(8) _Impudent replies due to father’s example._
[Sidenote: Imitative]
Tim Murphy was an Irish lad twelve years old. He was accustomed to rough
speech at home. His mother was not living and his father was a section
boss on the railroad. Mr. Murphy was accustomed to review the events of
the day for the benefit of Tim and his older brothers and sisters. Thus,
Tim came to believe that to be saucy and impudent was manly, for surely
it was by his rough speeches that his father managed his men and held
his job. Furthermore his father’s account of how he outwitted his men
who talked back was highly entertaining. Without forming a definite
resolution to have an exciting quarrel with Miss Deering, Tim was in
every sense ready for such a combat.
Miss Deering had a feeling that Tim was not exactly respectful and yet
the little pursings of his lips, the raising of his brows, and tiltings
of his chin when Miss Deering spoke to him were signs of disrespect too
slight to punish. She was annoyed, yes, even angered by them but she
felt helpless as to how to manage Tim. She feared her control of him was
lessening. Frankly, she thoroughly disliked him. Many an evening her
thoughts reverted to the ever disquieting act of Tim’s attitude and she
almost wished for an outbreak of such dimensions as to warrant her
giving him a sound whipping. She too was prepared for a conflict.
Tim’s strong point was arithmetic. One of the problems on a certain
Friday was: “A and B work together for 5 days and receive $25 and then A
works on alone 2 days for $4 more; how much does each receive?” This
problem was assigned to Delia Carrigan, one of the dullest in the class,
to be placed on the blackboard while each of the others were assigned
other problems. When Delia’s turn came to explain her problem, it was
found that she had divided the $25 equally between A and B and added $4
to A’s half of it. Miss Deering did not notice the mistake. When Delia
had finished her explanation Tim said,
“That ain’t right.”
Miss Deering said a little louder, “Next.”
“Delia didn’t do that right,” Tim said again.
“Tim, be quiet. Go on, Julia,” said Miss Deering, her look at Tim
expressing dislike as well as determination.
Tim answered that look by a roused temper; visibly he squared his
shoulders and clenched his hands, unconsciously falling into his
father’s mode of expression. “Ye’re wrong, Oi say, an ye’re a green un
not to know it, Oi tell ye to yer face yer no gud, and Oi won’t kape
quiet, begorrah!”
Her hour had come. Miss Deering felt perfectly justified in seizing the
pointer and beating Tim. He fought for a moment but she was taller and
stronger. Anger added to her strength. She broke the pointer, seized the
largest piece and used it till it, too, gave way.
Tim was now sniffling, more choked by anger than reduced to tears
through pain.
“Now will you be quiet?” panted Miss Deering.
“Faith an Oi will _not_,” said Tim.
Glancing about she saw a book strap on her desk. She jerked Tim a step
at a time toward her desk. Arriving there she belabored him with the
strap till she was tired. Then she sent him to his seat and went on with
her work. Every time her glance happened to meet Tim’s, the eyes of each
expressed their mutual hatred. During the days and weeks that followed
Miss Deering would plainly show her dislike for Tim every time she
addressed him. He did not really talk back again but his insolent
attitude was expressed in various ways which they both understood. Had
she heard Tim talking about her when out of her hearing she would have
better understood why so many of the pupils showed signs of resentment
toward her commands.