Take the broom and sweep it."
It occurred to me at once that here was my chance. Never did I receive
an order with more delight. I knew that I could sweep, for Mrs.
Ruffner had thoroughly taught me how to do that when I lived with her.
I swept the recitation-room three times. Then I got a dusting-cloth
and I dusted it four times. All the woodwork around the walls, every
bench, table, and desk, I went over four times with my dusting-cloth.
Besides every piece of furniture had been moved and every closet and
corner in the room had been thoroughly cleaned. I had the feeling that
in a large measure my future depended upon the impression I made upon
the teacher in the cleaning of that room. When I was through, I
reported to the head teacher. She was a "Yankee" woman who knew just
where to look for dirt. She went into the room and inspected the floor
and closets; then she took her handkerchief and rubbed it on the
woodwork, about the walls, and over the table and benches. When she
was unable to find one bit of dirt on the floor, or a particle of dust
on any of the furniture, she quietly remarked: "I guess you will do to
enter this institution.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132