Schuster School - Proscenium Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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tedious efforts, she succeeded in landing her captive on a grape leaf, and was secretly admiring the squirming object and wondering why she had never studied zoology, when Buster, the neighbor's dog, began to bark furiously. She scrambled to her feet, crushed the worm unintentionally, shook down her muddy calico dress, snatched her straw hat off her head, and with her jet black hair Hying about her Hushed, eager face, she ran down to the little side porch. Eileen caught a fleeting glimpse of the blueashirted postman disappearing around the corner, as she thrust her grimy hand into the empty mail box. The joyous look in the blue eyes began to fade, and, going to the door, she called, Oh, mother, did you get the mail? N0, dear, the postman didnit stop? Eileen entered the house,trudged up the bare steps and into her mothefs sitting room. She fell into a chair, and was about to give way to her feelings when she spied the wet, blackebordered kerchief which her whiteahaired mother had tucked into her workbasket. Mrs Havers did not look at her daughteris Hushed face, but said: Daughter, isnit it too warm for you in that hot sun? Oh! not a bit, mother, my hat protected me. I thought I'd get a w-- Yes, dear, probably the postman Will bring it this afternoon. Maybe. Isupposeit's almost time for lunch. Would you like some iced tea, mother? Mrs. Havers was about to answer when she heard a knock. In another mine ute a big, red-haired, freckled-faced woman stood in the room. Oh, sure, mum, she began, uthat maiIman's gettin',too ouId to carry let! ters anymore. He left this at our door. I thought as it might be from Miss Eileenis swateheart, so I rushed right over with it. 'That was very lovely of you, Maggie. Both Eileen and I appreciate your kindness for we have been looking for the letter. Well, Mrs. Havers, I'll be goin', called Maggie, backing down the stairs, HBut if yez need the washin' done this week, just let me know and I'll be here. Eileen heard the strange voice and was about to come into the room, when her mother put her head into the kitchen and said: Here is your letter, daughter. The postman left it by mistake over at Math-I ers. I hope there is good news. EiIeen hastily ran a hairpin through the envelope, unfolded the Ietter, read it several times and then Hung her arms about her mother and criedu Oh! It's too good to be true. Just think of your daughter as a teacher in the SettIement School. Can you do it? Read it, mother, and she thrust the paper ' into her motheris trembling hand. The next few days were spent in replenishing Eileenis scant and threadbare wardrobe. Before nine o'clock, on the morning of the eighth of September, the court- yard of the Settlement School was black with roller skaters, hoop rollers, and rope jumpers of every size and compIexion. As Miss Havers, immaculate in her trim, linen frock, came up the walk, an overgrown, dirtyalooking boy, with sleeves rolled up, and shirt collar turned in, called to his companions: uI-Iey, fellows, look at the new teachesome peach, eh? Wonder if we'll have her? Page Efty-one

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CC Tony 3? BY EDNA M. ROHAN HE. hot, August sun heat so furiously upon the lafge, Western city that the very air smelled scorched. A short, stout man, in gray crash mopped his forehead, as he trudged up the great steps of the City Building, and pushed his way through the entrance. Down a long corridor hung with oil paintings and mottoes he hurried and taking a key from his pocket, opened a door on which was printed in large, black letters 'iBoard of Education, Superintendent's Office, Private.n He hastily pulled off his hat and coat, Hung them over an armchair, threw up the window, and switched on the electric fan. This done he settled himd self in the chair behind his desk and glanceci at the pile of morning mail. A lilac- tinted letter on the top caught his eye. The handwriting was peculiar and un- known to him. As he slipped the delicatelydcarved paper cutter through the envelope, he smiled and said to himself, uWell, I guess this is another appeal from a girl who wants a well paying position and no work to do. Penmanship though shows some character. He read the note through several times, and was adjusting his spectacles When he hearci a footstep in the corridor. Turning to the door, he called: 15 that you, Graves? uYes, sir.H uVVelI, come in for a moment.,, A tall, thin man With a high forehead, crossed over to the desk and the super, intendent began, Have you that vacancy in the Settlement district filled? HNo, Mr. Deane, not yet. Well then, read this. It seems as though few teachers want to go into the slums but -- Graves took the letter that was handed him and after reading it said: The writer seems pretty much in earnest. I think you could give her a e iiA trial, anyway, put in the superintendent. HYes, Graves, I will. Graves considered his business at an end and ambled out of the room. The grayahaired superintendent proceeded to answer the letter. uMy dear Miss Haversf, he wrote, I have received your application and beg to inform you that we are holding a position for you in the Settlement School. Classes re-open September the eighth. Sincerely, HH. 0. Deane, HSupt. of Schools.H Three days after H. O. Deane had dropped the above note into the post office, Eileen Havers was working in her little garden patch at the rear of a small frame house, out in the suburbs of K The morning dew was fast being dried up by the blazing sun, anti the bees buzzed away as they went from flower to Hower. The weeds seemed to have sprung up over night, and while Eileen was trying to clear the tomato patch, her eye fell on a big, fat green worm. After a few Page fifty

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By this time Eileen was passing up the steps of the dilapidated school build- ing. The chubby old principal stood at the landing, his red face beaming with welcome. He stretched forth his large hand and with cheery voice said, HGood morning! Miss Havers, I believe? After discussing the delightful weather, and the growing throng of children, the principal led the way down a long corridor, lined with numbered doors. Mr. Manse opened the door of room number Five, and said, This room, Miss Havers, is your workshop. Because of the large nume ber of pupils in this class, we have been obliged to change things about some What. The fourth grade work is taught in I'Room Number Five. A bit confus- ing, I'll admit, but I think you,II understand. Eileen was about to answer, when a touseled headed, black'eyed boy came into the room, and shied up to the principal, saying, Please, sir, Miss L. is waiting for you to ring the bell. iiYes, Charles, run along, I'll be there inaminute! Mr. Manse then wished Eileen every possibIe success in her new work, and hurried from the room. Eileen slipped to the window and was gazing intently at the huge meIting-pot of humanity that boiIed in the courtyard beiow When the tramp of feet in the corridor awakened her from the reverie. She hurried to the battered desk, her blue eyes dancing and her cheeks Hushed with excitement. Her black hair was almost unmanageabie, but She hastily tucked up the stray strands, and turned toward the door to weIcome her new charges. It seemed to EiIeen that she was greeting a class of nations and it was not until after the roll call that her brain Cleared. The long list of Rosies, Tonys, Roccos, Josies, Gretchens, Rachels and Isadores, seemed an insolubIe puzzle, but the distinct individuality of each piquant face soon endeared itself to the teacher. The first few days were too warm for lessons, but the last week of September found the boys deIighted with problems in long division. The girls, too, pIocICIecI away, and aII worked Iike Trojans on the arithmetic, but the soulvinspiring event of the day was the speIIing-bee. Mike Carcifero proudly stood at the head of the boys line, his dirty hands tucked into the pockets of his ragged corduroy trou- sers. Sadie Karain triumphantly led the girls, though she fingered the pIaits of her pink gingham skirt nervously, while listening eagerly to every word. AIong with Sadiee success came the mumps, and Rachel Schwarz, a Iong-Iegged, fair-haired, que-eyed girI, who stood next in line, was given the leadership. RacheI took ad- vantage of her promotion, for when the class was dismissed at noon, she lingered behind, and going up to Miss Havers bashfuIIy, said: Miss Eileen, could you lend me a nickel 'tiII I come back this afternoon? uCertainly, Rachel, said Eileen, and sent the child away singing. The money was returned and Eileen thought no more of it. Rachel, however, began to come every day for the nickel and Finally Eileen said: Rachel, I have no change to-day. Rachel's blue eyes kept on dancing as she said: Oh that's aII right, Miss Havers. You see I bring the meat home for dinner, with me, and if I don't borrow the money from you I have to make two tripse hrst home and then to the grocery. But it'll be an right. Goodebye, and she bounced out of the room. The weeks Hew by and the day before Thanksgiving found the pupils busy with some problems in fractions. Miss Eileen was adding the final touches to a Pa ge hfty-two