EDITORIAL 353 



hanced our admiration for the young lady and made the M. E. B. 

 on the desk a starting point for dreams. 



All of this was in a school of half a century ago; but our faith 

 is still pinned fast to the Rural School. It was only last month 

 that an enterprising and efficient District Superintendent invited 

 us to a meeting of his rural teachers in Northern New York, an 

 experience that renewed our enthusiasm for the "district school." 

 The teachers present were bright faced attractive girls and women ; 

 they were alert and interested in all that pertained to their work 

 and we envied the country youngsters who came under their 

 instruction and influence; and we envied each of those teachers 

 for she was teaching in about the only place left in our wonderfully 

 organized educational system where she might have full oppor- 

 tunity for free, personal and friendly contact with her pupils 

 and where her individual initiative might find fullest scope. 



"On the bench by the woodbox was set the water pail. Beside 

 it was the drinking utensil, sometimes a tin cup, sometimes a glass 

 tumbler, and for one while a little custard cup. It was astonish- 

 ing how many times a scholar could drink that custard cup full 

 when he made the attempt. The small boy in the front seat would 

 drink as much as he could hold, and then turn around and watch 

 the progress of the water pail to observe if any one could exceed 

 him. If the pail-bearer had a grudge against any particular one, 

 or was humorously inclined, he might snatch the cup away before 

 the drinker had taken more than a mouthful or two, or would give 

 the cup a gentle but sudden tilt that inundated the drinker in a 

 small way. The office of water-passer seemed to be quite desir- 

 able, and "May I pass the water?" was a question which required 

 frequent answer from the teacher. The water was brought from 

 the nearest neighbor's. A big boy could get it alone, but usually 

 two went to carry the pail. In the interregnums between the 

 wearing out of one pail and the getting a new one the scholars all 

 raced over to "Uncle Elijah's" each recess to refresh themselves 

 at the tub of running spring water which stood at his back door." 

 Clifton Johnson in The Country School. 



