Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-09-12

Hcr lIlHu. w Hcn tea was over, and the little
ones had gone to rest, he said, kindly
Come, Fanny, draw your chair close to my
side, and tell me all your troubles, as freely as
| you used to do when merry-hearted school
girl. How often have listened to the sad tale
OF the pet pigeon that had flown away, or the
tavorite plant killed by the untimely fross =
Come, | am ready now, as then, to assist
you with my advice, and my purse too, il
necessary
Tears started to Mrs. Morrlson's eyes as she
replied
You were always kind friend to me, Uncle
Joshua, and will gladly confde my troubles
to you. You know that after nv husbands
death took this house. which though small
may seem far above my limited income, in the
hope of obtaining a school sufficiently large to
enable me to meet the rent and also to support
myself and children. The small sum left
| them by their father determined to invest for
their future use. ] unwisely entrusted it to one
who betrayed the trust, and appropriated the
money to some wild speculation ofhis own. He
says that he did this in the hope of increasing
my little property. 1t may be So but nv CON
sent should have been asked. He failed and
there is little hope of our ever recovering more
than small part of what he owes u.s. But, to
return to my school. found little difficulty IN
obtaining scholars, and, for a short time. be-
leved myself to be doing WELL but soon found
that large number of scholars did not insure
large income from the school. Nv terms
were moderate, but still found great difficult
ty IN obtaining what was due to me at the end
of the term
a few paid promptly and without expecting
me to make unreasonable deductions for unpea-
SAINT weather, slight illness. &c, &C., Others
paid after long delay, which often put me to
the greatest inconvenience and some, after ap-
pointing day after day for me to call and prom
ising each time that the bill should be settled
without fail, moved away. know not whittier,
or met me at length with cold assurance that
1t was not possible for them to pay me at pres
ent-if it was ever in their power they would
let Inc know
downright robbery exclaimed Uncle JOSH
ia. "A set of pick pockets. wish they were
all shipped for Blackwell'S Island.
There are many reasons assigned for not
paying, continued Mrs. Morrison. Sometimes
the children had not learned as much as the
parents expected. Some found it expedient to
take their children away long before the exp-
ration of the term, and then gazed at Inc in as
constituent when declared my right to de-
mand pay for the whole time Tor which they
are engaged. One lady. in particular, to
whose daughter ! was giving music lessons.
Withdrew the pupil under pretext Of slight in,
disposition, and sent me the amount due for A
half term. ! called upon her and stated that
considered the engagement binding for twenty
four lessons, but would willingly wait until the
young lady was quite recovered The mother
appeared to assent with willingness to this ar
rangement, and took the Irotfercd money with
out comment. An hour or two after | receiy-
ed laconc eplstlc stating that the lady had
already engaged another teacher, whom She
thought prcierable-that she had offered me
the amount due Tor half of the term, and had
declined receiving lt-thereiore she should not
otter 1t again. / wrote polite, but very plain
reply to tins note, and enclosed my bill for the
whole term, but have never heard from her
snce.'
DO you mean to say that she actually re-
ceyed the money which you returned to her
without reluctance, and gave you no notice of
her intention to employ another teacher: de-
manded the old gentleman
'Cerlny, and. besides this, afterwards as
certalned that the young lady was actually re-
ceNng lessons from another teacher, when |
called at the house-thcretore the plea of in
disposition was entirely false. The most per
feet satisfaction had always been expressed as
to the progress Of the pupil, and no cause was
for the change
4 hope that You have met with few cases as
bad as this remarked Uncle Joshua. The
world must be In worse state than ever had
if such imposition is common
This may be an extreme case,' replied Mrs
Morrison, but could relate many others which
are little better. However, YOU will soon wea-
ry my experience in this way, uncle Joshua.
and will therefore mention but one other in
stance. One bitter cold day in January. cal
led at the house Of Il lady who had owed Inc
small amount for nearly year, and after re-
pcated delay had reluctantly fixed this day as
the time when she would pay me at least Dart
OF what was due. was told by the servant
who opened the door that the lady was not at
home.
what time will she be in p inquired.
Not for some hours was the reply.
Leaving word that | would call arain TO-
wards evening, | retraccd my steps feeling
much disappointed at my i'll success, as | had !
tel, quite sure of obtaining the money. About
i've o lock, | again presented myself at the
loor, and was again informed that the lady was
not at home.
Il will walk in and wait for her return - re.
Dlied.
his, but after n little delay ushered me into
he parIor Two little boys of four and six !
iears of age were playing about the room. |
olned IN their sports and soon became quite !
amlIlar with them. Half an hour had passed
way when inquired of the oldest boy what
line he expected his mother
Not TIL late he answered hcsitatiGpv.
Dld she take the baby with her this cold
lay ? asked.
Yes, ma am promptly replied the girl who
lnder pretence of attending to the children.
Iequently came into the room.
The youngest child gnzed earnestly in nv
ace and said snnlingly-
Mother has not gone away, she is ND stairs
She ran away with the baby when she saw you
om'ng, and told us to say she had gone out.
am afraid brother will take cold for there is
10 ti'e up stairs
: 1t Is no such thing exclaimed the girl and
he eldest boy. 'She is not up stairs, ma'am,
r she would see yon.'
But even as they spoke the loud cries of an
niant were heard, and voice at the head of
be stairs calling Jenny.
The girl obeyed and presently returned with
he child IN her arms, its face, neck and hands
urpIe with cold.
Poor little Thing, it has got its death, in