Schuster School - Proscenium Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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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

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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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gorgeous turkey gobbler, which one of the children had drawn on the blackboard, when she felt a tugging at her skirt. She dropped the chalk on the ledge and looking down saw Rosie Contadino mopping her tear-stained face With her ragged cuff, and holding a blurred, cracked slate, in the other hand. UOh, Miss Havers sobbed Rosie, her salty tears splashing on the slate. ujust look what Tony Granneti went and done. My problem's almost rubbed off. Eileen Havers adored Rose, the pet of the school. She would have given anything to have been able to punish Tony, but gritting her teeth, she led Rosie back to her desk and wiped the tears from the yougster's face with her own linen kerchief. Then taking an evil smelling sponge from a rusty baking powder can, she handed it to Rosie, saying: There, Rose, be a brave little girl and donit cry. I'm sure Tony didn't mean it. You won't have to do the example again, so you can wash your slate and put it away. i The other children heard Rosie sobbing and turned, one by one, to see what it was all ebout. Tony was much absorbed in cutting T. G. in his desk lid. Miss Eileen calmly walked to the board, added a few more resplendent touches to the gobbler, on which she was working When Rosie interrupted, called the class to order, and dismissed them for recess. Tony lingered at the end of the line, and Eileen called him back to her. His eyes cast upon the Hoot and kicking the end of the platform, he began: Gee, Miss Havers, I'm awful sorry I teased Rosie, this mornin', but you know sheis such a cute and the boy's black eyes danced with mischief. Eileen turned to look at Tony, but the devilish stare that caught her glance fright- ened her and biting her lips she said: iiYes, Tony, I know youire sorry anti you are never going to do it again. Will you stay after school a few minutes this afternoon and clean the board? Yesim. Can I ask one of the other fellows to stay, too? tiWell, Tony, lid rather you wouldnt; you see I want this to be a secret be- tween you and me. You understand. Now run along, and come in when the bell rings. The teacher turned to her desk anci began to correct the spelling papers, as Tony walked slowly toward the door. Suddenly, the Vivid coloring of the turkey gobbler on the board caught his eye and Without blinking an eyelash, he seized the felt eraser, rubbed it through the drawing, and made his exit, quick as a Hash. After the sound of footsteps had died away in the corridor, Eileen looked up from her work and caught sight of the blurred board. The hot blood rushed to her cheeks and tears to her eyes, as she sank back into her chair, wondering what to do with the boy. For more than the hundredth time she wondered if it were best to treat the child decently or to bully him. There were some very good points about the boy that needed encouragement, but every teacher in the building com- plained of him. Was she wrong or right?eShe didnit knowebut just at that moment Rosie came into the room clutching a large, redecheeked apple in her dimpied hand. - Here, Miss Havers, she said, me and Tony's made up. He giveid me this. Will you please cut it? You can have half. Eileen separated the apple with a bit of string and Rosie scampered out of the room, her teeth buried deep in the peace offering. Pane Gflyrthrr-n