Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-02-04
From the Boston Olive Branch.
ANNIE HARLOW:
THE COUNTRY SCHOOL. .
BY MRS. $. NJ. HUMPHREY.

" SISTER ANNIE, the coach is coming
shouted lille rosy checked nrchip, as Win
all the importance Of business man. he
threw back the door of a humble yet neat
cottage, situated 10 the suburbs OF the city
of b. The mother, an interesting looking
woman, clad in deep mourning, iair gul,
deicalely formed, and some three OF four
lillle ones, were within. The merry boys
galety was checked the moment he saw that
his mother had been weeping, aud that An-
nie, in her neat, plain travelling dress, was
seeking TO comfort her, with assurancesthat
she would write to her often, very often. and
that she was sure she should be quite con-
tented.
Henry said Annie, as she stopped to
Kiss her lIltle brother, OF whom she was ex-
uavagantly fond. be good boy, obey and
assist your mother After bestOwlng kiss
on each of the lltlle ones, with fearful eye
and ialterng step, she left the cottage aud
entered the stage coach.
As the carriage rolled away Henry brush
ed his hand over his eyes, aud shouted,
Don't cry, Annie, will take good care OF
mother.
Annie Harlow had not ye, seen nineteen
years. All through her childhood she had
been tenderly reared, but wasting disease
had fastened upon her father, and just eight
months previous 10 The commencement OF
our story, his sonowing family had seen the
earth heaped over hts loved remains. The
little cottage, with It's furniture, and lew
hundreds, was all that was lett them, and on-
ly by the strlclest economy could Mrs. liar
low hope to sustain her family. As yet, An
ME was the only one capable of rendering
assistance, aud nothing bat stern necessity
had induced her TO yield TO her daug ghters
solicitations TO leave home for this purpose.
Annie possessed qualifications and accom-
plishmenIs that fitted her for teaching some
thing beyond the rudiments OF a common
English education, but now that misfortune
was upon them, when most they needed
sympathy, they were forgotten by the friends
OF their prosperity, and among them all, not
one was found sufficiently interested To as
slst the worthy orphan to employment bet
ter flung one of her delicate organization.
Cheerfuly she had renounceG Que after an-
other oi The privileges to which she had
been accustomed, aud now, without muf.
mur, even with hopeful heari, she resolved
on undertaking the arduous duties oil teach
er in public school.
A solitary spot indeed was that TO which
Annie was called; but then she loved the
country, aud just as the glorious sun was
usherlng Ia "a briglN spring morning, she
hastened forth to view the surrounding scene
~. Grove, hill, and valley, lay all around
her, In quiet beauty, with here and there a
~hi;ewashed cottage, or an old farmhouse,
The air was laden with fragrance, and the
woods were vocal with the sweet songs OF
birds. In her rambles she soon discovered
tue schoolh0use. Though rude aud time
worn, she was charmed with i;s Appearance.
Even the yellow moss that hdd overgr0wn
its dark, unpalnted walls, was an object o
Interest. The shining oak and maple waved
their bright branches around her, and the
liquid waters OF ltlle brook, with It's low
soft murmurIDgs, soothed her ear. She
seated herself on the large fiat stone step AZ
the door. Eugrossed 10 her owu reflections,
she did not chance to see old farmer Good
well. who happened to pass that way with his
cattle.
We'll, Susy,' said the old man 10 his wife
as he entered the house, spOse I've seen
our new schoolnarn. And if il isn't the
greatest imposition | ever see. Why, in-
stead of great sirapping woman, they've
sent us baby. Pretty as pink, TO be-sure,
but what can she do with all these great
boys, So bad that big Miss Barney, with her
sour, cross face, and gseat cowhide, couldn't
manage heml Here's Job, contlnued he,
turning TO their hired boy; turned out Of
school last Inter, and | have promised his
father that he shall 90 Ghs Term. 'TwOnt
be the least use on aIth though, aud should
ut be surprised II they should put her out
door belore he weeks up. We shall have
broken school that's Tor sartin, hut mind
you. Job,' SAID he sternly, do you behave
yourself. Ii the schoolmarm isn't good loI
nothing, 'twOut be no excuse lor you
JOB was a nobly -lormed, dark eyed boy,
but his uncombed har betrayed the neglI-
gence of his habits, aud though his face was
somewhat smutty, II was not wanting 10 in
telIgence.
'Halloo there, Bill Larkios,' cried he,
have you seen our new schoolmarm 7
No, ain'i, have you =
No, bat old Goodwel has, and he says
she is nothiug bat baby that we shall put
her out doors before the week is up, aud
have broken school.
is that iaCi, Job 2
: Ha faint nothing else and off they
went swinging their hats, aud shouting, w e
are the boys for fun
Long before the school hour, every be-
belonging Ia the district had been made ac-
quaInted wlth what laTmer GOodNell mad
said, aud many mschevous plot mad been
laid by the rude urchlns.
Auule's heart sunk within her at the sound
Of their boIs,erOus mIrtb, as they neared tue
schoolhOuse; but she knew nothing OF what
had occurred. aud II was we'll she did noi.-
Win all her geutleness aud dehcacy, she
possessed keen Vision. a sound mind, and
strength oi resolution seldom exceeded by
her sex. WItn the digOIty Of a DaIron, she
stepped TO the platform, rang her IltIle bell.
and instantly The door was burst opeu, aud
I Bill LakIns was pushed In, wan such yio-
lence, as 10 prostTate him on the floor, aud
Immediately after some hall dozen others
falling over hun.
Good morning, young gentlemen, said
AnuIe IN her sweetest tones, while she fixed
her mild blue eyes upon them. am glad
. TO see you, but sorry for the accident, and
hope none of you are hurt
A. fhe souud of her pentle nusic AL voice