Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1886 — The District Teacher. [ARTICLE]

The District Teacher.

The district school marm is a numerous, useful, pretty, quiet, unassuming, unpretentious, lamblike creature, whose mission in life is to do good and to get good. Sh v is a constitutional enemy of ignorance and vice. In the great civilizing influences of the world she is the principal factor. No community can prosper or be happy without her presence at least half the year. She is the foundation stone of church and state; the great bulwark of modern civilization.

The district sell >ol marm, unlike your town teacher, does not spend all the year in school and in vacation pleasure trips, but when winter w r anes, when days lengthen, when the busy time of the year comes on, she changes her vocation; she quits the school and goes forth to engage in other less remunerative, and by a vain world’s esti *. ation, less honorable pursuits. W hatsoever honest hands find to do she does. Through all the long spring and summer she labors on and on quietly earning lier bread by the sweat of her brow.

Through this protracted period of retirement and of manual labor, she is almost forgotten by the world, her humble pursuits have reduced her to the ranks of the common herd. Now mark you the change that must soon come. She can not longer enjo this quiet and retirement. Duty will soon call her from the field, the shop, the garden, the needl?, the kitchen. When the autumnal tinge has touched the flower* leaf and v : ne; when the katydids have sung their last vespers; when mosquito and gallinipper have had their last moonlight pic-nic; when the singing birds have left the fields and groves:.when the “frost is on the puna "Kin and the fodder is m the shock,” then the district school marm, in all her freshness, innocence, and beauty, comes forth from her retirement.

A though she has been almost entirely forgotten for a full half year, yot hsr coming is hailed with delight. She comes now to bless aiui cheer the clishearted and downcast rustics who in saduess are beginning to look out upon a faded world— upon a world lately vocal with m lody and adorned with life and beauty. Summer, sweet summer, is gone, the dead and dreary season of the year is come —all is melancholy, melancholy. It is indeed a wise provision of Providence that the school marm is permitted to come just at this sorrowful season; fur she comes to take the place of departed beau-ties—-she comes to fill the place of vanished verdure.

From the time it is known that the district school marm is in the vicinity in which she is to teach, the whole aspect of nature is seemingly changed. Every face is wreathed in smiles, her name is upon every tongue, she is the object sought by every eye; no regrets now over silenced melodies and departed beauties. The subjects of conversation are now changed. No longer do you hear discussions over the condition of growing crops; no longer» o housewives, when they meet, make inquiries concerning each other’s garden truck and poultry products; the idle tale, the state of the market, the latest fashion, neighbors’ misdoings; these things no longer furnish topics of conversation; there is now but one thought, tigre is now but one theme—the district school marm and her school. The interest in the scho *1 marm and her school never wanes; for night after night the dear little children carry to their homes volumes of school re oorts —reports of the teacher’s sayings and doings; reports of things seen and of things unseen; of things done and of things that are not done. Upon these reports volumes of parenial commentations approving and disapproving are offered. The district school marm and her school are complimented and criticised in evary house. Her

con duct,; public and. private, is discussed at every fire side. Every one feels himself her special guardian and adviser, hence all feel it their duty to direct and control her.

The district school marm, being himan, is liable, in the faithful discharge of her duties, to make enemies; is liable to array neighbor against neighbor. But her enemies are happy enemies. She gives them delightful work. They enjoy annoying her. She is the only being that I know, that is a source of infinite delight to her opposers. She is the only being that I know, that can kick up a row in which all can pleasantly engage. The district schoel marm is a blessing to her friends, and double blessi gto her enemies. Search the profession high and low —get the very be t of all the good, and when you think you have perfection in human form, wmpare your selection with the district school marm, and you will find that she alone is perfect. Wh°t more can Isay for What more need I say? Is not the dish ict school marm truly lovely, and do not all her oaths eventually lead to paths of peace? Now, my fell;''” teacher--, in conclusion let me say, Oh! all hail my dear district school marm, thy praise shall be lisped by posterity’s tongue; the gentle winds and the softening dews may, in time, undermine and wear down the kn.ty Himalays; old Time in his flig’t may move on, and on, and on, till the sunbeams drink the ocean dry, till the heavens grow old and pass away, but thy nam* and thy deeds shall still survivq|Cr 't when He cometh to make ujfflis jewels, methinks thou wilt be a shining star in His crown; a reflecting diamond, pure and permanent from everlasting to everlasting.