ones were too bashful to come to
me, and had to be escorted up to the desk by the chairman, who
seemed to take upon himself the responsibility of their behavior.
This method of Treating, the little boys’ called forth explosions of