The Rights Of All

From the Yankee
PLEASURES OF COUNTRY SCHOOL KEEPING.

But few of our readers are acquainted
with country school keeping, as it is generally
practised in the villages and by-ways
of our land, where children are taught by
the reckoning of the ferrule, or the whizzing
of the switch. Few are acquainted
with the downright clever country schoolmaster--the great man of the district, to
whom the old men look up with wonder,
and the young with awe.--Few know the
openhearted, generous manner in which
he is treated by the farmers of the districts.
Did you ever go to a country party, and
see the "boys and gals" seated round a
roaring fire, in the two sides of the huge
fire-place--watching intensely every motion
of the "master" and not daring to open
their mouths till he had broke the silence,
either by talking about the weather,
or by proposing to play button? Did you
never play button yourself--and hear the
gals judging each other all round to "kiss
the master, kiss the master."--Have you
not seen the eyes of a handsome, hearty,
healthy one, sparkling outright when the
master chose her in the play of filanders
while marching round the room to the tune
of choose yer tru luv now-or-never--her
fingers entwined with his, and her heart
beating as if it would bang through her
side?

Have you never watched the motions
of belle of the district, when she
was called forth to dance a French four, a
long reel, or a shuffle--how she would trip
over the sanded floor to the sound of a
three-stringed fiddle, with a quick step,
and a more brilliant eye--her head reclining
on her shoulders, and her whole countenance
beaming with pleasure--and all
for why? her partner was the schoolmaster!

By-and-by too, as the evening advances,
when the apples are placed in a corner,
and the cider is sizzling at the edge of
the hearth, all the glances, the oglings, or
as they call 'em there, the sheep's eyes,
are thrown upon the man of the ferrule
from every side. Then comes the snapping
of apple-seed; and happy is he of the
birch if he escapes from the invisible shot.
He now begins to throw off his dignity,
and to mingle with the rest in the chit chat
of the place; to talk of sleigh-rides, huskings,
and so-forth--parties held in by-gone
days; of the courting stories that are flying
over hill and valley--that he is partial to
such or such a one, likes neighbour this or
married to somebody or other—guess who?

When the time for going home was arrived, then his true dignity and worth appeared.

From the crowd of girls who are hurrying out and slyly peeping over their shoulders for somebody to go home with them, and the crowd of boys looking for partners, he is seen marching slowly and gravely apart.

Who shall be waited upon by him is the inward, anxious question of every one—and proud indeed is she who marches home under the guidance of the master. She remembers it for months, yea, for years, and looks back upon it always with swell of the heart.