School Diplomacy

On a morning in the early part of December, iu the year 1876, 25 or 30 pupils, comprising boys and girlsof different ages, re standing in front of a country schoolhonBe iu central Illinois. They were awaiting their new teacher, who was on . bis d;ty to open the winter term of solio .!. The young people were all eugaged ';n conver.v in. There were mauy specjlationa as I tlieappearancoof the persou who had been intrusted with the tntorship of the rising generation in district Na. 6. Nnmerous opinions were expressed as to the success or failure of theforthcoüiing term. A short rlistance from tho main borly of pupila fivo big boys were congregatsd. These taiked in earnest tones. The old( st as wcll as the largest of tho group waa Sam Gaines, a coarse boued, robust lookiug fellow of 20 years. He was the ccuter of attraction and did most of the sneakiug. It was evident that his oomiades Jooked upon hirn as a Bort of leader. "The d'reotors of this deestrict can't tiev much of an eye for bizness, " said ■iiuu. "Las' winter we oleaned out three strappin schoolmasters. Thu year before we licked ono man and sent him away with soara and brnïses, whilo throe women teft a-bawlin. Now they hev hired a city bolle, and I s'pose sbe is badly ítuck up, but I reokon we' 11 soon show her tho ways of deestrict No. 6. " "You just bet your life, " said John Sanders, who was in i-ize ranked next Co Sam. "If the purty girl doean'tknow the history of No. (i, sha will bo treated to i fino s'iiriso party. " Suddenly a girl made her appearance in the y;ird and walked briskly toward tho scboolhouse. She was perhaps not moro thau 18 3'ears of age, slight of stature and h andsome. One could perceive at a planee that she was endowed with a koen intellect. The pupils craned their necks tocatch a glimpso of tho newcomer, who was Miss Laura Thomas, the teacher. The young lady bowed gracionsly to all and smiled sweetly. Then she hastened into the schoolhouse. Haviug arrived in the scboolrooru, Miss Thomas seated herself in the armchair behiud the teachers desk and looked around with the greatest composure. She knew fnll v;;ll tho unsavory reputation of the school which she was about to manage. She had learued ere she signed her contract with the directors how her predecessors had fled from their duties in confusión. Indeed she had been warned by the very men who employed her to consider carefnlly the step she was taking. But this caused her little concern. She apprehended no difficulty. Her heart was fllled with confidence. The pupils came into the house and eyed tho instructress. The big boys especially regarded theschoolma'am with expressious of miugled curiosity and disdain. Miss Thomas studiously inspected the latter, as ïf attempting to single out a particular one in the group. Finally ghe arose and approached Sam. "Mr. Gaines, will you be so kind as to bring in a bucketof water?" she asked, with a smile. The manner and wording of this speech completely amazed the big boy. He nodded assont, and grasping the bucket hurried away, followed closely by his four oompanions, who snickercd loudly when they were on the outsido. "You stop your laughin, " said Sam, displaying considerable embarrassment. "This girl understands eterquette. There's nothin funny about that, as I can see. ' ' When Sam returned to the room, the teacher heartily thanked him. At the same time she seized the opportunity to inform the young man that she desired to converse with him alone for a moment. Waving all the other pupils away, she spoke to Sam in a low voice. "It is quite an undertaking to teach this school," she said. "There is much bard work before me, and I would like to do it well. I have taught school for two years, and my efforts have always been crowned with success. This will be my last term, and I should greatly regret making a failure. It would be a terrible humiliation. There is one way by whieh I can succeed. It is by your aid. With your help it will be an easy task to teach this school. I take you to be a gentleman, Mr. Gaines. May I not hope to have your unqualified co-operation?" Sam Gaines looked admiringly into tho beautiful face before him, and his eyes met the girl's, which imploringly rested upon him. He was deeply moved by the eloquent plea. He began to feel a gennine pity for the teacher, andwhon he gazed at the frail form his compasión was emphasized. The marked consideration which Miss Thomas had ehown him also took effect in another direction. It produced in Sam a sentiment of profound respect for the young lady. "I have always boen unruly in school," he said, "and many is the teachers as hev feared me. But you appear like a lady, and as far as I am concerued you shall hev no trouble. And mebbe I can even assist you in keepin others quiet. Atau rate, you need not be afraid that you will be rudely treated while I am around. " Scarcely had tho pnpils been seated when the big boys glanced at Sam for a signal to begin creating a distúrbanos But Sam (Uil not Dotioe tliom. Ho gave constant attent ion to his Dooks. Dnring the wholo day therewas perfect ordei iu the Bohoolrootts In th! eveniag Sam, who, toreaoh his home, was obliged to past tho huuso in whieh the teacher boarded, walked by tlie side. of the latteï and carried hei books and diuuer pail. Nevcr boforc had he paid snch polite attentiou to o tutoress. Tho nest morning he vrent to school in a costume which differed wonderfully froni the ono whioh he wore on the previous day. He wore his best clothes, his face was smoothly shaved, and a bright polisli was visible, on his boots. "Helio! Here cornos our dude!" crietl John Sanders wheu Sam arrived in the yard. "Just look at hini, boys. Say, Sam, what's the mattter with you anyliow? What do you mean by layin us popr fellows in the shado like this?" "Oh, I just want to look respeotable, tnat's all," said Sam. "You seo we'vfl got a teacher who knows something now for once, and I consider nudei these oircumstanees that I should appoar decent in the schoolroom. " Sam 's four big schoolmates laughed heartily at these words. They aooepted theni as baving been uttered iu the spirit of a jest. "But, leaviu all jokes aside, when do we begin operations?" queried John. "I don 't unrierstand you, " said Sam, feipniiiK ignoranoe. "Why, when are we to take chargo ol this school and run it tosuit ourselves?" explained John. "Boys, I 'm not with you this term," replied Sam. "What! Yon're not goin back ou us, are you?" anxiously iuquired John. "You certainly dou't propose to forsake us in this way. Sam, this is a capital joko yon're tryin to play on us. " "But I am serious, boys, " said Sam. "1'm uld enongh to know how valnable is an edncation. Miss Thomas is a good teaoher, aiul I spuct to learu sometbin this tonn. " Tho school had been in scssion loss than 15 minutes when John sent a papar wad flyingactoss the room. An outbreak of laughter followed, in which nearly al) t!ie pupils participated. Emboldened by this applause, John threw severa] other balls. Tho teacher dstected him. "Kave yon been throwing theso paper balls?" she a&ked, looking straight et the perpetrator of the mischief. "Yep, " coolly replied John. ",You may como forward with your book and. stand on the floor, " firmly demandud the teacher. "I reckon not, " said John. "Yon must obey my command, or 1 will bo compelled to eend you home, " said Miss Thomas. "I refuse to do eithor, " was tho answer. "I'll not stand ou the floor, nor will I leave school. I'll stay right here and do as I please. " Tho teacher became alarmed. Her face grew as pale as doath, and her frame trembled. She bent her head, looked to tho floor and refiected on what course to pnrsue. Sam Gaines satsilent in his seat during this brief dialogue. When tho sound of John 's last words had died away, he srose, took off his coat and advanced toward the disobediont pupil. His eyes flaahed, auú his brawny arm was uplifted. "Go and stand on the floor or take your books and be off," he shouted in a commanding voice. "Do yon hear what I say?" The teacher was aroused from her meditations and looked up. Then she saw that John Sanders quailed heneath the stern and angry gaze of the one time disturber of the peace. Without saying a word the offender quietly walked forward and took his position on the floor. From that day Laura Thomas encountered no further difflculties. The big boys respected the will of Sam, and insteadof rackingtheir brains to invent schemes with which to harass the teacher they applied thomselves vigorously to their studies. The children made remarkablo progress, and at the clase of the term folks declared that Miss Thomas was tho best teacher who ever taught iu district No. 6. After adjournment on the last day of school Sam Hngered at the door. He was waiting for the schoolma'am in order that he might walk home with her. Soon a fashiouably dressed gentleman, wearing a silk hat, drove into the yard in a buggy drawn by a span of handsome black horses. The teacher seemed to expecthim, forsheimmediately gathercd together her books, and alter thankiug Sam for his many acts of kindness left the room and got into the buggy. Sam watched the vehicle with a look of dejection until it had entirely disappeared from view. "Who is the youug man who took the teacher away?" he inquired of one of the older girls. "Why, tbat is her beau, Charlie Layton, " was the response. "They are to be married in two weeks. " Sam grouTid his toeth, and a shadow passed over his face. "Ef I had knowed that, " he said bitterly, "Miss Laura Thomas' last term of school would ha' been broke up long 'fore